On Stage: Local stars to shine at Philadelphia Folk Festival

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times

The Philadelphia Folk Festival, which is celebrating its 63rd anniversary this year, is running from August 14-16 at Upper Salford Township’s iconic Old Pool Farm (1323 Salford Station Road, Harleysville, folkfest.org).

The Philadelphia Folk Festival’s legacy includes a multi-generational audience which makes returning to the farm each summer an annual event.

It is a community of people coming together to share music and make memories between generations.

Every year, strangers become friends, and lifelong friendships are forged to create the Philadelphia Folk Festival family, where everyone is welcome.

This decade saw the festival welcome stellar acts such as Danielia Cotton, Jesse Terry, SONiA disappear fear, Swing That Cat, Vanessa Collier, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Livingston Taylor, David Bromberg Quintet, Dom Flemons, Los Lobos, Billy Bragg, Rhiannon Giddens, Devon Gilfillian, Ivan Neville, and Susan Werner.

Since the turn of the century, Philadelphia Folk Festival weekends have featured David Crosby, Graham Nash, Arlo Guthrie, Lyle Lovett, Ani DiFranco, Odetta, Essra Mohawk, The Mavericks, Todd Rundgren, Little Feat, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Judy Collins, Joan Osborne, The Slambovian Circus of Dreams, Tom Paxton, Todd Snider, and Buffy Sainte-Marie.

The first Philadelphia Folk Festival was held in 1962 with Rev. Gary Davis, Jack Elliott, Greenbriar Boys, Sonny Miller and Pete Seeger as the main attractions.

The list of legendary acts that performed at the PFF in the 1900s includes Dave Van Ronk, John Denver, Roger McGuinn, Melanie, Jim Kweskin Jug Band, Theodore Bikel, Doc Watson, Paul Butterfield Band, Rudy Guy, Joni Mitchell, Jim Croce, Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal, James Cotton, Bo Diddley, John Sebastian, Liz Longley, Raul Malo and Sara Hickman.

For the 2026 festival, this is a tough act to follow. But this year’s edition definitely holds its own.

This weekend, musical performances will be presented on seven stages around the grounds daily from 11 a.m. until midnight on Friday and Saturday and from 11 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.

On Friday, the Lobby Stage will host a plethora of the area’s most popular acts including Emily Drinker, Valentina Sounds, Avi Wisnia, Meghan Cary, Kicking Down Doors, Edge Hill Rounders and J.D. Webb and The Good God Damn.

Some of the acts may be local but also have strong international connections – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Bologna, Italy; and cruise ship gigs in Australia, New Zealand and St. Petersburg, Russia.

Drinker is a singer/songwriter/guitarist who wears many musical hats. Her music blends elements of rock, folk, jazz, pop and R&B.

Drinker has her own band that performs regularly at venues around the Delaware Valley — and she also performs as a guest artist with a variety of Philly bands.

Drinker is an independent, award-winning music artist from Philadelphia. Her soulful brand of folk, pop, and rock touches listeners– whether she’s performing with her powerhouse band, the Funky T, or in a more intimate format incorporating live looping.

She is an artist who has found a way to do what she does using every weapon in her considerable arsenal.

Drinker has been featured by NPR Music, Philadelphia’s WXPN, and played at many regional festivals including Firefly, Musikfest, and the Philadelphia Folk Festival.

In addition to a busy performance schedule in Philly and its surrounding areas, Drinker works as a session vocalist doing sync work for national TV shows.

“I’ve had my band together for a while,” said Drinker, during a phone interview Tuesday evening from her home in Roxborough. “A bunch of us worked on cruise ships together. I met them in Philly and brought them to the ship with me.

“I played in party bands on longer cruises on Royal Caribbean’s Celebrity Cruises. We travelled all over Europe and the Pacific. It was great to be able to visit Australia and New Zealand as well as European cities such as St. Petersburg (Russia) and Bergen (Norway).

“I hadn’t been in a band before that. It was a good job. But my job as a songwriter is to write music that resonates with people.”

Drinker grew up in Conshohocken and went to high school at William Penn Charter School.

It was fitting that Drinker went to a Quaker institute of higher education. The Drinker family has a long history in the Philadelphia Quaker society.

“For an indie artist, there is a great music community in Philly – and the fans really want to be part of it,” said Drinker.

