Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar Revive Blues Music in Calgary Performance
Juno-nominated artist Samantha Martin and her dynamic band Delta Sugar are bringing their expansive blues and soul sound back to Calgary for a highly anticipated concert. The performance is scheduled for March 3 at the Grand, marking a significant return for the ensemble known for its bold musical arrangements.
From Tour Recordings to Live Album Release
During the summer, Martin revisited live recordings from Delta Sugar's 2022 tour, which spanned from Saskatoon to Maple Ridge, British Columbia. The band meticulously documented as many concerts as possible throughout November, capturing their evolving sound during this extensive journey.
The final show at Maple Ridge's ACT Arts Centre held particular significance, not only because Martin's grandmother attended but also because it concluded a demanding tour schedule. Traveling through Prairie provinces and mountainous regions during winter presented considerable challenges, especially with Martin being six months pregnant at the time and leading a ten-piece band configuration.
"The weather was terrible," Martin recalled during an interview from her Toronto home. "It was the last show on the tour, and everybody was very happy that it was the final day. The band was really tight by that point. It was just a really special show."
A Beautiful Buzz: Capturing Lightning in a Bottle
While reviewing recordings to share material with a collaborating musician, Martin recognized the exceptional quality of that Maple Ridge performance. This realization led to the creation of A Beautiful Buzz, a live album scheduled for official release in May. However, concertgoers in Calgary will have early access to purchase CDs during the March performance.
This album represents the first new release since 2020's The Reckless One, which featured twelve tracks blending retro-soul, R&B, blues-soul ballads, gospel harmonies, and garage-band energy. Rolling Stone magazine particularly praised the track Sacrifice, highlighting its Phil Spector-inspired production and Martin's "raw singing style."
Evolution of a Musical Vision
Martin established Delta Sugar in 2014 with a clear artistic vision: to create music with retro influences, prominent horn sections, and rich harmonies. "It's how I hear the music and how I hear my songs when writing them," she explained. "It's how I would prefer to present the band as often as possible. But, unfortunately, it's not always possible. So we trim it down to a measly seven-piece band. That's kind of the minimum."
For the upcoming Calgary performance, Martin will indeed present this seven-piece version of Delta Sugar, still representing a substantial musical ensemble for touring purposes.
Musical Roots and Artistic Development
Martin's musical background reflects diverse influences from her upbringing split between Edmonton and small-town Ontario. Her father's country records and her mother's collection of R&B, blues, and gospel music provided early inspiration. Following her 2008 solo debut, Martin formed Samantha Martin and the Haggard, exploring Americana sounds before fully developing Delta Sugar's distinctive style.
Even within her blues and soul foundation, Martin maintains connections to roots music. The Reckless One included a funk-inspired interpretation of Bob Dylan's 1975 folk-blues classic Meet Me in the Morning, demonstrating her ability to reinterpret traditional material through her unique musical lens.
As Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar prepare for their Calgary concert, audiences can expect an evening of powerful vocals, intricate harmonies, and the kind of expansive musical arrangements that have become the band's signature. The performance promises to showcase why this ensemble continues to earn critical acclaim and connect with audiences through their authentic approach to blues and soul music.
