Steve James and Del Ray in Ballymore

These two fantastic blues artists play The Ballymore Inn next Monday, November 7. Doors open 9:00pm.

As I haven't seen either of these artists before, the following bios are taken from Del's and Steve's websites respectively where you can get further details. I spoke to the promoter this morning and he tells me they are in rare form so it promises to be a cracker. 

Del Rey started playing classical guitar when she was four. As a teenager she met bluesman Sam Chatmon who inspired her to become a blues queen. Her guitar playing combines country blues, stride piano, classic jazz and hillbilly boogie through the sensibility of an autodidact trailor-park esthete. Her live show is full of complex guitar grooves and sly humor.

Del Rey plays concerts world wide and also presents a concert/lecture on women musicians called Women in American Music. She collaborates and tours frequently with Austin guitarist Steve James and she plays ukulele with The Yes Yes Boys. Since 2004 she has been collaborating with Maria Mulduar on tributes to Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Johnny Cash, and she is featured on Ms Muldaur's latest cd Sweet Lovin' Old Soul. Del Rey also writes about music for various publications, including Acoustic Guitar.

Del Rey has recorded three solo albums, X-Rey Guitar (Hobemian 2000), Hot Sauce (Hobemian 1995) and Boogie Mysterioso (Hobemian 1993). In 2003 she released a collection of performances Del Rey: Live.
With The Yes Yes Boys she has recorded Why Say No? (Hobemian 2002) and, with Steve James, Tonight (Hobemian 2004) andTwins (Hobemian 2002).

With Del Rey and the Blues Gators she recorded Chartruese (Hobemian 1991) and Cafe Society (Kicking Mule 1985).

Steve James is a well known name among devotees of contemporary acoustic folk and blues; this notoriety based on numerous critically acclaimed recordings, a tireless international tour schedule and a sheaf of published work including articles, instruction books and videos.

His instrumental versatility (on guitar, slide guitar, mandolin, guitar-banjo) also makes him a favorite at music camps and workshop programs.

In the studio, his solo efforts have been enriched by musical contributions from fellow travelers Bob Brozman, Bad Livers, Alvin Youngblood Hart,Cindy Cashdollar, Gary Primich, Ruthie Foster, and his frequent duet partner Del Rey.

In turn, Steve has recorded with a diverse crew including Maria Muldaur, James McMurtry, Jesse 'Babyface' Thomas and Kevin Russell of the Gourds. He's played live with a slate of blues/roots luminaries including John Hammond, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy and Howard Armstrong. His original songs have been variously covered by artists from new-folk phenom Ana Egge to folk/blues godfather Dave Van Ronk.

Steve has also appeared on numerous compilation albums, including a recent Grammy-nominated tribute to Mississippi Fred McDowell and an homage to Charley Patton to which he contributed both music and liner notes.

A noted traveler, Steve James has toured extensively, playing at festivals,concerts and clubs throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Ireland and the UK, continental Europe, Australia and Brazil and China.

So there you have it. I am familiar with the music of many of the names referred to in the bios and I can assure you that this pair keep exalted company. So are ye comin'.......?

See you there if you are.

Roy Thompson.