Laura Rain, fronting Laura Rain and the Caesars, returns to Boise to headline an amazing R&B Motor City Soul Experience concert at the Egyptian Theatre on Friday, June 3. Special guest performer for the evening will be another Boise favorite, Ghalia Volt. The MC for the evening will be vocalist and instrumentalist Shaun B. All three artists have held previous shows at Boise’s Sapphire Room.
Laura Rain is a classically trained singer who melds that into Detroit rhythm and blues in order to bring a high energy, soulful show that’s been onstage not only in 25 US states, but also successful touring in Canada and France. Her show a few years ago at Blues on the Banks, presented by the Boise Blues Society in Caldwell, provided not only a scenic riverside show on Indian Creek, but a wonderful atmosphere to enjoy it at. This time, the band will be performing at the recently renovated classic theatre, the Egyptian Theatre. Opened in 1927, the Egyptian motif makes a wonderful backdrop for the evening’s show.
The last few years since Laura Rain and the Caesars have been in Boise, Laura Rain and her creative partner George Friend have been quite busy. They have released several new singles, signed a UK label deal and recently released their new album, Rise Again. The Detroit-based band is molded in the Detroit rhythm and blues style, blending a soulful sound with touches of gospel and straight-ahead funk into their music with elements of previous masters of the Motor City sound such as Aretha Franklin, Parliament-Funkadelic, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. With her classical training, Laura Rain is not just a singer, but one who can pull the maximum amount out of the sounds with an amazing amount of control.
As impressive as it is to listen to Laura Rain on one of her albums, seeing her live brings the heart of her music to her audience. She says that “A live show is the way to clinch the fans. It’s nice to treat the patrons to a live show. We try to engage every single person, go up to everyone and thank them for coming to the live show because it is so important that we’re on an ‘underground train’ here because live music and indie artists are such a small facet of the music business that every single person you come across is so important, so it really is the only way.”
Ghalia Volt, based out of New Orleans but originally from Belgium, started her musical career “busking”, which is essentially a one musician street-corner performer. She is heavily influenced by the traditional New Orleans sound. Indeed, Ghalia has taken the old style, foot stomping New Orleans blues to a whole new level. These days whether performing by herself or with a band behind her, Ghalia mesmerizes her audience with a strong beat, electrifying guitar licks and a down-home voice.
Shaun B’s last performance in Boise was two shows at the Sapphire Room on New Year’s Eve. Shaun B grew up with music and started singing in his church choir very early, channeling his talents into performing. Then, starting out his career as a drummer in Oxford, England, he learned several more instruments to blend with his smooth, soulful voice. Besides his MC’ing duties for the evening, Shaun B might also treat the audience to a few of his songs that he’s performed at places such as Harvelle’s in Long Beach, the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip and many more.
The R&B Motor City Soul Experience evening is produced by Rick Oliver’s RIX Entertainment Group. Rick has been busy this year working on numerous events in Southern Idaho. Rick is also active with the Boise Hive, a charitable organization recently profiled in The Boise Beat, that helps up and coming local musicians with recording and practicing space, as well as providing rehabilitation and counseling for musicians that have needs such as addiction rehabilitation and career counseling.
Laura Rain and the Caesars perform in Boise at the Egyptian Theatre Friday June 3rd, at 8pm with special guest Ghalia Volt and MC’d by Shaun B. A VIP after party will take place at DeLuca’s downtown following the show. Details and tickets are available at:
https://egyptiantheatre.net/event/rb-motor-city-soul-experience/
Laura Rain and the Caesars
Ghalia Volt
Shaun B
Friday, June 3, 2022
8pm
Egyptian Theatre
700 West Main Street (Corner of Capitol Blvd. And Main Street)
Boise, ID 83702
