“The undisputed future of the blues” in Byron

BLUESFEST favourite Christone “Kingfish” Ingram is set to return to Byron Bay on February 26 as part of his Hard Road tour of Australia and New Zealand.

The 26-year-old Grammy-winning artist — hailed by Rolling Stone as “the undisputed future of the blues” — will perform at The Green Room in Tyagarah, the same venue that hosts the annual Bluesfest. He will be supported by Byron local and fellow blues legend Ash Grunwald.

The Hard Road 2026 Tour celebrates the release of Ingram’s latest album of the same name, a powerful fusion of blues, rock, funk, R&B and soul.

 

Born and raised in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Ingram grew up singing and playing gospel in church and developed an early love for blues after watching a documentary about Muddy Waters — widely considered the father of modern Chicago blues — with his dad at the age of five.

He was later inspired by artists such as B.B. King, Robert Johnson and Jimi Hendrix, and went on to perform at the White House for Michelle Obama in 2014 as part of the Delta Blues Museum band.

 

Ingram’s first album, Kingfish, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart, launching him into international acclaim. His follow-up album, 662, won both a Grammy Award and a Blues Music Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album in 2021. He claimed another major accolade in 2023, winning Album of the Year at the Blues Music Awards for Live in London.

The Byron Bay show is presented by Bluesfest Tours, which brings Bluesfest sideshows and touring artists to iconic venues across Australia each year.

For more information and tickets, visit bluesfesttours.com.au