Exclusive with Delta Rae

The Tortuga Music Festival (April 12-13) brings top names down to Fort Lauderdale to soak up some sun and tunes, all in the name of charity. While the two-day festival focuses on increasing the public’s awareness of issues like overfishing, shark finning and reef degradation, it also opens its stage to acts like Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Train, to name a few.

One group making its way to our sunny beaches is Delta Rae. The group, formed in North Carolina in 2009, consists of siblings Ian (vocals, guitar), Eric (vocals, piano), and Brittany Holljes (vocals), as well as, Grant Emerson (bass), Elizabeth Hopkins (vocals), and Mike Mckee (drums, percussion). Delta Rae has one album, “Carry the Fire,” and one EP, “Chasing Twisters.”

In an interview with Ian Holljes, he discusses musical encounters and close encounters, writing songs on tour and touring with family: