Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers are at it again. After competing in the International Blues Competition in previous years under the auspices of Boston Blues Society, this January they’ll be representing the Granite State Blues Society. With all the years of experience Harpe and her band have in the blues field and in this international competition, it’s a safe bet they’ll put in a strong showing in Memphis. For the time being, Harpe and her band are focused on helping the New Hampshire blues society raise enough money for her and the other GSBS competitors to travel to the competition. The event, titled The Road To Memphis Starts Here will be held on Sunday, November 20th at Jewel night club in Manchester.
Harpe was on hand this morning to grant this interview: This latest journey began with her band, Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers, winning the Granite State Blues Society’s Blues Challenge earlier this year.
“It was very exciting,” Harpe exclaimed. “It’s always exciting, and I never go in expecting to win. Though I do feel more confident now after playing five hundred plus gigs with this band all over the country.”
The New Hampshire Blues Challenge, hosted by the Granite State Blues Society, offered a different experience than the one she’s competed in for Boston Blues Society over the years. Yet, the Memphis competition fits her plans like a glove.
“The Granite State Blues Society holds their competition much earlier in the year than the Boston Blues Society. Winners of all the Blues Challenges in the world compete at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, which takes place in January.”
“Our plan,” Harpe continued, “has been to do a southern tour based around the IBC, to cut down on expenses and to get us more exposure. The earlier we knew we were in, the earlier the tour could be booked. Right now. it’s already almost three quarters booked, so we have had more time to plan it than if we’d waited to participate in the BBS challenge, which is several months later. And then again, if we hadn’t won in New Hampshire, we could have still entered the BBS challenge, as some of the other GSBS challenge entrants said they were planning to.”
Granite State Blues Society allows blues bands from outside New Hampshire to compete in their blues challenge. Blues does not really have a state border and other factors make it fitting for these residents of Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood to represent the Granite State in Memphis. Harpe and her Delta Swingers have long had a New Hampshire connection as they play Strange Brew Tavern in Manchester, Pittman’s Freight Room in Laconia, and several other New Hampshire venues.
“We are a New England band,” Harpe stated flatly. “We’ve always played more gigs outside Boston, including all around New Hampshire, than we do in Boston, and right now the music scene in Boston is tougher than ever. When we started the Delta Swingers there was a nice and supportive blues scene in Boston, even though it wasn’t what it was back in its heyday, with a few gathering places for bands and fans of the genre. At the heart was, of course, Smoken’ Joe’s, and then there was Johnny D’s. Since they’ve been gone, I feel more of a disconnect from our place of residence. And simultaneously it’s becoming so expensive to live here, and people are going out to support music less and there’s more competition. Also the traffic getting out of Boston is horrendous. I hate to say it but we might not be ‘from Boston’ for the duration of our career. We are planning to move some place cheaper as soon as we can, so our identity is going to be more about the music in the future and not about where we live.”
A lot of Harpe’s Delta Swingers material is covers of vintage blues and originals inspired by vintage blues from the Mississippi Delta. Her song selections may or may not have contributed to their success with the judges both in Boston and in New Hampshire.
“We usually play the songs we feel get the best audience response for the competitions,” Harpe started, “but we also take into consideration the judging criteria, which applies to all the competitions, blues content, vocals, talent, originality, and stage presence. Weighted most is blues content, which is very hard to anticipate because you don’t know who your judges will be or what their personal taste in blues may be. The IBC tries to get a spectrum of judges, including proponents of the early Delta blues style that we like.”
The upcoming January competition in Memphis will mark the second time Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers have competed, having won the local Boston Blues Challenge in 2011 and 2014. Harpe and the Delta Swinger’s then harmonica player Richard “Rosy” Rosenblatt, went down as an acoustic duo 2013.The band made it to the semi-finals the first year they competed and Harpe and Rosenblatt got as far as that in their duo competition.
“It was exciting The most recent time when we didn’t make it we were pitted up against big showy, six-piece plus bands, and we didn’t advance,” Harpe recounted. “That’s one reason my advice to new bands competing in the IBC is not to add extra members to your band for your blues challenge: you’ll end up in the quarter finals with all the big bands with full-on horn sections, and they will blow you away. They won’t be hiring extra members for a one-off either, they’ll be super-prepared and professional. We noticed the competition has gotten more serious, meaning there’s some world-class talent coming into this blues competition, with many very talented bands competing from all over the USA as well as a growing number of international bands. The competition used to be more of an “amateur” competition, but not anymore”
Having previous experience competing in Memphis might give Harpe and her band you an edge in terms of knowing what material works there and how much to step up their game.
“For one, I’ll be less nervous,” Harpe quipped. “I’ll take it more seriously. The first time around it was a fun party and competition didn’t seem as stiff. Seeing the progression of quality and competitiveness go up, I have a lot more ideas about how to present the band“
The Granite State Blues Challenge, held months ago, gave Harpe and her band mates their first chance to meet New Hampshire and Central Massachusetts blues legend Arthur James, the fellow who won the acoustic solo portion of the challenge. James will also be performing at the GSBS Memphis fundraiser as well as competing in Memphis this January.
“I like his style musically, right up my alley,” Harpe said. “I’m on the road so much with two bands and my acoustic thing that I don’t really have much time to get together and jam.”
James felt pretty much the same way: “It was a thrill for me to finally get to see Erin as I’ve tried running up and down Beale several times through the years,” he said. “Got to hear her. Plus, hang a bit and chat and laugh.”
Never succinct, the blues guitarist-vocalist who looms tall in the scene, went on to say: “I’m always stoked to head out on the road for the IBCs or for shows out of the Northeast. I’d rather drive 1000 miles and play to complete strangers and walk away with some new friends. As to playing a local bar to the same handful of town drunks and a few of my family and friends, they’ll always tell ya yer great; no matter what. This doesn’t advance anyone as a musician, and it’s not my cup of meat, as Dylan would say.”
The Sunday, November 20th fundraiser will be held at Jewel in Manchester, a nightclub that recently started showcasing blues bands on Sunday nights, and it marks the EH&TDS first time performing at the venue. “It’ll be our debut show there. We’re looking forward to it,” Harpe said.
Harpe said her band has some special songs selected for the November 20th fundraiser. She’s hoping to have her IBC preview ready, with some original material and all of her fan favorites. “We’re also launching our online fundraiser soon through Indiegogo, so our fans from all over can take part and share in the fun,” she exclaimed.
The Road To Memphis Starts Here fundraiser will also feature Youth Showcase Artist Veronica Lewis. It begins at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 20 at Jewel, 61 Canal Street, Manchester, New Hampshire.
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