As Leaves Turn, a Return to Roots

This September, songwriter Frederick Ingram revisits his acoustic roots and looks ahead with his largest festival gigs to date.

 

A short stay in East Tennessee in the late 1990s stirred a love of acoustic instruments, prompting him to acquire a 12-string and set forth as a troubadour upon returning to Columbia, South Carolina, where he performed his own material at open mics, accompanied others on bass, and placed a couple of songs on local compilation CDs.

 

Now Ingram is set to make his first appearance in the Mountain Empire, performing in the 2014 Johnson City Folk Festival alongside 70 of the best acoustic acts in the region.

 

This year has already seen Ingram appear at Camden, SC’s Jammin’ in July for the first time, as well as performing during intermissions in the steamy cabaret tent at Twin City RibFest in Winston-Salem, NC, a major BBQ festival that drew an estimated 35,000 people in three days. Now he’s been given a more prominent stage at an even greater gathering.

 

SPARKcon, a multidisciplinary creative convergence sponsored by Raleigh’s Visual Art Exchange, is expected to draw 50,000 souls. Ingram is to headline the acoustic acts, bursting into his signature rendition of Katy Perry’s “Firework” right before the real pyrotechnics light up the sky. (Also gracing the Courthouse Stage will be Columbia local William “White Willie” Christopher.)

 

Another noteworthy event has been Ingram’s recent performance in New York City at Adorama, as part of its OnSet series of professional photography workshops. Videos from these sessions are expected to be released shortly.

Dates and info at http://frederickingram.com.