“The guys in my band also have their own band – The Funky T. Punk rock is their thing. In addition to my band, I perform with a bunch of different local bands.

“Prior to working on cruise ships, I was in music for a long time. I was doing theater when I was really young and was in an a capella group in high school.

“Now, with my band, I’ve played a lot of different venues. I opened for Pat Benatar at Univest Performance Center in Quakertown and Rufus Wainwright in Phoenixville.”

Drinker’s debut recording in 2017 was an EP titled, “Run the Race.” Her first album was “Starting to Feel,” which was released in 2022. Her most recent album is “To Feel Alive,” which was released last year.

Video link for the Emily Drinker Band – https://youtu.be/9BAchRgrBgY.

Back in April, Valentina Sounds celebrated the release of her second album, “What Keeps Me Alive,” with a show at The Crown at The Queen in Wilmington.

Valentina Sounds is the stage name for Italian-born, Philadelphia-based Valentina Raffaelli.

Written between lockdown and recovery from severe burn injuries, the album captures the experience of navigating uncertainty while redefining personal identity.

The record transforms hardship into powerful pop/rock anthems of resilience and hope.

Blending lush pop/rock production reminiscent of Adele, Regina Spektor, Radiohead, and The National with her quirky sense of humor, Valentina brings light into the darkness, comedy into everyday stress, and offers catharsis through self-expression.

The 11-song LP is a deeply personal and emotionally expansive collection of songs written across five transformative years.

The record intentionally unfolds in two contrasting sonic worlds: lush, full-band pop/rock arrangements produced by Ron DiSilvestro, alongside intimate piano-and-voice recordings produced by Matt Muir.

Together, they form a portrait of emotional duality, of strength and vulnerability existing side by side.

“The piano and voice tracks I did with Matt Muir came during a period around COVID,” said Valentina, during a phone interview from her home in Philadelphia. “They were recorded at Retro City studio in Philadelphia.

The stripped-down tracks — including “Sad Song,” “Irresistible,” “10 Years of Piano,” and “L’ultimo conforto” — were written during the COVID pandemic.

With only piano and voice available, these songs became raw documents of the inner struggle between finally being able to have “time” and the inability to do anything with it.

“More or less, they were all written during the pandemic,” said Valentina.

Recorded under strict pandemic conditions at Retro City Studio in Philadelphia and produced by Matt Muir, the first set of sessions reflect the fragile reality of the time — masked recording environments, physical distance, and an overwhelming need to keep creating despite isolation.

Valentina had to deal with another challenge in June 2021.

When she suffered severe burn injuries in an accident at home, resulting in a 20-day ICU stay, multiple surgeries, and long-term physical rehabilitation affecting her shoulder mobility and hand sensitivity.

“When I was going through physical therapy, I was rehearsing with rehearsing with my trio — bassist/vocalist Molly Hebert-Wilson and percussionist/vocalist Sara Mingle.

“The new album was recorded over a five-year period starting in January 2021. I did it when I could afford it.”

Experimental moments emerge in tracks like “Washing Away” and “Wake Me Up,” where shifting rhythms and dropped beats mirror emotional instability. Meanwhile, epic bridges in “Count Your Blessings,’ “Monsters” and “Story for Me” showcase Valentina’s commanding vocal range, moving from whispered vulnerability to soaring, cathartic power captured by DiSilvestro.

Valentina fares well with transitions.

“I have been in the United States for many years,” said Valentina. “I fell in love with an American – a man from Philadelphia — when I was living in Italy. I was studying film and contemporary art at the Universita di Bologna.

“He waited until I finished college and then encouraged me to apply to Philadelphia’s University of the Arts. I came to Philadelphia and studied there. I learned about voice and music—and I studied piano.

“I started meeting musicians at University of the Arts. Then, I took a songwriting course, and I was hooked.”

Philadelphia became her home.

“Putting a band together was easy,” said Valentina. “The first band was Sunshine Superman back in 2017. Then, I was in a band called Sparkle Pony with my ex-husband. It was a folk/bluegrass/Americana band that ended in January 2019.”

Valentina is a native of Forte dei Marni. Her father Angelo Raffaelli was a professional soccer player in Italy for A.S. Livorno Calcio (currently in Serie C).

Forte dei Marmi is a seaside town in the northern part of Tuscany that is a major vacation destination for Italy’s upper class. In Italian, “Forte dei Marmi” means “Fort of the Marbles.” The town takes its name from the fortress that rises in the middle of the main square.

