The Delta Sonics have been playing in Colorado since 1992, and have established themselves as one of the finest blues acts in the area with their solid musicianship and exciting live performances. Their musical stylings include Chicago Blues, West Coast Swing, New Orleans R&B, and some early Rock n' Roll.
The band has won Westword's Best Blues Band Honors for six years in a row (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015,2016) and represented the Colorado Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2012, making the semi-finals.
Besides averaging 250 gigs a year, the band was featured at notable regional festivals like the Mile High Blues Festival (2009), Blues From the Top (2006 & 2007) Greeley Blues Jam ( 2006 , 2009, 2012, 2014,2016 ) Belvedere Blues Fest ( 2008, 2011) , Pearl St. Brews and Blues Fest (2007, 2009, 2012, 2014,2015,2016) and the Cherry Creek Arts Festival Main Stage ( 2009, 2012) to name a few.
Al Chesis was one of the only local harmonica players to be featured at the SPAH Convention held in Denver in 2006 and also appeared on Mark Hummel's Harmonica Blowout with harp heavyweights Magic Dick, Kim Wilson, Jason Ricci, and Mark Hummel himself in Denver and Colorado Springs in October 2008.
The band was featured at the 1997, 1998, and 2001 Denver Blues & Bones Festival, the Boulder/Lyons Blues Festival five times, the Yellowstone Jazz Festival, and the Westword Music Showcase in 1996 and 1997. They have opened for many nationally known blues artists, including BB King,Robert Cray Koko Taylor, Junior Wells, Taj Mahal, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, The Radiators, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Tommy Castro, and Charlie Musselwhite.. In 1999 and 2004, the band brought blues piano legend Pinetop Perkins to Colorado for two successful tours. Most recently, The Delta Sonics have also backed Steadyrollin Bob Margolin , Big Bill Morganfield, Lurrie Bell ,John Primer ,the late Bo Diddley (2004), and the late Pinetop Perkins on their many club and festival performances in Colorado. They are a sought after back-up band for national blues artists.
