by Craig Gilbert | [email protected]
Touring in Western Canada behind a new mini-LP takes more than a mini-car.
Such is the latest adventure in soul for Ontario鈥檚 Bella Cat, who is on the road in this region for about a month and stops at the Olive Bistro in Jasper on Oct. 26.
鈥淲e just left Prince George and we鈥檙e heading to Vancouver,鈥� she said on Tuesday. 鈥淲e had some car trouble. We were going to head to Edmonton but that was a bit too drastic for the vehicle 鈥� Especially twice in the same year in a car that鈥檚 just a Kia. We definitely had to get our brakes changed.鈥�
Bella is touring with a drummer and a baritone sax.
She did 28 concerts in 30 days in June across Canada and is on a similar bender now but with more Ontario dates, including Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Saskatoon, Revelstoke, Kelowna, Osoyoos and the aforementioned Prince George.
The mini-LP It鈥檚 Not What It Looks Like features vocalists who have backed up the likes of Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan, and a bonus track with James Brown drummer Clyde Stubblefield.
鈥淗e gave me a big hug and called me 鈥榯he princess of soul鈥� in the studio,鈥� she said.
Bella said she鈥檚 had good feedback since starting the tour on Oct. 3 and is coming off a recent sold out show in Osoyoos.
鈥淚鈥檝e been singing since I was 12,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y singing teacher introduced me to the blues and that鈥檚 how I started with that style. I was 16. I think it鈥檚 because of what I write, I write about personal experiences. A lot of that can come from the heart.鈥�
She grew up in Chelsea, about 15 minutes from Ottawa. She said she used to draw a bit of an older crowd earlier in her career because she was focused on the blues, but draws more of a mix now that she鈥檚 added some soul.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge mix,鈥� Bella said. 鈥淚 get everybody. Anybody with a broken heart comes to my show, you know?鈥�
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and there鈥檚 a $10 cover. Visit www.bellacatsoul.com to learn more.
