Bonnie Raitt slips into NAC in November
Musician tours to promote most recent studio album
Fiery Grammy-winning singersongwriter Bonnie Raitt arrives in Ottawa Nov. 15 for a show at the National Arts Centre.
Raitt is promoting her latest album, Slipstream, which she released on her own label, Redwing Records. Raitt picked up her 10th Grammy for the 2012 release, which was named best Americana Album.
Slipstream was Raitt’s first studio album in seven years; she took a break from touring and recording to “get back in touch with the other part of my life,” she says in a release. It was also a difficult few years, with the loss of her parents, brother and a best friend, the release said.
Raitt has been a commanding presence in music rooted in blues, rock, R&B and folk for 40 years, since she released her self-titled debut album, an interpretation of classic blues song by masters such as Robert Johnson and Sippie Wallace. She’s a singer, guitarist and songwriter.
Raitt shot to fame in the early ’90s with three blockbuster albums. The No. 1 album, Nick of Time, won her three Grammys in 1990. She followed that up in 1994 with another multimillion-selling album, Luck of the Draw, which also picked up three Grammys and garnered the hits singles I Can’t Make You Love Me and Something To Talk About. Longing in their Hearts, released in 1994, also earned her a Grammy.
Raitt is also well known for her work for various causes, from safe energy to preserving the environment and a non-profit group that provides instruments and music lessons in schools.
In Ottawa, her show will be opened by singer-songwriter Marc Cohn, best known for his hit from the early ’90s, Walking in Memphis.
The Nov. 15 show is at 8 p.m. in Southam Hall. Tickets are $69 to $99, plus service charges, at the NAC box office; by phone at 1-888991-2787; and at ticketmaster.ca, on sale Friday, Aug. 23, at 10 a.m.