1.Growing Up
My parents were traveling preachers so I moved a lot as a child. Music was always there but it never became a serious interest until much later. My brothers played guitar and piano respectively and so I learned bass. We had a small band of brothers and we played around whichever town we were in at the time. I taught myself guitar at 16 and that was probably the beginning of music for me, as it resonates with me today.
2.Inspirations
As a child I was introduced to a lot of North American pop and rock’n’roll from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. We were from the US so that was the music my father grew up on. Things like The Temptations, The Ink Spots, Curtis Mayfield, The Eagles. It wasn’t until later that I discovered early Delta Blues through researching Bob Dylan and found a well of amazing music that changed what I thought music was good for. Hearing Blind Willy Johnson’s ‘Dark Was The Night’ was a major turning point.
3.Your Band
I started The Delta Revue four years ago: the lineup has changed quite a bit over that time, but Stephen Pitts, who acts as a sort of band leader and lead guitarist, has been with me from the inception. We studied music together and he acts as an interpreter for me to the other musicians.
4.The Music You Make
We area grunge blues band with a hint of croon. Live, you can expect anything from a solo performance to nine-piece band depending on the venue. Our music is fluid – it’s not a record performed live. We recently recorded with JonBoyRock at Music Feeds Studio in St. Peters. There is a record we are yet to release, but our single ‘Mama Don’t Weep’ was released in July.
5.Music, Right Here, Right Now
I think a vibrant music scene exists. However due to the government’s continued shift away from supporting the arts, it seems to be forcing both venues and artists into a sort of survival instinct that focuses more on money, which stifles creativity and innovation. Frances Martin is consistently pulling amazing artists from across the country into Cafe Lounge for Folkswagon which we have been a part of, playing a residency, for six months straight.
Colin Jones And The Delta Revue play Leadbelly Newtown on Saturday October 1.
