Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram: Hard Road

(Red Zero Records)

CD | LP | DL | Stream

Out 26 September 2025

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GRAMMY® award-winning blues maestro from Mississippi Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram releases his third studio album Hard Road in advance of a forthcoming UK tour. And far from being more of the same, this is an album which reaches new uncharted emotional depths with its introspective narrative being infused with a cathartic blend of blues, soul, funk, rock and jazz, heralding the rebirth of a classic genre for a whole new generation.

At the tender of age of just 26, Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram’s rise to fame from his humble beginnings in Clarksdale Mississippi has already become the stuff of legend. With a passion for blues first ignited at a very young age through hearing the inspirational sounds of BB King, Kingfish took this a stage further through a mentorship in the Delta Blues Museum arts program which played a significant part in forging his future career. And what Kingfish took on board right from the start was that this is not just music, but a means of storytelling, a means of survival and a way of expressing yourself from deep within your soul.

Of course his birthplace has always been steeped in the very deepest of blues traditions as being the location of the crossroads where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil for the gift of music, so perhaps this path was in some part inevitable. Further honing his craft through listening to the likes of Albert King and Buddy Guy, Kingfish continued to develop his technique, sound and feel to the point where he was turning heads not just in his local area but far beyond.

In 2019 Kingfish released his self-titled debut album closely followed by his second album in 2021 entitled 662, referencing his Mississippi area code. The accolades for both albums came flooding in from the likes of the Blues Music Awards and through 662 winning a GRAMMY® for best contemporary blues album. This trend continued through the release of Live In London in 2023, an album which seemed to take Kingfish’s art to a whole new level, redefining blues as a relevant and current genre of music that is here to thrill as much as it seeks to challenge our mindset on matters which come so close to our heart. None of this went unnoticed right across the music business as Kingfish earned support slots with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Buddy Guy and Steve Miller and has undertaken sell out tours in his own right.

Now in 2025, we are treated to Kingfish’s third studio album, Hard Road, which is released on his own Red Zero Records which he has co-founded with his manager Ric Whitley, giving him a new platform to showcase not only his own talent but that of other up and coming artists. On first listen, it is evident that Hard Road is an album which seems to set yet another remarkable benchmark for this growing talent. Not content with continuing just where he left off, Kingfish has clearly absorbed so much more from his relatively short time on planet earth as he expands his sonic repertoire still further, blending traditional delta blues with funk, soul, pop, rock and jazz, once again reinventing a classic genre of music with his own trademark style.

The album opens with the funk laden beats of Truth which is underscored with soulful keys, deep bass grooves and blistering guitar runs. It’s immediately obviously Kingfish is now taking a much deeper introspective view on his life through his songwriting, reflecting back on his childhood home and upbringing with lines like “broken family and dirty hotel was the only home I knew, I learned real quick what life was all about, my faith and my guitar was my only way out” which tells us everything about what journey he has been on up to this point in his life. As Kingfish says, “I’m still learning this songwriting thing as I go. I learned telling your story is the best story. I’m having more personal life experiences as I go and that plays a big part in the songwriting. I always try to get a little bit more personal than before.”

This is followed by the soul infused rock of Bad Like Me and the sassy funk of S.S.S., i.e. She’s So Sexy. What is interesting about these is that whilst we get some stellar guitar solos in each, its Kingfish’s warm and earthy vocals that take centre stage as if to shift the focus away from the traditional blues template. It’s clear that whilst Kingfish will always showcase his passion for the guitar, his songs now recognise the need for more subtlety and balance to convey his story and songs like this do it in fine style.

Nothin’ But Your Love radiates as a melancholy ballad full of soulful longing with Kingfish’s emotive vocal tones shining through loud and clear with a real sense of conviction as he declares “ain’t nobody else compares to you.” In contrast, Crosses plunders the spirit of Hendrix in a big way with his strident guitar taking centre stage over a monster of a rhythm section. That same influence also infiltrates the high tempo of Voodoo Charm, albeit with an explosive fusion of blues and soul set alight with some fiery guitar runs.

Back To L.A. bristles with Bolan style swagger with a hint of Children Of The Revolution sown into its impressive grooves. Clearly once again swells with soulful vibes dominated by swirling keys and Kingfish’s warm vocals, rounded off with more class guitar work. The pointed narrative here suggests there is a very old head on his very young shoulders as he clearly sees through those who try to take advantage of his swift rise to fame, singing “they tried to hold me down and mute my sound but to no avail” and “using my name for clout it’s so damn lame.” No one messes with Kingfish, that’s for sure!

Standing On Business rolls along with a laid back late night jazz lounge style vibe as he builds on the themes of self-reliance, identity and perseverance, whilst Hard To Love romps with a foot-stomping funked-up rhythm and impassioned vocals, with Kingfish letting rip with his guitar to close out the song. The album concludes with Memphis, with a stripped-down mix of just guitar and harmonica giving it a classic delta blues feel as Kingfish relays his passion to “find that woman who left me all alone.” Surely no better way to finish such an outstanding album as this.

Kingfish’s own take on the album is as follows, “This record comes from real-life reflection. I’ve been balancing fame, heartbreak, love, and relationships while trying to stay grounded, touring, creating, and maturing. These songs are about owning my story. They’re about learning to see myself clearly and seeing others with more compassion. That’s changed the way I write, the way I play, and the way I live.” On the evidence of what you will hear on this album, there is no doubt whatsoever that all of this is translated through its grooves and feeling.

Hard Road is a triumph of musical craft and innovation over standard form as Kingfish digs deep into his inner self. There is little doubt that Kingfish remains one of the most vital figures in modern blues and Hard Road sets yet another very strong benchmark to cement that claim as a torch bearer for delta blues in the 21st century. The music business may well be a very hard road to follow, but when you have the immense talent that Kingfish possesses it sure is made so much easier.

The album is supported by a short UK tour in November which I strongly advise you not to miss. You can catch Kingfish at the following shows:

November
18th – London – Kentish Town Forum
19th – Manchester – Albert Hall
20th – Wolverhampton – The Wulfrun Hall
21st – Glasgow – Old Fruitmarket
23rd – Leeds – Stylus

You can buy tickets for his shows here.

You can buy the album here.

You can find Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and his website.

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All words by Ian Corbridge. You can find more of his writing at his author profile here.