Appearing at:
Barrow R&B Club
Bar Continental, Abbey Road, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1LG
Friday 26th April 2013

Band Information:

“Think Otis Rush / Albert King backed by McVie and Fleetwood, recorded by Mike Vernon at Chess studios...”

“If you need an education on how to play the Blues properly, git yourself down to Skinny Gorilla if you're in Carlisle for The Deluxe's last set of the evening. Christian Sharpe & co are killing it tonight, big style.”

 “Fantastic blues band. Really soulful stuff - highly recommended.”

“Great band performance, as tight together as any act I've seen and I have seen some of the best.”

“really had the funk nailed for that stuff - and so many people miss it out.
Lovely groove.”

Christian Sharpe (vocals and guitar) was always surrounded by music. Dad was in a band and often brought friends back after gigs, instrument cases filling the room. Aged 12, Christian was bitten, drawing inspiration from Clapton and Hendrix records. Having experimented with rock, funk and jazz, Christian has always been drawn back to the blues. “It’s very hard to pick up a guitar and not play a blues riff.” If he were pressed for one hero, it would be Peter Green. “I love his simplicity and his economy; he’s unpretentious and he doesn’t just copy the blues, he gives it his own stamp.”

Christian first met Martin McDonald (guitar) years ago when he was in a house band at a funk night. “Martin and I have forged a great partnership, it works so well. It’s great to hear two guitarists of a similar stamp play together, respond to each other.”

Martin has played nothing but the blues since he was 13,  influenced by Stevie Ray- and Jimmie- Vaughan, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Nick Curran, to name a few. He featured in Blueskin for many years, followed by Groovejuice, and The Nailhead Hitters. He has toured with New York’s Russell "Hitman" Alexander for a couple of years in the UK. Mr McDonald captures the best Deluxe gigs with his laconic phrase “That had some good bits.” 

Rod Mackay (bass) took up the instrument aged 16, having played orchestral music from childhood. Heavily influenced by the percussive and relentless grooves of Bernard Edwards, Rod is drawn to the funky blues of Robert Cray and Albert King, and is delighted by the arrangements of James Jamerson and the Funk Brothers. “It’s all about that hypnotic, harmonic thump of a string moving air, driving the music. Mingus and Monk really got that too. Best bass note I ever felt was on a 1963 Jim Reeves Christmas album”.

Scott Broadhurst (drums) has played from the age of 14 in a wide variety of settings. He’s featured with cabaret artists, in strict tempo dance bands, big bands, jazz bands, and of course, he drives the blues. His influences include Steve Gadd, Rick Marotta, Buddy Rich and Mel Lewis. “Mick Fleetwood, Chris Whipper Layton and Per Hanson taught me how a shuffle should be played”. Scott listens intently to the whole band, the whole sound, riffing with the guitar rhythms. “I have a love affair with all aspects of music which I know will continue for the rest of my life.”  

Christian sums up: “The Deluxe sound is blues with an edge. More rhythmic emphasis. We  give the audience something new to take away, something to get their toes tapping.” British and American traditions feature, as Peter Green, and the 3 Kings: Albert, BB, and Freddie, all take their place in the mix. But, in the ethos of Henrik Freischlader, there’s a modern delivery. “We’ve had incredible feedback from the festivals and gigs we’ve played. We had a fantastic time in Denmark last summer. Now it’s about stepping up to the plate.”  

It was during his time as a semi-pro with the Rhythm Doctors in Kent that Christian met Peter Green. “I shook his hand and said ‘thank you for your influence.’ He gave me a wink. That was all I needed.”

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