SASKATOON, CANADA – Life Death and The Blues will appear at Remai Arts Centre in their Persephone Theatre (100 Spadina Crescent E, Saskatoon, Canada) from Oct 21-Nov 8. This innovative concert/theatre hybrid explores the power, passion and meaning of the blues, tracing the history, telling all of our stories and influencing music of all genres. Following the blues from its early roots to new artists, blues veteran Raoul Bhaneja – with the help of his band, The Big Time (guitarist Jake Chisholm, drummer Tom Bona, Chris Banks on upright bass), and amazing R&B artist, Divine Brown – combines autobiography, interviews and multi-media to draw you into a personal, poetic and visceral world of the blues. A special feature of the show is the appearance of a different guest musician each night, most from Saskatoon and area. Tickets run $32-$46. Box Office 306-384-7727.
This production is “trying to bring the best elements of a play and the best elements of a concert and together,” says Raoul. The goal is to get theatre audiences closer to the blues and to give music fans even more background than they thought they knew. Along the way, it tells Bhaneja’s own story. “How does someone like me, coming from my background — I’m half Indian, half Irish, born in England and from Canada, how does someone like me become so connected to something outside my own culture?… I hope people leave with a richer sense of what the blues is and why people do it.”
Musician and actor Raoul Bhaneja was recently nominated for a Dora Award for his performance in Life, Death and The Blues where it was also recognized with an Outstanding Production- Musical nomination. He is also the leader of the Maple Blues Award winning band, Raoul and The Big Time who have played major festivals across Canada. Their fifth album, Hollywood Blvd, lead to multiple 2015 Maple Blues Award nominations including Best Recording, Songwriter and Entertainer of The Year.
Divine Brown has a long history in musical theatre. Before releasing her first album she performed in several musicals. Her self-titled album (The Divine Brown 2005) was awarded a gold certification and generated her first Juno Award nomination. Her sophomore album (The Love Chronicles 2008) won her a Juno Award for best R&B Soul Album. She is set to release her third album in 2015.
“The hugely likable Bhaneja, who’s been frontman for Raoul and the Big Time for a decade and a half, is a killer harmonica player. And he’s got a crack three-man band to back him up, plus a wonderful stage companion in the charismatic person of Juno Award-winning Toronto singer Divine Brown. As a capper, every night Bhaneja and co. close by jamming with a local guest blues star..” Liz Nicholls, Edmonton Journal
