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A raw, passionate blend of traditional and original electric/acoustic juke joint & street corner
delta blues flavoured with the many roots music styles from the southern states of the USA.
Featuring two of the top bluesmen in the SouthWest UK - Mark Cole (Maxwell Street Blues Band,
the Dockery Boys) and Rick Edwards (the Blueshounds, Hocus Pocus Blues).
Between them they have nearly 50 years experience of playing the blues both in Europe and the USA
and have played with or opened for many blues greats including Pinetop Perkins, Sam Carr,
Mississippi Fred McDowell, Eddie C. Campbell, Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup, Kent DuChaine,
Alvin Lee, Dr. Feelgood, Paul Lamb & Connie Lush.

Gig Dates

Last updated: January 28, 2008

REMEMBER... this 'new look' gig list also includes Mark and Rick's other gigs - either
solo or in their other bands. Just click on the yellow information icon to find out which is which.
Use the scroll bar on the right of the box to scroll down the list.

Keep coming back to re-read the list. New dates added and inserted regularly!
If you want to access this calendar directly via your PDA here's the link...
http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/calendar_view.asp?epk_id=77153
Want a rolling two months calendar RSS newsfeed? Click here or here

If you came to a gig & took photos we may be interested in buying them! Please get in touch.

Reviews

NEW! A review of 'Made in Mississippi' from a recent issue of French blues magazine 'Blues & Co.'
wonderfully translated by a friend of the reviewer

"La ripatonade du trimestre (The Dancing Blues of the quarter)"
A real good slice of joy with two English completely soaked , I could say submerged,
in the blue note. Mark Cole (vocals, Harp and Slide) and Rick Edwards (Guitar and Vocals),
two Englishmen who made the pligrimage to Clarksdale, Mississpi, careful! Not the dumb thing,
or tourist style like musuem, supermarket and Mickey Juke of the corner, a postal card, a Bud and
let's go... (Do not laugh, I almost do that!) No! These ones arrive with their suitcase full with
Pinetop Perkins and his keyboard, Sam carr and his drum, take some guys for the rythm section
who are not comic but in the sturdy style. With Jeff «Drummerboy» Hayes on drums and Eric
«Bassfingers» Lanier they record nearly live... Hum, in fact, no, really live takes, in Mister
Jimbo Mathus' home. Isn't it serious? Yes, it is, a least, it's so powerful, so fresh, so enjoyable
to listen this sequence of pearls. Taken by the idea of traditional in acoustic duet, of electric Juke
with a lot of guests (Terry «Big T» Williams, Stan Street, etc.), of jumping street Corner, and a huge
part of Chicago, our accomplices have a great time without forgetting to share with us, letting us
with a staggering shiver, and the lips damp by pleasure.

These guys don't play Blues, they feel it, they breathe it, they simply live it and proove
that to us, during 11 compositions, shared between Cole and Edwards, without forgetting
Pappy Pinetop, who's still in good shape and proove it to us by singing and playing piano on his
own composition "One More Time".

Nothing to throw away, voices are perfect, riffs and solos ruin your slippers, Rythm section gives you
wriggling joy... No, don't see what could mess up ?
The real Blues is not dead yet in England, better like that ...
Not a pretentious CD but a great piece of faithfulness.
Tonton Erick

A Live review of a gig at the Oval Tavern, Croydon on 4th Feb 2007,
from Issue 64 of Blues in Britain magazine

"Sons of the Delta are a duo consisting of Mark Cole who sings, and plays harmonica and guitar and
guitarist Rick Edwards. They play an effervescent mix of Blues and Country music, and on this occasion
had a dazzling array of no fewer than eight guitars to choose from. They have a good reputation on the
circuit, and their performance at the Oval confirmed this.

They started with that good old country number "Man of Constant Sorrow" with Mark on harmonica and
vocal and Rick on guitar. Then on "I Want You to Stay", a number with a riff akin to "Help Me", there was a
strong harp intro accompanied by Tele style guitar and a fine and spirited harp solo. "Does My Ring Burn
Your Finger" featured two guitars, one of which played bottleneck style, then followed the John Lee Hooker
classic "Boogie Chillun" with evocative work from the two guitars and the stomp box. Next came a stirring
rendition, on guitar and mandolin, of Steve Earle's "I Ain't Ever Satisfied", followed by the equally
rumbustious "Mystery Train" with an excellent train impression on harmonica and guitar. Raw rootsy blues
followed on Slim Harpo's "King Bee", with strident harp and rhythmic guitar. After Leroy Carr's "I Asked Her
For Water" the set finished with "13 Question Method" by Chuck Berry.

