The band first met and performed in 2016 in the region of Ticino (South Switzerland), with a focus on
proposing songs of the Delta Blues tradition while utilizing a bass-drums-two guitars quartet format.
Delta Groove Band found its early inspiration from Robert Johnson’s tunes, launching a modern sound
anthology that compiled 29 of the author’s songs. The result was a collection of pieces with
incommensurable value. The band decided to focus exclusively on arrangements of Robert Johnson’s music.
Over the years, Delta Groove Band evolved with collaborations that fostered innovation. The result was an
evolution of its sound. Today the band reflects the contribution of musicians with tremendous background,
such as drummer Matteo Frapolli, bass player Carlo Reichlin, slide guitarist Gianluca Croci, and guitar-
vocalist Oliver Frei. With Frei’s entrance into the quartet, Delta Groove Band shifted its focus by creating
original songs that maintain a double-strength link to Johnson’s Mississippi Delta sound.
Today the band is very active in the region, playing often at major concerts and events. Our mission is to
maintain and grow the awareness of this historical sound with current and future generations. Desperately
trying to KEEP BLUES ALIVE!