“I still go back to Forte dei Marmi a lot,” said Valentina. “But my home now is Philadelphia.”

Video link for Valentina Sounds – https://youtu.be/4K71kGVNWjg.

Avi Wisnia has lived in the Philly for most of his life – dating back to his childhood days in Lower Bucks County.

“I grew up in Yardley and graduated from Pennsbury High,” said Wisnia.

“I loved the music courses at Pennsbury. I took AP music courses and was active in choirs, band, and theater at school. That gave me incentive for music.”

Actually, music was a part of his life long before that.

“I had always been making music since I was really young – since I was tall enough to reach the piano keys,” said Wisnia.

“I started piano lessons when I was five. I always knew that music would be a big part of my life. I started with piano and then studied clarinet …and then sax…and then bassoon…and then guitar.

“I was also always interested in performing and singing. I was always at ease singing in front of people. My father was a rabbi, and my grandfather was a cantor. They could stand in front of a big crowd and be comfortable.”

Not surprisingly, Wisnia pursued a curriculum of music in college.

“I went to NYU (New York University) and studied music,” said Wisnia. “I got my degree in music performance and composition. That’s when I started making my own music.”

If you listen to Wisnia’s music, you can hear the influences of his Philly roots…you can hear influences of his Hebrew ancestry…and you can hear the influence of bossa nova.

“I got really into bossa nova and then studied the Portuguese language,” said Wisnia. “I knew I wanted to sing that classical music. I did a tour in Brazil a few years later.

“A song on my album ‘Sky Blue Sky’ is a collaboration, recorded via satellite between Philadelphia and Rio de Janeiro.”

On “Sky Blue Sky,” Wisnia teamed up with acclaimed Brazilian producer Bruno Migliari to create a sophisticated blend of jazz, pop, and Brazilian rhythms — where instruments like the pandeiro, cavaquinho, and Avi’s trademark melodica playfully intertwine. Reminiscent of music by Bebel Gilberto, Stan Getz and Antonio Carlos Jobim, the breezy bossa nova of “Sky Blue Sky” transcends geographical borders and captures the romantic possibility as endless as a blue summer sky.

“After college, I spent time in Brazil – mostly Rio and Sao Paulo,” said Wisnia. “The musicality of the culture there is really entrancing. It informs the kind of music I make.

“I also got into a lot of the American Songbook, West Coast jazz and folk music. I released my first EP – ‘Avi Wisnia Presents’ – in 2007. My first show after graduation was at Café Vivaldi in New York. They offered me a second show and that started me on my path to performing.”

Video link for Avi Wisnia  —https://youtu.be/nugADMFSM_k?si=Gz8zBmY4CK3zs9vm.

Meghan Cary’s music is a family affair.

Peter Farrell, Cary’s husband, accompanies her on keyboards and vocals.

They are frequently joined by their son Quinn Farrell on drums.

“Our son Quinn is 17 and attends Springfield High School,” said Cary, during a phone interview from her home in Springfield (Montgomery County).

“Quinn is one of the best drummers I’ve ever listened to. He has his own band called Bird Strike. They play Green Day style music. With my stuff, he plays great singer/songwriter drums.”

Cary’s music has been hailed as healing, inspiring and infectiously joyful.

Named Billboard’s “Critic’s Choice” for her debut EP, the stage actress turned folk rocker engages listeners with masterful storytelling and anthemic songs.

Cary found solace in words and music after her fiancé unexpectedly passed away — and turned that passion into a platform to empower others to speak their truth by bravely sharing her own.

A frequent performer at venerable festivals and music venues around the country, Cary brings a message of unity and the power of raising our voices together. Her song, “Sing Louder”, has become an anthem for the music-loving community.

Many people have favorite mantras. Cary’s favorite – and very own – mantra is “Sing Louder” – and for good reason.

“Sing Louder” is one of her most popular songs. It was the title track on an EP – “Sing Louder – the Festival EP” in 2015. It is also the title of one of her albums.

“The ‘Sing Louder’ album came out in November 2017, but I think of it as a 2018 album,” said Cary. “My book – ‘Sing Louder — Stories Behind the Songs’ – is all about the songs that inspired the ‘Sing Louder’ album – 10 first-person stories.”

Cary explained the inspiration for the book.

