Ghalia Volt tops her debut debut Boise tour with a performance at Big Mic’s BBQ and Saloon, headlining on a double bill with Johnny Kunk. Ghalia Volt is a Belgian born, Ruf Records recording artist who has toured extensively in the United States and Europe. She is a three times Number 3 Billboard Blues Artist. Her latest album and tour, One Woman Band, shows her devotion and mastery of the Southern Delta Blues style she favors, performed in a one woman band that shows not only her mastery of the form and several instruments but her homage to the old bluesmen who pioneered this type of gritty, singular performance.
Ghalia Volt had quite a lot of acclaim on her first two albums, 2017’s Let the Demons Out and 2019’s Mississippi Blend. As much as she enjoyed playing and recording with a full band, when the COVID pandemic struck she knew that the full band option was out of the question. Going back to her roots as a busking (street performing) musician in her native Brussels, she decided on the one woman band concept as a way to record and perform while maintaining the COVID protocols.
Blending writing sessions on a month long Amtrak train trip with a recording session at Memphis’ legendary Royal Sound Studios, Ghalia Volt created One Woman Band as a powerful, groove-driven album. Recorded just last November, the album’s sound is a fresh look with a driving sound, music that will move you and groove you. Boise is lucky to be one of the first places to hear Ghalia Volt’s new One Woman Band Tour; and Big Mic’s again shows their dedication to bringing some of the finest blues to town.
Ghalia Volt answered a few questions for The Boise Beat about her current tour in Boise.
Q: Boise is a long way from Belgium. Your Odyssey has taken you to Mississippi, New Orleans, Tennessee and other areas with a deep roots connection. Do you think Boise will inspire you as well?
Being on the road constantly is always inspiring. New adventures bring new thoughts, new ideas and perspectives. The sight of the mountains opens a new chapter for me for 2021. My US release tour for my new album “One Woman Band” starts here in Boise, and that is pretty exciting. I’m looking forward to discovering the city and its lovely people.
Q: You’re on a bill with Johnny Kunk. Both of you are known for doing a one person band. What is it about the one-woman band that really gets the music deep in you and makes the format special?
The pandemic has maken musicians’ life a little complicated the last couple of months. Bringing a band on the road through those times would be a big challenge. So I decided to go with the “little” challenge of learning how to play with the intentions of a whole band. I built a set up where I can play drums with my feet, using a kick drum, snare, hi hat and tambourine while singing and playing guitar. The guitar also has got to sound like a band, and for that reason, I’m using 3 amps, like I did on the record, to get different sounds of each. One has got a bassy sound, one a warmer and clean tone, while the other one is cranked to get those crunchy Mississippi Blues and what a one-person band can be. I really enjoy his music and I can’t wait to hear him doing his thing!
Q Who might you say influenced your style of playing and singing?
I found my inspiration in a lot of different musical styles. There’s actually only two musical styles; Good & Bad. That’s it. Everything that’s got a groovy feel, and inspiring lyrics is good to me! I personally discovered blues from listening to Punk and Garage music. That led me to Rock’n’Roll and Rhythm’n’Blues. To then understand that RnR, Rhythm’n’Blues foundation was Gospel, Jazz, Sould, Ragtime, Work Songs and Blues.
JB Lenoir and Skip James were my introduction to this world. Fred McDowel or Son House my guitar legend inspirations. Now the singing part is a theme I could talk about for hours; Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Big Mama Thorton, Big Maybelle, LaVern Baker, Ruth Brown, Sister Wynona Carr, Aretha Franklin, Irma Thomas, The Staples Singers all those inspiring Blues Queens did influence my singing. With some Little Richard glitters and Little Willie John spices, the concoction is now ready and explosive!
Q: Are you glad to be playing at Big Mic’s as your final stop on your Boise tour? Are you excited to be playing on a bill with Johnny Kunk?
I’m very excited to close out my series of shows at Big Mic’s which will be the climax of my touring in Idaho. Also thrilled about sharing the bill with my dear and talented friend Johnny Kunk who’s a great ambassador on the North Mississippi Style here in Boise!
Q: You’ve got three widely praised albums that show incredible progress as a musician and in your artistic capability. Do you see even more evolution of your recording and live stage music?
Every album’s got a different feel to it.
I do think that as an artist there will be always room for improvement and evolution. The artist that says the opposite should certainly stop music. There’s consistently new things to learn and ways to be explored. This is just the beginning!
The other half of the bill is perennial local blues favorite Johnny Kunk. Johnny’s Mud-stop, Mississippi Delta Blues One Man Band Performance evokes early Robert Johnson and Howlin’ Wolf. John is an Octocorn Records Artist, with his current album Rough Start. Live, though is where he shines, playing regularly at Big Mic’s BBQ and Saloon but also at such diverse locations as Boise’s Freak Alley and the Telluride, Colorado Blues Festival, where he was a 2nd Place Award Winner. He also has played at the Mississippi Juke Joint Festival and the Lantern Drinking Co. In Boise. A recent show by Johnny at Big Mic’s filled the place with down-home blues, combining with the delicious scent of Big Mic’s barbecue to transport the crowd to a BBQ joint somewhere on the Mississippi Blues Highway.
Big Mic’s of course has gained a reputation not only for delicious smoked meat, chicken and shrimp, but owner Mike Larson has created a like of Smoked Whiskey Cocktails that has to be tried. The smoking process mellows the whiskey, bringing out subtle flavors while lessening the “bite” of the alcohol. Therefore, it makes it into something even a non-whiskey drinker can enjoy. In addition to that, his flavored ice cubes make some of the drinks a long lasting, multi-flavored experience. Beers on tap including local favorites are available. Great barbecue, a good drink and the blues——what a night this will be!
Johnny Kunk had this to say to The Boise Beat about the upcoming show. He said, “I am so thrilled to have Ghalia Volt here in Idaho. Having met her at the 2019 Mississippi Juke Joint Fest, I 
was blown away to hear from her several years later regarding a visit to Idaho. Her musical talent is one of the best in the blues scene today. She not only has phenomenal guitar talent but she has a vast knowledge of song writing techniques and understanding of blues history/culture. When I first came to Boise, crowds either seemed perplexed or super appreciative listening to live MS blues tunes. After a couple years I had acquired a faithful crowd. Now, thanks to Ghalia I can switch roles and sit in the crowd once more and have my soul filled with the joy and satisfaction I felt traveling to MS to learn more about the blues. It’s an opportunity to have my friends and fans wittiness a part of that REAL blues experience you can only get in the South. Who would have thought, a blues charts topper rocking little ol’ Kuna?”
With both Ghalia and Johnny, you have to really appreciate the enormity of what they do. Their live performance does not just include playing a guitar and singing, it includes various ways of percussive accompaniment. John of course has the traditional foot-stomp, his boots resonating throughout the room as he plays slide and regular guitar and sings the blues. Ghalia has gone a different route, learning to play a kick drum, snare, high-hat and a tambourine with her two feet, while playing slide guitar and singing at the same time. Both these artists show that the US roots scene is alive and well and that traditional styles of music can combine with new performers and writers to create a scene that keeps the busking spirit alive.
Big Mic’s Saloon and BBQ Presents Johnny Boy Kunk and Special Blues Guest Ghalia Volt
Saturday, March 6, 2021, 8pm MST
Free admission
Big Mic’s Saloon and BBQ
459 W. Main Street
Kuna, ID 83634
(208) 922-9494
Big Mic’s Website
Big Mic’s FB Page
Johnny Kunk Website
Johnny Kunk FB Page
Ghalia Volt website
Ghalia Volt FB page
