Hello!
I’m Lucy & I’m a Session Drummer & Teacher based in Exeter, UK.
Most of the time, I can be found performing with my Mississippi hill country/Delta Blues duo Southern Fried Groove Queens & Blues multi-instrumentalist Stompin’ Dave. I also play with folk singer songwriters Sound of the Sirens & Jess McAllister.
2022 was a very busy year for me, playing over 80 shows nationwide, including a tour across the UK with folk duo Sound of the Sirens to promote their new album Damage Control as well as a Summer season of festivals with various artists.
Other acts I have sessioned with include the legendary Boogie Woogie pianist Ben Waters, Blues/Rock n Roller Earl Jackson, Adam Sweet, Liam Ward, Sons of the Delta & Poppy Fardell.
In 2019/2020 I worked with Grammy award winning Blues record label Ruf Records to promote their annual ‘Blues Caravan’, as well as recording Mississippi Blues musician Ryan Perry’s debut album ‘High Risk, Low Reward’, which was nominated for a Blues Music Award (BMA) in 2021.
Up until late 2019, it was also an honour to be my father Julian Piper’s drummer in his legendary Rhythm & Blues band Junkyard Angels, until his sudden and untimely passing. The band had a tremendous history, supporting the likes of Carey & Lurrie Bell, Eddie Kirkland, Lazy Lester, Eddie C. Campbell, Phil Guy & Tabby Thomas, amongst many others, on their tours in Europe. My father also spent a year living & playing in Louisiana, which is where he learnt and honed his craft.
My father gave me my love of Blues music, and over the last few years, I have been fortunate to delve deeply into the Mississippi Blues scene, spending my nights playing in hot ‘Juke Joints’ (clubs) alongside the likes of Delta/Hill Country musicians Leo ‘Bud’ Welch (RIP), Lightnin’ Malcolm, Watermelon Slim, Bill Howlinn’ Madd Perry, Robert Kimbrough Sr. Lucious Spiller, & Mick Kolassa. Coming from a Blues background, inevitably I have found myself increasingly immersed in the music, though would never like to pigeonhole myself to one particular genre.
Recent notable experiences have been playing at Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, MS (USA), Notodden Blues Festival (Norway), Freiburg Blues Festival (Germany), as well as Jazz & Blues Festivals across the UK.
In 2021, I was asked to speak at Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival as part of their Blues Talkin’ series at the famous Henry’s Blueshouse, alongside several performances in the city with The Sam Kennedy Trio.
Earlier experiences include recording & touring in Italy (aged 17) with Exeter based band Anderson, as well as playing with other local acts Peacock Affect, The Delta Sound & Molly The Odd.