American All-Woman Band Regales Music Lovers in Eastern Province

posted on: Nov 10, 2014

An all-woman band from the United States regaled music lovers in the Eastern Province recently with their unique blend of country sounds.

The five-member Della Mae band played at a Dhahran school as part of a cultural exchange program run by the US consulate. They have already performed in Riyadh and Jeddah. This is part of their world tour of Asian countries that saw them perform in Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Band member Celia Woodsmith said this was their first visit to the Kingdom and “we had a great time so far.” She said most Americans have not traveled to this part of the world and have misconceptions about what people are like.

“What I’ve found wherever I have gone in the world is that people are mostly just like me. I have nothing to be afraid of, I have just met more wonderful people,” she said. “What we did tonight is kind of proof to us that people have a good time and cut loose like anywhere in the world. I hope to take these stories with me to America.”

Woodsmith said they formed the band in Boston, Massachusetts. “We decided to get together as women who are very professional at their instruments and can play solos. We have been traveling all over the world ever since, with Saudi Arabia probably the 25th country that we have visited.”

Woodsmith said her entire family loves playing bluegrass — a form of country and western music — that is part of American culture.

A Saudi man joined the band on stage and started playing his drum. She said it was wonderful to see how well Saudi music was able to fit in with their style. “I don’t need to speak Arabic to understand what he is saying with the drums, which confirms that music has no language.”

Courtney Hartman, the band’s guitarist, said that she played a traditional oud, similar to the modern guitar, twice with Arab musicians.

US Consul General Mike Hankey said that the exchange program aims to build relationships. “I am very happy to see events such as the Roads of Arabia exhibition recently in San Francisco. It is wonderful because thousands of Americans in San Francisco could see the history of Saudi Arabia.”

Saeed Al-Asmari
Arab News