The second set had even more variety, starting with Fat Possum artists T Model Ford's "Take a Ride With
Me", a hypnotic, trance like number that this duo excel at. They followed up with the 'Hookeresque'
"Nobody Wants to Talk to Poor Me" and then Fred McDowell's "Write Me a Few of Your Lines", a fine
rendition on harmonica and guitar. More fine work followed including the energetic "The Ladies", the
vibrant "It Hurts Me Too", the insistent "Hard Core Troubadour" and the thumping "Dust My Broom". The
evening finished with a high-octane version of the Gospell number "People Get Ready".

This was a highly entertaining a relaxed session of music from two raconteurs of the genre who are past
masters of their craft. Their reputation for their brand of acoustic blues is well merited, and on this
performance they will win friends wherever they play. They are well worth a look at if they are in your area"
Bill Smith

A review of 'Made in Mississippi' from Issue 188 of Living Blues magazine

"With the assistance of Delta legends Pinetop Perkins and Sam Carr, U.K. musicians
Mark Cole and Rick Edwards turned their Mississippi pilgrimage into a documented soundtrack.
Using vintage recording techniques, instruments, and amps this CD was recorded in Clarksdale
and a raw and basic '50s sound was captured.

Cole plays impressive guitar and harp, while Edwards' guitar and earthy vocals add considerable grit.
The instrumentals Pickin' With Phil and Train Roll are outstanding.

Although not all of their melodies, riffs, and lyrics are fresh, these Delta sons provide
an enjoyable and solid effort."
Tim Holek

A review of 'Made in Mississippi' from Issue 81 of Blues Matters! magazine

"For plenty of British Blues musicians, the chance to travel to the American South and record with
a great bunch of original US Bluesmen would be nothing short of a dream come true.
Last year, that dream became a reality for Gloucester musicians Mark Cole and Rick Edwards, aka
Sons of the Delta. This splendid CD is the result of that musical pilgrimage... recorded live, the old-
fashioned way, in studios and live venues in the legendary Mississippi town of Clarksdale, it features
some great players - the wonderful and seemingly immortal Pinetop Perkins appears on a brace of tracks,
and drummer Sam Carr on three more.

Cole and Edwards clearly had the time of their lives on the trip and it's
easy to share the duo's excitement, and indeed awe, at the surroundings and company in which they found
themselves. It's an album with nary a duff track, making it hard to single-out individual cuts for praise.
Personally, I especially liked the front-porch acoustic instrumentals 'Pickin' With Phil', 'Clarksdale Strut' and
'Train Roll' - very much the Sons' stock-in-trade, but no less enjoyable for that. But what a thrill to be able to
record something like 'Cryin' Down in Clarksdale' - introduced by Cole's brief instruction over the mic to the
famous piano-man: "We'll do this one Muddy Waters-style, Pinetop... Muddy Waters." In mid song, he then
throws out a solo to Perkins, with a simple cry of: "...play it, Pinetop!!!"

Cole and Edwards' trip to Clarksdale left them
with a fine album, but also, one would imagine, something far more precious - a store of memories, stories
and experiences that'll remain with them for the rest of their lives. Lucky guys! "
Tim Aves

A review of 'Made in Mississippi' from Issue 55 of Blues in Britain magazine

"For their second outing, the Sons of the Delta (Mark Cole and Rick Edwards) decamped to their
spiritual homeland (Clarksdale, MS). In addition to recording "Made in Mississippi" with a little help
from their friends, they also played several dates including Morgan Freeman's Ground Zero club.

Somewhat ironically, the album opens with a classic rocking Chicago style blues, "It's Me", which grabs the
listener's attention. The first of two very famous friends (Pinetop Perkins) then takes his seat for the
epic "Cryin' Down In Clarksdale", delivered Muddy Waters style, later returning to lead the band through his
own "One More Time". Elsewhere Sam Carr anchors things in his inimitable style on the Wolf-like "You
Can't Have The Hoo Without The Do", the excellent Hill Country stylings of "I Wish Somebody", and
"eBay Blues" which gives a 21st Century twist to the "My baby done left me" tale.

