Concert review: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram w/ Lamontay Rucker | 09.17.25, The Factory (with photo gallery)

Photo of Christone “Kingfish” Ingram by Rachel Hopson

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram is regarded as a key torchbearer of modern Blues music, working to preserve a genre birthed here in the United States and held sacred for generations. At just 26 years old, he carries on a legacy curated and upheld by the likes of Muddy Waters and B.B. King while carving out his own unique style. Kingfish is a Grammy Award winner, a collaborator with legends such as Buddy Guy, and a name etched into Rolling Stone’s “250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.”

Kingfish hails from Clarksdale, Mississippi, the birthplace of many a Mississippi Delta Blues legend. The Blues, born from the culture and experiences of Black Americans in the post-Civil War South, has branched into distinct regional styles beyond the raw Delta Blues: the amplified Chicago Blues; the rhythmic Memphis Blues; and the jazz-influenced St. Blues to name a few. Kingfish firmly carries the Delta’s spirit in his playing, but infused with cross-genre appeal.

In St. Louis—a city that proudly houses the National Blues Museum and even lends the genre’s name to its hockey team—it was no surprise to see the venue packed out to witness Kingfish’s unparalleled live talent. Rarely have I seen a modern crowd with so few cell phones out for videos and pictures—the audience was utterly captivated. Kingfish’s mesmerizing guitar solos and velvety rich vocals held the attention of all in attendance.

Kingfish closed out the night by inviting 14-year-old Lamontay Rucker, a St. Louis local, to join him on stage. The young guitarist sent the audience into a frenzy with unbelievable skill and confidence beyond his years. Christone “Kingfish” Ingram exited the stage, leaving the closing solo to Rucker as the audience erupted for their hometown jewel’s Factory debut. | Rachel Hopson