Blues Jam with Christone “Kingfish” Ingram & Friends

Back by popular demand, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram returns to the Monterey Jazz Festival to headline Blues Jam 2026. One of the most electrifying guitarists of his generation, Kingfish has redefined modern blues with his fiery playing, commanding voice, and unmistakable stage presence. This celebration of the blues places Kingfish at the center of a powerhouse lineup honoring the music’s past, present, and future.

Ingram is joined by multi-Grammy nominee, powerhouse vocalist Shemekia Copeland along with a hand-picked lineup of rising blues stars. Together, they’ll deliver an afternoon set of gripping guitar, unforgettable songs, raw emotion and the timeless sound of the blues infused with bold contemporary energy.

Grammy-winning guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Christone “Kingfish” Ingram has quickly become the defining blues voice of his generation. From his hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi to stages around the globe, the young blues star has already headlined multiple U.S. and European tours, and amazed fans in Australia, New Zealand, and India. Selected in summer 2022 to open for The Rolling Stones in London’s Hyde Park, Kingfish has also performed and toured with friends including Vampire Weekend, Jason Isbell, Steve Miller and Buddy Guy, a mentor of his, with whom he appeared on Austin City Limits.

Since he burst onto the scene in 2019, Ingram has been nominated for 10 Blues Music Awards and won them all. Rolling Stone declared, “Kingfish is one of the most exciting young guitarists in years, with a sound that encompasses B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix and Prince.” In September 2023, Kingfish released his jaw-dropping third album, Live In London. Recorded on June 6, 2023, in front of a sweaty, sold-out, standing-room-only crowd at the famous UK club, The Garage, Live In London is the guitar-driven live album Kingfish’s fans around the world have been clamoring for since they first watched him perform as a teenager on YouTube.