"Three words – swing / soul / pentatonic – these things are the roots that connect all those musics and all the folk musics of the world."

Vicky Martin: The Delta Lady

Delta Ladies are a multi-instrumental duo – Vicky Martin Guitar / Ukulele / Fish & Diana Stone Piano / Fiddle / Accordion – often described as ‘two lovely London ladies of doubtful origin’. The music covers a wide range from Country to Bluegrass, Roots to Blues, and Swing to Skiffle and they also specialize in an old time sing-a-long set. The Deltas have played every sort of venue and several festivals, they’ve also toured France. Deltas can expand to a trio or quartet to play vintage rock ‘n roll and swing standards.

The Delta Ladies have played hundreds of shows in the UK and Europe, including shows at London’s world famous 100 Club, the Famous Eel Pie Club (home of British Blues), they appeared with French Band AWEK at the Blues at Beziers Festival, and were backing band for Linda Gail Lewis (Jerry Lee’s sister). The Delta Ladies have a glowing reputation for varied entertaining shows. Diana Stone’s fiddle showcases are a special highlight; particularly Neil Young’s ‘Like a Hurricane’, Dylan’s ‘All Along the Watchtower’ and Americana classics ‘Orange Blossom Special’ and ‘Mystery Train’. Shows include R&B & Swing tunes from Fats Domino, Ray Charles, Louis Jordan, T Bone Walker, and a selection of American roots music on traditional Appalachian instruments. Several noted musicians have played with the DELTA LADIES at various times including; Alan Glen (Yardbirds), Tony Reeves (John Mayall, John Martyn), Art Themen (Stan Tracey), Louis Cennamo (Renaissance),  Rafael Ravenscroft (Baker Street- Gerry Rafferty / Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon), Robin Bibi, Gwyn Ashton, Nick Newell (Zoot Money). Delta Ladies second album is ‘They Can’t Take Away My Rock & Roll’.

Interview by Michael Limnios

What do you learn about yourself from the blues and what does the blues mean to you?

Well the blues is just one of the wells that we draw from – we take from the whole range of roots music – that’s country / bluegrass and folk as well – plus we take a lot from the field of jazz, swing and New Orleans – not that we especially play jazz, but we do approach music with a jazz mentality – we like to improvise and stretch tunes around. We like to take a chance by changing the harmony; we’ll try Stormy Monday using major 7 chords instead of 7ths, or we’ll substitute different chords within the song.  We consider that the blues is a soul thing – a feeling –we find it in a wide range of music – Hank Williams / Louis Jordan / John Coltrane / Tom Waits / Billie Holiday and so many places. We also learn that we get easily bored – that’s why we keep on moving and experimenting – and we like a lot of Real Ale along the way.

How do you describe your sound and progress, what characterize DELTA LADIES BAND philosophy?

Our fundamental philosophy is to entertain the people and drink real ale – wherever we play –We don’t like to stay in the same place musically, we like to explore different songs and music – we never copy the original but we like to draw from the original source for our inspiration– so for instance when we do ‘All Along  the Watchtower’ we forget about the Hendrix version and listen to Dylan – we’ll try it slowed down with a fiddle solo instead of a guitar solo – or we’ll try a different guitar tuning – renaissance tuning (third string down to F#) gives an interesting twist. Or we’ll listen to some New Orleans – take a rhythm or riff and then expand it and try and write something on it, or we’ll just go for a drink.

Which is the most interesting period in your life? Which was the best and worst moment of your career? 

The most interesting hasn’t been the easiest, but for both of us since we were able to play and do music full-time it’s been a fascinating struggle – to grow and develop as performers as artistes in a time when economics mitigate against music and creativity as possibly never before, its also been interesting to see how real ale has developed as a popular drink in the UK.

Why did you think that the Jazz and Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following?

Because its music that speaks from the heart to the heart – you can express the deepest things or the greatest joys – it’s inexhaustible in its possibilities – like a sea in which an ant can drink and an elephant can drown. It can be like that but it often isn’t.

What’s the best jam you ever played in? What are some of the most memorable gigs you've had?

We tend to gig around 130 /150 times a year so we don’t get time to go to jam sessions – if we do then we like a little refreshment from blues and go to a world music jam session of which there are some in London.

Which meetings have been the most important experiences for you? What is the best advice ever given you?

Meetings? Well we went to Wilco Johnson’s house and that was great – he confirmed what we believe – ‘do it your way – there aren’t any rules and if you wanna be noticed do it different’ – that’ s probably one of the best bits of advice. The other is something our Mums told us – ‘always wear a clean pair of knickers’.

Are there any memories from recording and show time which you’d like to share with us?

From recording? Yes that drummers and bass players can be a total pain in the butt – our memories of this aren’t good – neither would they be for the drummers and bass players we’ve had to sack…

From live shows? Well it was great meeting Larry Garner he was a right laugh, Chris Farlowe too –he was very funny – best of all is Alan Glen (Nine Below Zero, Yardbirds)– he plays with us on various dates now and is a superb musician, and easily the best harmonica player around…also that beer makes many things more bearable.

What do you miss most nowadays from the old days of music? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

We miss the days when there were many more venues, when the money was better, when there were less of these boring guitar trios, most of all we miss the days when London was real hive of live music, because now it’s the pits there’s hardly anywhere left to play – a tragedy for a city that was once so alive.

Which memory from Larry Garner, Chris Farlowe, Earl Jackson, Alan Glen and Gwyn Ashton makes you smile?

Larry Garner said something so funny it killed us – but we daren’t repeat it. Otherwise it was Gwyn Ashton telling us about the history of vegetarianism and the independence for kidderminster movement.

What are the lines that connect the legacy of Blues with Skiffle and continue to Swing, Bluegrass and Roots?

Three words – swing / soul / pentatonic – these things are the roots that connect all those musics and all the folk musics of the world.

What does it mean to be a blueswoman in a “Man’s, Man’s World” as James Brown says?

We don’t call ourselves blueswomen –we call ourselves musicians and entertainers – that’s our job.

Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really wanna go for a whole day..?

To the day we met Jimmy Hendrix at Manor House North London in 1967 – we’d like to ask him more questions – and also tell him to be very careful when in Notting Hill…

Delta Ladies - official website