It was a wild ride for Laila Biali as she made her way across Saskatchewan and into Humboldt on Nov. 2 at the Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery for her Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils Stars for Saskatchewan concert tours.
Biali was stop number two for the Humboldt Area Arts Council concert series while Humboldt was stop number 13 for Biali and her crew made up of bassist, Kodi Hutchinson and drummer, Jon May.
While everyone has been lovely on their Saskatchewan tour, every community has had their own spirit or vibe, she says.
“We’re seeing the heart of Canada, I’ve never had this opportunity and it has proven to be as wonderful as I’d hoped it would be.”
Biali has also gotten her Saskatchewan education along the way with visits to the moose capital of the world, the tallest Ukrainian lady, and the highest swing.
One thing that stood out for Biali at the majority of her Saskatchewan shows is the fact that parents bring their kids and expose them to arts and culture at a young age.
“I’ve never had as wide a generation spread covered at shows. That’s unique. Saskatchewanians are bringing out their kiddos. Which shows they value arts and culture.”
A couple of notable events made the tour interesting for the trio.
And what a ride it was with wind and snow storms and bomb scares livening the trip up.
“By the time we got to La Ronge, that was our first show, and there was a bomb scare, so we got moved from the local high school to someone’s private residence, this palatial home out on the lake.”
Biali got to play two shows in La Ronge since they played the high school the next day after the school was cleared.
After that it was mostly uneventful until getting to Estavan where a cat got into the venue during an intimate ballad, laughs Biali.
Again, it was uneventful as they continued on their way but had to contend with icy conditions on the drive from Hudson Bay to Humboldt.
Luckily, Hutchinson is well trained in icy driving so they made it to Humboldt safely.
The drive was worth it, says Biali, as the first thing they noticed driving into Humboldt was how pretty it is. Getting lost in Humboldt has its advantages, says Biali as they missed their turn and were very impressed by the public art in the Humboldt Public Cemetary.
“We’re esthetic people as musicians (Humboldt’s beauty) was already a gift...every few blocks I wanted to take a photo.”
While they have photo documented the wealth of worthwhile photo opps in Humboldt, they were also impressed with the Gallery and the intimate space.
The Humboldt show was also the most intimate show they played, even smaller than the house in La Ronge that they were invited to play in.
Laila Biali’s Humboldt visit was sponsored by Weber Gasper Law Office.
The next show on the concert series docket is Tomato Tomato on March 9 sponsored by Causeway Natural Health.
