Wang Dang Delta - Blues and Beyond

Orkney Blues Festival Photos

2009-11-02T20:11:00.003Z

It's taken a wee while, but here are some of the edited highlights of our trip to Orkney. Everyone we met in Stromness was so welcoming, I'm sure we will return some day.

Thunder in the Glens 2009

2009-09-01T23:31:00.005+01:00

Here are some photos courtesy of Jake the Singing Biker!

Dundee Blues Bonanza 2009 - Thanks

2009-06-28T21:08:00.003+01:00

The Load In

Thanks to all who came to our Dundee Blues Bonanaza gig last night in Fat Sams. It was a great venue for us and hopefully we rose to the occasion. We're now taking a few weeks off to prepare for the various festivals/rallies scheduled for August/September. Thanks to Steve for the onstage photos.

See http://www.myspace.com/wangdangdelta for details.

The Load Out

The End!

Delta Road reviewed in ""Blues Matters"

2008-12-06T10:57:00.003Z

The November 08/January 09 edition of award winning specialist blues magazine Blues Matters has a review of the second Wang Dang Delta CD "Delta Road (The Blues Foundation, in Memphis, awarded Blues Matters the Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Award for 2007, in the Print Media category).

Cracking stuff and as the magazine is clearly a beacon of good taste who have described us as "one of the more original bands on the UK scene" we are happy to commend this magazine to you.

it is 164 pages of sheer blues from cover to cover - all in colour!

The link is http://www.bluesmatters.com/ if you want to investigate further.

Blues at the 'green

2008-11-17T19:39:00.006Z

Wang Dang's illustrious guitarist Pete Caban has been packing them in at a regular come-all-ye blues session at the Pitcairngreen Inn, just outside Perth. There have been 4 so far and some of the sounds have been awesome.

To whet the appetite until you can manage along to one of the sessions here are some photos.

Thunder in the Glens Rally - Aviemore

2008-08-26T21:56:00.010+01:00

Had a real blast at the annual Thunder in the Glens Rally in Aviemore last weekend. The event was attended by around 2000 folks and this was the first time they had run a couple of satellite venues on the rally site - one blues venue and one country venue.

We shared the blues stage with local heroes "Big Bob's Blues Band" (pictured right) who brought the house down with their stomping blues classics.

The Humble Hobos (pictured left) put in two great shifts in the country venue.

Aviemore itself was jumping! The Cairngorm Hotel had two full days of music open-air and it was good to see the inimitable Gilly (pictured right) strut his stuff. The Black Isle Rock Orchestra (BIRO) also put on a blistering show.

Remember that blurred is an attitude! Fuzzy IS the new sharp! Wang Dangography is an undiscovered artform and yes, our drummer really is that small!

Delta Road - Review

2008-08-06T09:48:00.003+01:00

The following link takes you to the review by Andrew Welsh published in the PA on 29th July.

The review says that the band "prove themselves to be a sophisticated proposition" and that the CD makes for " perfect late-night listening"

Read the whole review by clicking on the link.

http://www.perthshireadvertiser.co.uk/entertainment-perthshire/gigs-music-perthshire/2008/07/29/album-review-wang-dang-delta-delta-road-73103-21419966/

"CLASSY sounds prevail on the second album from Perth’s own Wang Dang Delta.

Anyone not familiar with the Fair City six-piece’s output is in for a pleasant surprise on hearing Delta Road.

Putting the band's somewhat wacky name to one side, the Wangs prove themselves to be a sophisticated proposition with the emphasis on soul as much as their oft-repeated devotion to all things blues.

Silky smooth album opener Well Runs Dry recalls Average White Band and Steely Dan, and sets the tone for what follows. With lead guitarist Pete Caban setting a carefully controlled pace with some finely honed melodies and solos, the band touch on funk and jazz in an enjoyable set that makes for perfect late-night listening. Vocalist and main songwriter Ian McLaren impresses with his refined croon, while Pete Nicol (bass), Pim Pirnie (drums) and Alan Sutherland (keyboards) can all be heard playing effective parts in a crystal clear production job developed at Dunkeld’s Butterstone Studio last winter.

Key to the Wangs' fluid style, and the real revelation on here, is harmonica player Jim Harcus, whose work brings an inventive and lively edge throughout the laid back proceedings.

The 11-track album will appeal to fans of most musical genres and is sure to boost WDD's prospects of making a commercial breakthrough."

Wang Dang Delta - Delta Road CD Launches

2008-07-13T15:05:00.007+01:00

The band have just finished a series of gigs to promote our new CD entitled Delta Road. Three tracks from Delta Road have been posted on www.myspace.com/wangdangdelta and there is also a Youtube link to a live performance of one of the songs.

Here are a selection of photos from the gigs.

Ian Wang Dang in glorious "blurred is the new sharp" moment!

Post-gig at Moulin (with QE2 looking on!)

Rod Webster

Lady Miss Emma

Roberto Cassani

Wang Dang Delta rip it up!

Jimmie Nelson with Gav Munro after the Desperadoes set

Wang Dang Delta - Rampant Lion Rally 2008

2008-05-07T12:13:00.000+01:00

Wang Dang Delta - Like a Rolling Stone?

2008-02-23T13:36:00.001Z

Famous Bein Inn - RIP

2008-02-19T18:14:00.003Z

They say a week is a long time in politics, well it would appear as if 3 weeks is a long time in rock and roll.

Just 3 short weeks ago the Famous Bein Inn was shortlisted for the prestigious "UK Music Venue of the Year" Award. This was a testament to the many years of hard graft which David Mundell and Pete Dickson had put in to attracting world renowned artists to the tiny Perthshire village.

Todays news, highlighted on http://www.mundellmusic.com/index.php as "The day the music died!" indicates that due to a very sudden change of policy, there will be no more music at the now"once famous" Bein Inn.

Mundell Music have moved concerts scheduled for this week and next by Denny Laine, Henry McCullough, and John Jorgensen to the nearby Glenfarg Hotel. Others, including $outhpaw, Iain Matthews, and Paul Jones/Dave Kelly will have to be rescheduled.

From a Wang Dang point of view, this is a sad turn of events and we wish Mundell Music all the best along the road in the Glenfarg Hotel.

Merry Christmas from Wang Dang Delta's Representative on Earth

2007-12-24T19:26:00.000Z

Loneliness of the Long Distance Harmonica Player

2007-11-22T21:59:00.000Z

Here is a wee pre-gig snippet from our October Perthshire Amber gig as Jim removes the fragments of haggis from his blues harp to avert any potential foreign object ingestion risk.

Wang Dang Delta back in the Studio

2007-11-18T21:59:00.000Z

Wang Dang Delta are back in Butterstone Studio recording our second CD - 11 new songs, all original and taking shape at a frenetic pace.

September and October have been preparatory downtime with a few choice gigs to iron out the rougher edges.

October saw an impromptu performance at Perthshire Amber on the Saturday before our "Perthshire Blue" gig in Pitlochry Town Hall with the Marie McCormick Blues Band.

Here are a few studio pics to help you monitor progress!!

Wang Dang Delta Live at Moulin

2007-08-20T19:43:00.000+01:00

MAP Summer Music Sunday - Pitcairngreen

2007-07-21T11:11:00.000+01:00

WANG DANG DELTA - PETE AND ALAN (Pic I FLEMING)

WANG DANG DELTA - THE ENGINE ROOM (Pic I FLEMING)

WANG DANG DELTA WITH FELIX AND CLARK GUESTING

A great day out was enjoyed by all last Sunday 15 July. Over 1000 people attended and the quality and variety of music was stunning. Good press coverage was given in the Press & Jounal and the Courier. Here are a selection of photos of the day to give you a flavour (photographs courtesy of Ian Swan - many thanks to Ian and all others who have provided us with ahuge collection of photographs, of which a generous selection will find their way onto the soon to be revamped MAP website http://www.musicacrossperthshire.com/ - check back in 2-3 weeks).

SOLID GOLD ROCKING OUT

BLUES ON TAP

ON THE WAGON

DAVE AMOS TRIO

HEAVY DUTY BOX CO.

HAVANA SWING

SOUTHPAW

Another Great Bonanza of Blues

2007-07-01T09:10:00.000+01:00

Thanks to all who packed out the Social in Dundee on Saturday afternoon. What a funky venue!! Great stage, great audience and a great time had by all. What more could you ask for? When the place started to fill up 45 minutes before showtime, a real buzz developed and it was great to see some new faces as well as the trusty "Wang-ers" who give us such great support throughout the year - the length and breadth of the county (or should that be country?)

We've included some pictorial highlights of our day as a wee slide montage. If you were there and you want to leave a message you can do so by signing up to blogger or by visiting http://www.myspace.com/wangdangdelta

How far would you go to miss Wang Dang Delta?

2007-06-29T08:16:00.000+01:00

The following message appeared on the Dundee Blues Bonanza website. Fair warms the cockles.

Thanks Davy!!

