Lightnin’ Wells

Location: R.A. Fountain

from our promo for this concert

Wells, who lives in Fountain, recently won first place in the old-time banjo competition at the Hoppin’ John Festival, where he also placed second in folk song performance.

A native West Virginian, Wells grew up in Goldsboro and for many years lived in Farmville. He built his musical reputation as a bluesman and today is generally regarded as one of the leading practitioners of the Piedmont style of blues.

But Wells performances are much more than the blues, said Alex Albright, Fountain General Store proprietor: “Lightnin’s an entertainer in the truest sense of the word. He brings something new to each show, and his mix of material keeps them moving at a brisk pace, too.”

Wells plays acoustic and resonator guitars as well as banjo, harmonica, mandolin and several kinds of ukuleles, including the South American tiple. He also is an expert whistler and yodeler.

His shows mix Piedmont with Delta blues, gospel, country, old-time, vaudeville and hokum, and early American pop songs.

Tags: blues, Delta blues, folk, gospel, guitar, old-time, Piedmont blues