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Reading’s City Park Bandshell Concerts open July 12

May 14, 2019
At a bandshell concert in Reading

The Berks Arts Council’s Bandshell Concert series will get off to a hot start this summer with Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and the Blues.

Once a generation, a blues artist comes along who not only reminds mainstream audiences how deeply satisfying and emotionally moving the best blues music can be, but shakes the genre to its core. With both eyes on the future and the blues in his blood, 20-year-old guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Christone “Kingfish” Ingram is taking the music world by storm.
A student of the Delta’s musical history, he is acutely aware of the musicians and the music that emerged from his corner of the world. “I do think I have an old soul, that I’ve been here before,” he says. “I’m moving forward with one foot in the past.” And although he grew up near the crossroads where Robert Johnson allegedly cut a deal with the devil, Kingfish insists he didn’t do any of that to make his guitar howl the blues. “I just practice all the time,” he says. “That that’s the only deal I made, and it’s with myself.”

The Berks Arts Council has partnered with the City of Reading and Berks County to host free community concerts each summer at the City Bandshell. Now in its 29th year, the Bandshell features a diverse lineup of national and international artists which present unique musical styles to enjoy and explore music from around the world. The 2019 Dates are July 12, 19, 26 and August 2nd. Watch this page for the announcement of artists.

Concert-goers are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs and, of course, their dancing shoes to City Park to experience great music in a natural setting.

Listen to WEEU 830AM Stereo each week for artist interviews and weather-related schedule changes. Alcohol and smoking are not permitted in City Park.

Berks Arts Council offers special thanks to the 2018 Bandshell Concert Series sponsors: County of Berks, City of Reading, Reading Eagle Company, Land Display, FirstEnergy Foundation, Visions Credit Union, and Century21 Gold.

Click here for information on 2019 performances.

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