"Hope you lads have a great weekend just wish i was back hame to hear you PS your CD has never been aff the stack in the car great sound lads
Davy fae Kirkton
But now in Windy Wellington
New Zealand "

Sunday Gig at the Glassie Bunkhouse and Dundee Blues Bonanza Preview

2007-06-25T19:59:00.000+01:00

The five remaining members of Wang Dang Delta currently in the UK - The Professor of Prog (aka John Inman's taller brother) is currently on tour as part of the Dougie MacLean Band USA tour - played an impromptu gig at a stunning venue last night.

The Bunkhouse, Glassie farm sits high in the hills overlooking Aberfeldy in a stunning setting.

See http://www.thebunkhouse.co.uk/index.php for details.

High point of the evening for the band was the magnificent show of footwear during a track from our upcoming CD called "The Ultimate Shoe".

Great night all in - great setting and some great music. Thanks to Rod for organising.

Saturday sees us playing the Dundee Blues Bonanza for the 5th consecutive year and its shaping up to be a real corker. We are playing in The Social in South Tay Street with a 3.30 start. Following us is the remarkable Tracy Conover from Texas who plays Texan Blues with attitude.

Have a listen to her tracks on http://www.myspace.com/tracyconover and stick around after our gig.

There are some great bands and acts on offer over the Saturday and Sunday and it takes impeccable timing to schedule your blues to the max. Some Wang Dang faves include Blueshouse, Dave Arcari, and Marie McCormick.

See you there.

Dundee Blues Bonanza 29 June to 1 July 2007

2007-06-16T11:31:00.000+01:00

The Dundee Blues Bonanza website has now been updated with all the schedule information - bands and venues etc. It is shaping up to be the best yet and Wang Dang Delta are proud to be a part of it for the 5th consecutive year.

All the vital information is available on http://www.dundeebluesbonanza.co.uk/index.htm

Why not drop by and leave a message on the forum.

We will be looking forward to hooking up with "Wang-ers" old and new at The Social on the Saturday. In the meantime, to whet your appetite, here are some photos of previous appearances.

More Wang Dang Delta Photos

2007-06-04T22:31:00.000+01:00

Thanks to Kyle for these photos.

Wang Dang Delta - Scottish Fireworks Championship

2007-05-27T12:53:00.000+01:00

Blues Across Perthshire

2007-05-26T15:58:00.000+01:00

Had an absolute ball at the Music Across Perthshire (MAP) promoted Blues Across Perthshire gig last night.

The broad cross section of blues based influences meant that the audience were stretched to the limits.

Thanks to all the musicians who contributed to making this and the Folk Across Perthshire gig a great success.

A review of last night's gig can be read on the following blog.

http://linshoneyman.blogspot.com/

Thanks also to Sandy Black (of Black and Kay fame) for the following photos (and some great harmonica work).

Folk and Blues Across Perthshire

2007-05-20T09:43:00.000+01:00

Friday night's folk gig was a veritable musical feast. Alan Jordan and Gina MacLeod kicked things off with some very smooth sounds. Possibly the smoothest blend to hit Perthshire since "The Famous Grouse Scotch Whisky" was bottled in Kinnoull Street.

Next up were Wingin' It who wowed the audience with the kind of fun-packed instrumental journeys that won them a prestigious Danny Kyle award at this year's Celtic Connections festival. As the MC for the evening for the evening (yours truly) said- What might have happened if Stevie Wonder hooked up with Britney Spears and introduced her to the delights of Jimmy Shand as interpreted by Richard Thompson on the way to a Mahavishnu Orchestra gig!

After the break, Pete Clark accompanied by Jack Evans threatened to play "one set of Strathspeys and 25 minutes of slow airs!" As it happened, they played a blinding and varied set including Pete's delightfully titled compositions The Slippery Slope / Wullie’s Wopper / Tam the Bam.

The evening closed with Jim Malcolm who delighted those present with a wee trip through his considerable back catalogue including Lochanside, Battle of Waterloo and Lochs of the Tay before coming back on for an encore of Auld Lang Syne (original tune) with Jack and Pete (who were happy to accompany despite Jim "confusing" them with Jack and Victor of Chewing the Fat fame.

It all augurs well for the Blues gig next week which I'm sure will maintain the high standards set and confirm why Perthshire continues to be at Scotland's musical forefront.

Wang Dang Delta - Photo from Birnam Institute Gig

2007-05-05T23:52:00.000+01:00

Here is a photo we picked up from the following blog site http://thathideousman.blogspot.com/2007/04/wang-dang-delta.html

The photo features Felix guesting on sax.

See also http://linshoneyman.blogspot.com/2007/04/wang-dang-delta.html for a review of that gig if you missed it.

Thanks to the guys for their blog-tastic commitment