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Four Bristol acts nominated for UK blues awards
There’s Bristol Blue Glass of course, and our distinctive blue taxis, but it seems it’s them low-down mean and dirty blues that’s getting the city national recognition.
Or it will be, if enough people vote for Bristol artists in the national UK Blues Federation annual award poll – the closing date being Sunday, March 1.
An impressive quarter of locally-rooted talent have reached the final shortlists in three different categories: Radio 2 favourite Elles Bailey is up for Blues Based Broadcaster of the Year, stinging guitarist Joe Wilkins for Blues Instrumentalist, and Kirris Riviere and the Delta du Bruit and True Stays both make the Emerging Act category.
There’s a nice symmetry to the three contenders as Joe has not only played with Kirris for many years (see video above) but is also the regular guitarist in Elles touring band.
It all reflects well on a thriving blues scene kept healthy over time by the mighty Eddie Martin and other stalwarts.
Singer and songwriter Elles has deservedly been a national and international Americana and Blues star for some time now – her current single Growing Roots was the most played tune on Radio 2 throughout the weekend it was released, with imminent album Can’t Take My Story Away likely to make just as big a splash.
Her latest national tour hits Electric Bristol on March 21.
Kirris Riviere and the Delta du Bruit have been around for a few years, too, but only recently do they seem to have caught wider attention, hence qualifying as an ‘emerging’ act.
In fact keyboard player and tunesmith Evan ‘Ev’ Newman laughs at the thought:”No – we didn’t know we were emerging – haha! But if enough people vote for us it would be something cool to win.”
Ev and Kirris formed the Delta du Bruit band from a previous collaboration.
The aim was to explore the melting pot of music coming from New Orleans over the years and to give Kirris more room to explore his vocal range.
Inspired by his Granddad’s collection of 78s Kirris had begun singing the blues from an early age, alongside his burgeoning career as an actor.
He eventually joined the band Morganfield where his powerhouse versions of old Muddy Waters songs soon got him attention.
He went on to form his own Kirris Riviere Blues Band – “a wild electric guitar driven blues rock outfit’ – and then Ev’s Damn Busters band combining classic R’n’B with delta piano grooves.
Kirris Riviere & The Delta Du Bruit (pic: Tony Benjamin)
The Delta du Bruit grew out of that project, post pandemic, and the band have put in the hours touring across the UK and Europe, with gigs in Holland, Germany, Ireland and France. “We’ve done some gruelling miles” Ev reflects.
“It’s not particularly glamorous most of the time but then there are real moments of magic on stage that make up for what you went through to get there. The band getting acknowledged in this poll does feel really good, especially after working so hard behind the scenes and together on the road.”
The band has a famously tight rhythm section, with uberguitarist Neil Smith (Brackish, Hucklebuck, This Is The Kit) often adding his magic touch but Ev is happy to concede what makes the band so ear-catching: “Kirris’ presence on stage and his tone are integral to everything – and I’ve seen it grow with the band’s expanded sound and energy, too.”
They’re impressive on record, too, with a re-pressing of their sold-out eponymous 2023 debut album due any day now, a live album recorded in France in the works and plans for a second studio waxing later this year.
But right now, along with Elles Bailey and Joe Wilkins, it’s all about getting those votes – and time is running out. If you want to support them check out the UK Blues Federation site, and remember to vote in five categories, cos them’s the rules.
Main photo: Rob Blackham
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