“I share a lot of my stories on stage,” said the veteran singer-songwriter. “I do a lot of storytelling in my shows – but it’s also a concert. My band would go crazy if I talked too much between songs.

“After shows, people ask me to tell them more about the songs. I’m a firm believer in sharing my stories – not only for the stories but also to help other people. People come up to me after shows all the time and say things like – I just lost my mom and didn’t realize that it was still affecting me.

“When I was making the record, I said I was going to write a book and let people pre-buy it. That way, I wouldn’t let other things get in the way. I knew I had to write the book and get it finished.

“There I one story for each song on ‘Sing Louder.’ It’s pretty straightforward. I think it’s a good read. The book I’m working on now is a companion to my first album ‘New Shoes’ from 1998. It’s about how I began my music career.”

Even though “Sing Louder” dates back almost a full decade, it is still fresh and vibrant when Cary performs it onstage.

“The song ‘Sing Louder’ is a fan favorite – and very uplifting,” said Cary. “The key line is – ‘if you don’t know the words, sing louder…sing stronger…sing louder, sing stronger for all of the world to hear.

“We recorded the album at Morning Star Studio with producer Glenn Barratt. Glenn’s input on production is amazing.  We even brought 48 people – fans and friends – into the studio to sing on the title track.”

Cary is also a veteran actress who performed in the musical “Pump Boys and Dinettes” and, more recently, performed a one-woman play she wrote called “On the Way to the Waterfall!”

This autobiographical play with music was originally created as a short piece for E.A.T.’s One-Woman Standing play festival in NYC in 2013 and was developed into a full-length play this past summer by Hypothetical Theatre Company.

Three years ago, Cary performed it in the Boulder International Fringe Festival and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both the audience and the critics.

“When I lived in New York, I used to help this playwright Tina Howe,” said Cary. “She heard me playing my music and told me — you have to write a play. I didn’t know how to do it.”

The play she was about to write was based on a personal tragedy.

While performing in the musical “Pump Boys and Dinettes” years ago, Cary met and fell in love with Matthew Black, one of the show’s musicians.

Cary performed with Black as his backup singer with occasional solos. The pair became engaged, and things were going great. But Black died suddenly in 1995, and Cary’s life path took another unexpected twist.

“Music carried me through that time period,” said Cary. “Matthew and I made music together. When he died, I lost everything I had for the future.

“Music was something that I could keep. I wanted to keep making music. But I was writing songs with no intention of ever playing them for anyone.

“When I thought about the play, I knew had already written the story in songs. I had written music as a way to heal through this traumatic experience. The play is about going through the same thing — getting knocked off-course and ending up somewhere else.”

When Cary graduated from Hershey High a few years back, she headed off to Duke University to major in biomedical engineering. But the path of life goes through many twists and turns and that’s why Cary now wears a guitar instead of a lab coat.

She switched majors at Duke and finished with a bachelor’s degree in drama.

“I thought I wanted to be a biomedical engineer,” said Cary. “I looked at Cornell, but it was freezing up there, so I chose Duke instead. I was on a pre-med track and then got interested in theater.

“I finished Duke with a degree in drama with a minor in chemistry. Then, I got my MFA (master’s in fine arts) in acting from Florida State University.

“I realized back then that I wanted to perform. When I started, I wanted to do regional theater. I also did Off-Broadway shows and I’m a charter member of New York’s Actor’s Shakespeare Company. I love Shakespeare’s work.

I love the way he used words.”

Now, Cary has established herself as a singer, actress, songwriter, and playwright. She is also the mother of two musical kids who have already participated in making music with their family.

Video link for Meghan Cary — https://youtu.be/y1O7bg0SjWM?si=jP4O9t_oSkV_sAQu.

The schedule for August 14 also includes shows on the Martin Stage by Lazy Villains, Norman Taylor, Sug Daniels, Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert, Eddie 9V, Damn Tall Buildings and Adam Ezra Group.

On August 15, the Camp Stage will host Damn Tall Buildings, Big Richard, J.D Malone and The Experts and The Tisburys.

Acts playing the Craft Stage will be Jason Ager, Kate Gaffney & Ben Chandler, Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert, Mary Gauthier, John Flynn, Joe Jencks, Dirk & Amelia Powell and John Francis O’Mara.

