by Scott Roos - Sept. 7, 2020
photo courtesy of Carey Shaw
In the immortal words of the mighty Led Zeppelin, “It's been a long time, been a long time, been a long lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely time” since live music graced the stage of the Olive and John Diefenbaker Theatre at the EA Rawlinson Centre For the Arts. In fact, it was back on February 28th when Vancouver’s Five Alarm Funk blew the roof off the EARC with their signature brand of funk, rock and soul.
However, after several experiments around the city with outdoor concerts put on by various benefactors and an official outdoor drive in concert produced by the Rawlinson themselves, it seems as though the music starved populace are finally ready to emerge from their COVID cocoons and, in the most cautiously optimistic way possible, try to enjoy music inside a live venue once again. At least that is what the Rawlinson hopes because on Sept. 25th they have decided to dust things off and give an indoor concert a go by featuring a 75 minute live set by Regina based alt-country songstress Belle Plaine.
“We’re just asking that everyone be mindful of the people around them. And just accept that maybe the people around you aren’t as comfortable being out in public right now. They’re actually taking a big step just coming to a public (concert) so we just (need to) look out for each other,” said EARC Marketing and Events Coordinator Cara Stelmaschuk when referring to the many precautions the venue has had to undertake to make a go of the live show which include reducing their capacity to 150, the wearing of masks in congested areas, staggered row seating, marked entrances and exits and seat service for drink orders.
For a full list of precautions being taken by the Rawlinson for this show and future shows please click on this link:
“This performance for me is very much going to be a storytelling, songwriter style show,” explained singer/guitarist Belle Plaine who will be performing a duo style show with a keyboard player. “We’re going to be doing songs from songwriters that I love, whether they are friends or heroes of mine and then of course our own stuff but it’s meant to be what a soft seater show is. (A theatre style show is) just kind of a place to relax and have togetherness.”
Plaine, who grew up on a homestead near the hamlet of Fosston, SK, is a critically acclaimed singer/songwriter whose music, according to the press release distributed by the EARC, “embodies traditions from country, blues, swing and folk music, while never quite fitting squarely into one category”. She is a storyteller who is very well grounded and has a deeply rooted understanding of herself as an artist and musician. In short, she’s a perfect fit for a smaller, more relaxed and intimate style performance that the Rawlinson has planned for their first show back in over six months.
It’s also nice to have a Saskatchewan artist doing the honours of helping to reopen the venue to live music. Something that is not lost of Plaine. “(I have) so much gratitude to the people that are putting on this show and to the care they are putting into the planning so we are going to bring it.”
The show will get started at 7:30 pm. Given the limited seating capacity tickets for this show will likely move very quickly. You can purchase tickets at the EA Rawlinson Centre box office or at www.earc.ca/events