The album is mostly recorded using a classic core line-up (guitar, harp, bass, drums), but Cole and Edwards
are equally at ease in an acoustic setting. This is neatly demonstrated on "Pickin' With Phil" (Phil
Wooten, 2nd guitar), "Clarksdale Strut", and "Train Roll" (with Stan Street on harp). It is the full
band though , with Terry "Big T" Williams, that heads homewards on "I'm Moving On", calling to mind "The
Thrill Is Gone", before closing out in the best Jimmy Reed style with "Standing On The Edge".

"Made In Mississippi" is a belter of an album. Mark Cole and Rick Edwards, do not just "play" the Blues,
they "feel" it too. This gives them the edge over many of their contemporaries, because they add their
own original twist to what some perceive as the tired idiom of the Blues. If they can maintain this
standard, they could easily find themselves being lauded as Britain's Jelly Roll Kings."
Rating: 9/10 - Gordon Baxter

Another review of 'Made in Mississippi'

"Here’s another excellent CD from Sons of the Delta with Mark Cole and Rick Edwards
doing what they do best; playing no nonsense, street corner blues straight from the heart and
just for the hell of it. Made in Mississippi is the result of time spent in Clarksdale, exploring the history
of the blues and playing with the locals. Some very special guests put in an appearance on this album
including Pinetop Perkins, Sam Carr and Terry ‘Big T’ Williams and the live recording captures the
spirit of an impromptu jam session with experienced musicians, all of whom have a real feel for
the blues and are clearly having a good time. Definitely one to add to the collection."
Linda Fisher

Review of performance at the Stroud Blues & Beyond Festival, March 2005

"Mark Cole and Rick Edwards shared vocals and guitar playing, performing a wide range
of interesting material. We were informed that last year they had spent an exciting time
performing in the Clarksdale, Mississippi area and much of their material reflected their
interest in music from that historic bed of the blues. Their material, on both electric
and acoustic guitars, included songs from the likes of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf,
backed by some very inventive, powerful guitar playing and their commitment and
enthusiasm for what they performed was obvious."
Bob Tilling

Read an online review of 'One For The Road' click here

A review of 'One For the Road'

"Excellent musicianship and an unpolished, good time, approach has made ‘Sons of the Delta’,
Mark Cole and Rick Edwards, a highly respected duo. Even Kent DuChaine says they’ve got ‘that sound’
just right. ‘One for the Road’ captures all the spontaneity and vigour that is a hallmark of their live shows.
Almost all the tracks are original, with a mix of electric and acoustic numbers showcasing their skills
through a variety of blues/Americana styles. I was particularly taken with ‘Poor Boy’, a traditional
number played on a diddley bow – a home made one string guitar – in this case made by Mark utilising
a couple of nails, a length of wire and his garage wall. The result is a very authentic sound indeed.
Then there’s the Cajun influenced ‘One Sunny Day’, the driving rhythm and slide of ‘I’m going out’,
the vocal gymnastics on ‘I asked her for water’ ….. this is a first rate CD, full of interest and an
uncompromising feel good factor from start to finish."
Linda Fisher (blues journalist & festival organiser)

Demo review

"The flier that came with this five track disc says "Down Home Blues Americana with Attitude".
Mark Cole and Rick Edwards DO live up to that banner. Playing a mix of acoustic and electric Blues
as a duo they give you the spirit and essence that is required and deliver with belief.
Particularly enjoyed the original song here "Global Conspiracy Blues” but there are tributes to
Bukka White, Johnny Shines and Othum Brown. There is a promising 'feel' to these guys
and their playing is indeed atmospheric and complimentary and will get you
tapping your feet at the appropriate times......more please guys!"
Blues Matters!

A review of a gig at the Black Swan, Gloucester

"The duo are old hands now - veterans of the annual city blues festival - and their rugged,
accomplished double guitar sound deserved more than the 20-odd punters who turned up.
Not that the band seemed to mind as they drove their way loudly through classic blues penned by the
likes of the legendary Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker - plus a few of their own songs. Anyone who
can play three chords can attempt the blues and everyone who has witnessed pub bands is likely
to have seen at least one covering blues songs. But for anyone to stand out and truly bring the
music to life he needs to have mastered his art. Sons of the Delta have mastered it."
Andrew Merrell (the Citizen newspaper, Gloucester)