On Saturday, the Lobby Stage will present John Flynn, Robby Hecht, Jack Murray & The Blue Tarp Wranglers, Ceili Dancing featuring Philadelphia Ceili Group and Louisiana Dance featuring Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience.

The Tank Stage will feature Rachel Eve, Stephen DiJoseph, Sug Daniels, Andrea Nardello, The Describers, Caitlyn Deviney, The Levins and Ben Arnold.

Saturday’s heavy hitters will take over the Martin Stage —

Gabe Lee, Big Richard, Dirk & Amelia Powell, RUNA, Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience, Tom Rush and Leftover Salmon.

On August 16, music will start on the Camp Stage with Sunday Morning Sacred Steel featuring Campbell Brothers, Andrea Nardello, House of Hamill and RUNA.

The Craft Stage will feature Mara Levine with Gathering Time, Gabe Lee, Jaimee Harris, Robby Hecht, Mary Gauthier, Robbie Fulks, Joe Jencks, John Flynn and Gathering Time

Acts slated for the Lobby Stage on Sunday are Creole for Kidz featuring Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience, The MAKs and Mason Porter.

The Martin Stage will host Jerron Paxton & Dennis Lichtman, Robbie Fulks, Mary Gauthier, Campbell Brothers and Sam Bush.

Sunday’s performers on the Tank Stage will be Van Gordon, Jeff Mamett, The Describers, John Francis O’Mara, Spencer LaJoye, Heather Hurlock and Maria Woodford.

Ticket prices for the Philadelphia Folk Festival start at $111.05.

On August 16, Grammy Award-winning guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Christone “Kingfish” Ingram will headline the 2026 Concerts Under the Stars series in King of Prussia, which is now in its 40th season.

Presented and produced by Rising Sun Presents, the team behind the Philly suburbs’ premier music venues Ardmore Music Hall and 118 North in Wayne, the summer-long series takes place at the scenic Upper Merion Township Building Park (175 West Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia, www.concertsunderthestarskop.com).

Ingram previously has headlined Concerts Under the Stars in 2024 and 2023.

Ingram is now touring in support of his fourth album (and third studio album), “Hard Road.”

The hard-hitting album was released on Red Zero Records on September 26, 2025.

In October 2024, Ingram announced the launch of his new record label, Red Zero Records, in partnership with Exceleration Music. Ingram serves as the label’s CEO, alongside his longtime manager Ric Whitney as president.

Ingram wrote or co-wrote all the songs on “Hard Road.”

Five of the tracks were produced by Tom Hambridge in Nashville, four were produced by Patrick “GuitarBoy” Hayes in Los Angeles, and two were produced by Nick Goldston in Memphis, with each producer using different sets of musicians for the recording sessions.

The roster of session musicians included James “Jbrab” Brabham and Marty Sammon on Hammond organs; Tim “88karats” Tyler, Glenn Worf, and Tommy Macdonald on bass; Harrell “Red” Davenport on harmonica; Kendall Nesbitt and CJ Ramsey III on keyboards; Joseph Knox Jr. on drums; and Kenny Greenberg on guitar.

The producers were also players with Hayes on guitar, bass, drums; Goldston on bass, keyboard, drums, guitar, background vocals; Hambridge on drums, chimes, background vocals; and Sarah and Rachel Hambridge on background vocals.

Ingram, who also contributed to the score of the Oscar-winning 2025 film “Sinners,” and Whitney were the executive producers.

The album displays Ingram’s precocious and impressive ability to mesh together traditional Delta Blues with rock, jazz, funk, pop soul and modern blues.

“I started recording the album in 2021 and worked on it up until last year,” said Ingram, during a phone interview Thursday afternoon from New Nork City.

“I was looking for a new sound, and I knew these producers and what to expect from them.

“I recorded some at Playback Studio in L.A., some at NRG Recording Studios in L.A. and some at my own studio, which is starting out small with digital equipment.

“With Tom in Nashville, it was blues and rock. With Patrick in Los Angeles, it was R&B. With Nick in Memphis, it was pop.

“I spent three weeks in Nashville, one in Memphis and the rest in L.A., where I’m now living.

“As far as my sound, I’ve been expanding my blues influence. For me, it’s all about the strong influence of the blues. I show younger audiences a little of the blues and get them hooked.

“We’ve been blessed with playing festivals and getting exposed to younger crowds. And we opened for Snoop Dog.”

