Here is what some people are saying about “Delta Reign”...
After performing for a packed Saenger theatre for USM “Roots Reunion” in Hattiesburg, MS...
"Delta Reign was a smashing hit with the Roots Reunion audience. The “delta style” bluegrass was a refreshing change to an audience quite accustomed to hearing bluegrass. When asked on a questionnaire what they liked best about the show a significant portion of the audience said “Delta Reign.” We are always happy when our newcomers get such a wonderful welcome to our lineup and look forward to the time when we can book Delta Reign again!..."
Dr. Curtis Austin, Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage U.S.M.
“Delta Reign blended bluegrass with smooth swing and a jam band vibe that was completely at home on the Thacker Mountain stage. Our audience has become spoiled by the wealth of talent that comes through Oxford, and yet, Delta Reign had them applauding individual solos. Delta Reign combines fine picking chops with vocal harmonies that are as sweet and true as a shot of moonshine down on the levee...”
Jim Dees, host, Thacker Mountain Radio, Oxford, MS
“Delta Reign performed at our White Sands Music Festival this past April. They did an outstanding job for us. They are all established musicians and they blend their music together beautifully. I had a lot of good comments from the fans about them. I asked them if they could come back the next day and back up the great Charlie McCoy, of Hee Haw fame, and they agreed. What a Show! They did a great job, it was like they had been playing with him all along. I’m having them back for my spring festival... I highly recommend Delta Reign for any festival or concert, you won't be disappointed...”
Harry Felder, promoter ~ White Sands Music Festival Chumuckla,
“Delta Reign played WZEW’s Second Tuesday concert series and were a big hit! With a great library of bluegrass classics, tight harmonies, and the band’s mastery of their instruments, Delta Reign is definitely one of the Gulf Coast’s bands to see.”
Sean Sullivan, Morning Show Host WZEW 92.1 “the ZEW”
"Delta Reign brings a fresh approach to our music with new tunes, good "pickin" and really nice vocals. They are sure to be crowd pleasers where ever their musical adventures may take them"
Jerry Williamson ~ bluegrass audio engineer
“If you are looking for true bluegrass, look no further than Delta Reign. Delta Reign will leave you begging for more. You will be hooked with unbelievable guitar and banjo riffs. Bring the ‘Delta’ to your next event and you will be 100% satisfied...”
Joe Langley ~ Director of Campus Activities ~University of Mobile
“Working in a restaurant with live music every night of the week, you tend to get a little hard to please. Delta Reign is one of our staff’s favorite bands... and that is high praise! Their rootsy bluegrass style always pleases our guests; from grandkids to grandparents, everyone dances!...”
Johnny Fisher, General Manager “Lulu’s” Gulf Shores, AL
“...I invited Pat and Benita with their band “Delta Reign” to perform at “St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus 2005 Crawfish and Bluegrass Extravaganza.” Over 1600 people found out what me and my family have known all along... “Delta Reign” is awesome ! We’ve had them back every year since. If you are looking to book some of our areas best performers, LOOK NO FURTHER!”
Edmond Naman ~ Juevenile Court Judge and Bluegrass promoter
“Delta Reign was the opening act at the First Annual “Point of Music Festival” at Hub Staceys’ at Innerarity Point. They had everyone clapping and stomping their feet. Delta Reign is a very FUN band...”
Hub Stacy, Owner, Hub Staceys’ restaurants
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Review from The Mobile Press Register:
'Songs of the South' a joyous celebration
Monday, February 02, 2009
By THOMAS B. HARRISON
Arts Editor
The stars fell on Alabama on Saturday night.
Rather, they descended and rose again, like the South itself, in an electrifying concert before a near-capacity Saenger Theatre audience that could have stayed all night. Mobile Opera's "Songs of the South," a one-night-only event, put an emphatic punctuation on January and officially signaled the start of a season of celebration here on the Gulf Coast.
The hits just kept a-comin' — jazz, blues, bluegrass, country, Celtic and spiritual. Those who endured the infuriating snarl of downtown Mobile traffic certainly got their money's worth: more than three hours of music, minus a 25-minute intermission, and more memorable images than a Crimson Tide highlight reel.
Credit Scott Wright for the clean, spare look of the concert, which put the focus on the music and the folks presenting it. The lighting was just right.
Kudos to Hal France, interim artistic consultant for Mobile Opera, for pulling together an evening that included soloists Paula Broadwater, Emily Pulley, Phillip Manuel and Timothy Noble; plus the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, Mobile Opera Chorus, Mobile's Singing Children, the Celtic ensemble Mithril, bluegrass quartet Delta Reign and the incomparable jazz pianist Willis Delony.
The evening got under way a few minutes late with violinist Tom Morley (Mithril and Delta Reign) playing the melancholy Aire from the film "Cold Mountain" and "Legends of the Fall" accompanied by France on piano. Morley's intro set the tone for the remainder of an evening during which singers and musicians were at the top of their game.
Among the highlights of a long first half, Mobile's Singing Children delivered a spine-tingling rendition of "Motherless Child," followed by Broadwater's poignant "Through the Eyes of A Child."
Morley returned with Mithril to delight the audience with a trio of Civil War jigs, which had toes tapping on two levels of the old theater. The group closed its set with three reels that left the audience longing for more.
Delony emerged to perform a great old Johnny Mercer Tune, "I Thought About You," and remained to accompany Noble on a terrific performance of "One for My Baby." Delony also stuck around to play for Phillip Manuel, a crowd favorite on this night, who sang "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans." We do now.
Texas native Pulley, who will return in March to sing "Susannah" for Mobile Opera, got to sing "Waltz Across Texas" for the first time — and she led the audience in a clap-along for "Deep in the Heart of Texas." Not to be outdone, Broadwater had a high old time with "Mobile," and she had plenty of backup.
The first half concluded with some authentic bluegrass from Delta Reign, highlighted by the voice of Benita Murphy and the banjo of Pat Murphy. Both returned in the second half for a luminous and haunting "Wondrous Love."
After a lengthy intermission, Mobile Symphony took the stage for a jaunty "Saints Go Marchin' In," followed by a richly textured Hoagie Carmichael number, "Skylark." Manuel returned for "Basin Street Blues," on which he delivered some impressive scat-singer effects. The audience adored him.
Broadwater had an opportunity to channel Patsy Cline with the achingly beautiful "Sweet Dreams" and "Crazy," which she performed flawlessly. Afterward, she smiled at the audience and deadpanned: "No pressure!" Of course not.
Such a concert demanded an impressive closing, and "Songs of the South" gave us an ending in three parts: a stirring rendition of "American Anthem" featuring the Opera Chorus; the full company singing "Stars Fell On Alabama" — not a dry eye in the place; and "Battle Hymn of the Republic." The audience responded with a thunderous standing ovation.
For an encore, the company launched into Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama," on which everyone sang and clapped along — and no one remained seated.
Mobile Opera can be justifiably proud of Saturday's performance, which was by turns brilliant, inspired and great fun for those who attended. "Songs of the South" was an historic moment for Mobile's performing arts, which for one evening defied the doom-and-gloom economic news and packed the house for one of the most astonishing musical events in the past decade.
©2009 Mobile
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