Harry Deluxe from Mama Red and the Dark Blues.
Camera IconHarry Deluxe from Mama Red and the Dark Blues. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie d441187

Playroom blues for Mama Red

Sara FitzpatrickEastern Reporter

PERTH songbird Harry Deluxe first took to the stage in her parents' band when she was seven.

Embracing something of a bohemian existence, the family travelled to folk festivals around Australia every year, performing together with Mum on vocals and Dad on bass guitar.

And while she toyed with becoming an architect or vet for a period in her youth, it seemed a musical career was destined from the outset.

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"Im a retro bunny: I love all sorts of old styles of music (including blues, jazz, soul and rockabilly) and have been brought up that way," Deluxe said.

Her versatile taste doesn't stop with sound - it extends to clothing, architecture and furniture.

As long as it is old and intriguing, Deluxe is captivated.

"My partner and I are shedding our eclectic vintage collection of goodies," the sassy performer said.

"We recently moved from a beautiful art deco house in Mt Lawley to a pretty little limestone 1880s cottage in Fremantle, so we had to seriously downsize.

"Sometimes you can't let go of certain things and other times you say:"That needs to go to someone else who will love it just as much"."

Deluxe, performing original tunes as Mama Red and the Dark Blues, hits the stage this week at Malt Supper Club's new music event, The Playroom.

A welcome addition to the Perth music scene, it presents local acts in an intimate setting every Thursday night.

"It's not a huge space, so it's really nice to have an area that feels full and where you are playing close to the audience; you can see and interact with people," Deluxe said.

"There's nothing worse than always playing on a massive stage where everyone is so far away that you don't know whether they are enjoying it or not.

"People can come up and talk to me and have a good time and feel like they are in their own private party with a live band.

"And as Malt isn't necessarily known for retro-style bands, those who aren't necessarily into that genre can come and enjoy it regardless."

THE ESSENTIALS

What: Mama Red and the Dark Blues

When: July 30

Where: The Playroom at Malt Supper Club