Ingram had just turned 20 when he debuted with his 2019 album, “Kingfish.” Even so, he’d already been gigging around his hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi, for years, having learned to play at the Delta Blues Museum’s music-education program.

Ingram’s mentor, the late guitarist Bill “Howlin’ Mad” Perry – who gave Ingram the name “Kingfish” – would bring star pupils from the classes to perform with him at the Ground Zero Blues Club, partly owned by Morgan Freeman

“Hard Road” remains rooted in Kingfish’s singing and searing blues guitar playing, but the songwriting veers into more modern approaches, with touches of rock, pop and R&B.

The songs’ lyrics also explore emotionally raw and complex topics of love, loss, identity and personal growth. Ingram, now 26, has seen a lot more of the world – literally and metaphorically – than he did as a debut artist.

In recent years he has lost his mother, Princess, his earliest and biggest supporter; he’s toured the world; he’s worked with legends like Guy and Steve Miller; and he’s appeared in the hit 2025 film “Sinners.” And now he’s started a label and begun establishing himself in a new world. All of these experiences are reflected in the songs of “Hard Road.”

“I’ve continued to have steady growth,” said Ingram. “The new album showcases my voice.

“You can hear the range that I have. Also, my guitar playing has grown. You can hear different things I’m learning such as music theory.”

Ingram celebrated his third Alligator Records release, “Live In London,” with a live performance at Brooklyn Bowl in Philadelphia back in October 2024.

The album was recorded on June 6, 2023, in front of a sweaty, sold-out, standing-room-only crowd at the famous U.K. club, The Garage.

“Live In London” is the guitar-driven live album Ingram’s diehard fans around the world have been clamoring for since they first watched him perform as a teenager on YouTube.

According to Ingram, “This album is a short lifetime in the making. I’ve long had an interest in recording a live album and I finally felt the timing was right.

“Not only do I have a deeper catalog of music to choose from, but I also have been extensively touring with my band, both of which truly made recording a live album seamless. Sprinkle in the opportunity to perform in a city I love, it’s all a no-brainer and something that makes me deeply proud.”

Throughout the concert, Ingram’s command over his instrument is more than impressive. He remains in the moment, at times raining down incendiary solos, other times picking poignant, blues-drenched licks, but always playing deeply from his heart. Along with his versatile, tight-knit band, he brings intensity and honesty to each song, moving the audience from hushed disbelief to spontaneous, extended ovations.

“Live In London” features the internationally recognized guitar prodigy and vocalist performing 17 songs, with tracks including material from both of his previous studio albums, 2019’s GRAMMY-nominated debut, “Kingfish,” and 2021’s GRAMMY-winning “662.”

“Live In London” also includes two potent, new original songs, “Midnight Heat” and “Mississippi Night,” as well as a blistering version of Michael “Iron Man” Burks’ “Empty Promises.”

When Ingram played Upper Merion Concerts Under the Stars series in June 2023, he was still touring in support of “662.”

The tour — “Christone “Kingfish” Ingram Presents 662: Juke Joint Live” – took the young guitarist, vocalist and songwriter across the U.S. and Europe.

Many blues guitarists have been playing for decades. Ingram’s guitar playing gives listeners the impression that he too has been at it for decades.

In reality, he is barely two decades old. He was born in Mississippi in January 1999 and has been exposed to the blues since he was a toddler.

In addition to the Grammy nomination (his second in two years), “662” was named the #1 Best Blues Album of 2021 by UK tastemaker magazine, MOJO.

It features 13 songs (and one previously released bonus track) displaying many sides of Ingram’s personality, as well as his one-of-a-kind guitar and vocal skills.

Ingram describes “662” (the number is northern Mississippi’s telephone area code) as “a presentation of my life in and away from the Delta.”

The album overflows with hard-hitting original songs, jaw-dropping guitar work and deep, soul-possessed vocals.

“I actually recorded ‘662’ during the pandemic,” said Ingram. “We spent a full week at Ocean Way Studio in Nashville, which was the same studio I used for my first album.

“We had writing sessions on Zoom from May through September and then went in the studio two weeks later. It went pretty smooth. I learned a lot from making my first record.

“It helped having Tom produce both of the albums. He knows how to pull things out of me. The album shows my growth. It was two years since my first record, and I had a lot of things happen in my life. My mom passed away. Then there was COVID.

