Delta Maid

I went to see The Retribution Gospel Choir the other night at London's Water Rats. They were outstanding. To see Low's Alan Sparhawke rocking out was a joy. However the evening was made all the more memorable for one of the supporting artists.

I know little about Delta Maid (I'm not even sure that is her real name!) except that she is from Liverpool and plays a lovely mix of country and blues. She is a very gifted guitarist and although she hasn't released anything yet I'm sure it won't be long before we'll be able to buy her wonderful music. In the mean time here is a YouTube video taken at a recent poetry slam in London.



You can also catch her at Delta Maid on Myspace

No, I'm Spasticus.

I thought long and hard about what to write about for this years Blogging Against Disablism Day. I was initially going to write about the access to live music for disabled people which is still, I'm afraid, not good. In accessible venues, lack of accessible toilets and if you are lucky enough to get in lack of decent views of the stage are 10 a penny. it is improving and the excellent people at Attitude Is Everything are campaigning vigorously for venues to be upgraded to include access to ALL music fans.

Then I wondered about blogging about the lack of disabled performers in the music industry. There are of course notable exceptions; Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Ian Dury, Robert Wyatt and Vic Chestnut spring to mind but although that is a subject that brings up all kind of issues of body image and how the media portrays and excepts us and that issue has already been covered by others during BADD. Visit The Diary Of a Goldfish who is co-ordinating this years event for some excellent blog posts on this and many other issues.

In the end though I decided to post a comment from the late great Ian Dury who in 1981 wrote a song which wouldn't be out of place as a BADD posting today. It was banned by the BBC as offensive but as you will see was completely misunderstood. I'll let the video below do the talking as there is little to add. apologies for the slow loading time.