The C-U Folk and Roots Festival is pleased to be bringing Seattle-based blues musician and former popular festival performer, Del Rey, to town for a concert and two workshops. The concert is at the Iron Post on Saturday, May 6th, 6:30-9:30pm, $15 in advance (ticket fees apply), $20 at the door. Guitarists, don’t miss her “Off The Record: Figuring Out Memphis Minnie in G” workshop at Techline on Sunday, May 7th, 1:00-2:15pm, $30 workshop only, $40 concert and workshop. And stick around for the ukulele workshop, also at Techline, 2:15-4:00pm, $30 workshop only, $40 concert and workshop. For all events, purchase your advance tickets here.
Del Rey is a complex, pianistic guitarist, described as “a combination of Bo Carter and the Andrews Sisters” (Observant Fan). Her guitar playing is influenced by country blues, stride piano, classic jazz and hillbilly boogie-all filtered through the sensibility of an autodidact trailer-park aesthete.
Del is fascinated with the ukulele and plays the same kind of complicated rhythmic blues and ragtime on four strings as she does on six. She expects a lot out of the little instrument, and usually gets it. “The ukulele taken to a new level of musicianship”. (John Book)
Her live show is full of complex grooves and sly humor. “Virtuosic in just the right way, which is to say, in order to realize a musical idea. A very nice unlikely blend of things, accessible, slightly nostalgic, but fresh and thoughtful. ” (CD Baby review, “At The Ukeshack #1)
“Del Rey, who plays a syncopated style of guitar based on prewar blues and barrelhouse piano traditions, is one of the best fingerpickers of this or any generation. “ Ian Zack, Acoustic Guitar.