“I wanted to make a personal record. I wanted to show a different side. People know me for edgy and hardness, but I also have a soul and R&B vibe. We had 20 songs going into the studio and recorded them all. We used 13 and we’ll use the other songs later.”

Ingram grew up with the blues.

“I come from Clarksdale, Mississippi – the Mecca of blues,” said Ingram. “I remember seeing the PBS documentary on Muddy Waters when I was pretty young. And I lived next door to a blues band.

“I was exposed to the blues a lot as a young child. I actually started as a bass player. My first paid gig playing bass was with the All Night Long Blues Band. I was 11 at the time.”

It didn’t take long for Ingram to switch from bass to lead guitar.

“I was playing bass, but I always wanted to play guitar,” said Ingram. “But, when I was young, my fingers were too big for guitar. I started with a cheap Sears & Roebuck guitar. An Epiphone 335 was my first real guitar. I got it for Christmas when I was in middle school.

“When I was 14-15, I played guitar for a local band. I just wanted to do something different. I wanted to put my own thing together. I wanted to play guitar. Playing guitar was original.”

Ingram explained the origin of his nickname.

“My mentor from the Delta Museum gave kids nicknames,” said Ingram. “He called me Kingfish. He said Kingfish was a character on the ‘Amos‘n’Andy Show.’

“My biggest influences were Albert King, Little Milton, B.B. King, Son House, Freddie King and Skip James. I was also influenced by Ernie Isley, Jimi Hendrix, Prince and George Benson.

“Even though I was influenced by Jimi and Prince, I never had an actual intent to merge rock and blues. I just want to experiment and see what I come up with. I just like to create stuff.

“Making the guitar sing – that’s when playing with substance comes into play. I love playing originals.”

“Hard Road” features only originals – many of which have found a home in his live performances.

“In my current live shows, I’m playing about half the songs from ‘Hard Road,’” said Ingram. “The rest of the set list is older stuff.

“With the new songs, I wanted to see what I could bring to the table. More than jut old blues, I wanted to bring a younger energy.”

Video link for Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – https://youtu.be/1JKTwgujXlA?si=PvlEP7n5dyXhHd5-.

The Concerts Under the Stars show on August 16, which has Mathias Lattin as the opening act, will start at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $46.06.

Other Concerts Under the Stars shows this weekend will feature Neal Francis with Pearl Charles on August 14 and The Dave Matthews Tribute Band with Rift: Phish Tribute on August 15.

Five performers present an evening of rowdy, raunchy, and humorous songs that encapsulate the various moods of the era and reflect Waller’s view of life as a journey meant for pleasure and play.

The Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Wilmington, Delaware, www.candlelighttheatredelware.com) is presenting one of the all-time favorite family musicals – “Annie.”

The show remains one of the biggest Broadway musical hits ever. It has been performed in 28 languages and has been running somewhere around the world for 45 years.

The beloved score for “Annie” includes “Maybe,” “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You,” and the eternal anthem of optimism, “Tomorrow.”

The Candlelight’s production of “Annie” is running until August 30.

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) will have “Pure Petty: A Tribute to Tom Petty” on August 14, “Angry Young Band: Billy Joel Tribute” (ROOFTOP) on August 15 and New Summer Sounds Series (Round 3) on August 16.

Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org) is presenting “80’s Revolution!” on August 14, “Back Home Again -– A Tribute to John Denver” on August 16,

On August 14, Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, www.jameyshouseofmusic.com) will host the Alicia Maxwell Project and Barkley Cove will headline on August 15.

On August 16 from noon-3 p.m., it will be time for the “OFF TO COLLEGE PARTY! for JONATHAN & ERIN.”

Steve Shanahan and his Blues Muthas will get things rolling at noon at the free event with a high-octane set of classic 60’s and 70’s blues-rock that gets the room rocking for Jamey’s super star servers — Jonathan and Erin who will head off to college in a week.

On its website, Jamey’s posts this message – “We invite you to join us in celebrating these incredible kids. We love them to pieces and know you do too! We’re going to miss them big time and want to send them off with a party they will long remember.”

The Elkton Music Hall (107 North Street, Elkton, Maryland, www.elktonmusichall.com) will present Pam Tillis with special guest Melissa Quinn Fox on August 14, “Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience” on August 15 and River Shook with special guest Olivia Ellen Lloyd on August 19.