Join us for the inaugural Blues Fest at Castle Ridge on Saturday, April 11th, 2026. This event will headline Albert Cummings with special guests Cat Daddy’O and Kingdom Brothers.
Get tickets now at https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/53954711/albert-cummings-centralia-castle-ridge.
Albert Cummings is an American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter whose commanding guitar work and soulful vocals have made him a standout in the contemporary blues scene. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Cummings developed a deep passion for music at an early age, beginning on the banjo and bluegrass before being captivated by the electric blues influences of legends such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, and Jimi Hendrix.
Although trained as a builder and master carpenter, Cummings’ musical path took shape with his first public blues performance in the late 1990s and his debut album, The Long Way, released independently in 2000 with his band Swamp Yankee. His dynamic fusion of blues, rock, and storytelling soon drew attention. When members of Vaughan’s former rhythm section—bass legend Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton—volunteered to play on his 2003 solo debut From the Heart, the blues world took notice.
Signing with the revered blues label Blind Pig Records, Cummings released albums such as True to Yourself (2004) and Working Man (2006), the latter cementing his reputation as a touring force and recording artist of significant range and impact. Over the years, he has shared stages with blues luminaries such as B.B. King, Johnny Winter, and Buddy Guy, further broadening his musical reach. In his later work, Cummings continues to evolve. Albums like Believe (2020) and TEN (2022) showcase a deeper sonic palette while remaining rooted in the soul of the blues. His most recent release, Strong (2024), debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart, further underscoring his status as a modern torchbearer for the genre and a master craftsman of heartfelt, high-energy blues.
Cat Daddy’O is the kind of hard-working band that epitomizes the soulful stylings of old-school rhythm and blues. Described by Nightlife as packing “a powerful punch with a hurt-so-good feeling”, this Southern Illinois blues trio rocks and rolls under the arrangement of 40-year Chicago blues veteran Johnny Shea (lead guitar) and a thundering rhythm section of Uncle Lou Thery (bass), Kyle Docherty (drums), formerly a staple in the Nashville music scene manning the kit for country star Jeremy Kent, and Omni recording artist Chris Thornton (saxophone/vocals).
Kingdom Brothers, a St. Louis, Missouri band, plays powerful original music that combines blues, R&B, and Gospel influences. When blues veteran and Kingdom Brothers’ founder Bob Walther formed the group in 2005, he reached out to established area musicians who wanted to do something really different on the St. Louis music scene. The group decided to concentrate on blues, R&B covers and originals that mostly have a positive message. The band demonstrates that, as the title of one of their songs states, “The Blues Don’t Have to Be Sad”. This fresh approach was a bit risky, but has paid huge dividends for the band, attracting a large and devoted following in the St. Louis market. Kingdom Brothers were selected to represent the St. Louis Blues Society in the 2015 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, appearing in the semi-finals. The band continues to win over fans at each performance.
Event Schedule – Saturday, March 21, 2026
• 6:00 PM – Early Entry
• 6:30 PM – Doors Open
• 7:30 PM – Show Begins
📍 Venue: Castle Ridge
📍 Location: Centralia, Illinois