Eccentric Canadian songwriter/filmmaker Bob Wiseman is taking his one-of-a-kind, one-man show, Actionable, to some of Canada's largest theatre festivals this summer. Wiseman plans to perform his show, which details some of his corporate music run-ins over the years, at Victoria, BC's Uno Fest, as well as the fringe festivals in Winnipeg and Calgary.
Actionable recounts Wiseman's struggles within the music industry after quitting Canadian folk rock institution Blue Rodeo and trying to establish a solo career. The show features Wiseman's trademark quirky songs on accordion, guitar and keyboard, as well as his stories using Super 8 film, video projection and PowerPoint.
Those familiar with Wiseman songs such as "My Cousin Dave" (lambasting David Geffen) or "Have a Nice Day" (an attack on right-wing Canadian lawyer Doug Christie) will be happy to note that Actionable includes not only the full stories behind these songs, but also tales involving legal run-ins with Prince, Warner Music and Pepsi.
A founding member of Blue Rodeo, Wiseman has enjoyed a modestly successful solo career since leaving the band after their 1992 album, Lost Together. He has also produced the likes of Ron Sexsmith, Lowest of the Low and Bruce McCullough of Kids in the Hall.
Wiseman, who lives in Toronto, has won several Junos and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from CBC Radio 3 in 2008.
Actionable has been garnering rave reviews for previous performances and even Talking Heads main man David Byrne has been singing Wiseman accolades, calling the show "as real as life and death and sometimes funny, too," and adding Wiseman's songs to the official Byrne March 2010 downloadable playlist.
Actionable dates:
5/19 Duncan, BC - The Garage Showroom
5/20 Salt Spring Island, BC - Salt Spring Anglican Church
5/21 Pender Island, BC - Skookum Community Hall
5/22-5/30 Victoria, BC - Metro Studio (UNO Fest)
6/17-6/27 Ottawa, ON - Mercury Lounge
7/15-7/24 Winnipeg, MB - Fringe Festival
7/31-8/9 Calgary, AB - Fringe Festival
Actionable recounts Wiseman's struggles within the music industry after quitting Canadian folk rock institution Blue Rodeo and trying to establish a solo career. The show features Wiseman's trademark quirky songs on accordion, guitar and keyboard, as well as his stories using Super 8 film, video projection and PowerPoint.
Those familiar with Wiseman songs such as "My Cousin Dave" (lambasting David Geffen) or "Have a Nice Day" (an attack on right-wing Canadian lawyer Doug Christie) will be happy to note that Actionable includes not only the full stories behind these songs, but also tales involving legal run-ins with Prince, Warner Music and Pepsi.
A founding member of Blue Rodeo, Wiseman has enjoyed a modestly successful solo career since leaving the band after their 1992 album, Lost Together. He has also produced the likes of Ron Sexsmith, Lowest of the Low and Bruce McCullough of Kids in the Hall.
Wiseman, who lives in Toronto, has won several Junos and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from CBC Radio 3 in 2008.
Actionable has been garnering rave reviews for previous performances and even Talking Heads main man David Byrne has been singing Wiseman accolades, calling the show "as real as life and death and sometimes funny, too," and adding Wiseman's songs to the official Byrne March 2010 downloadable playlist.
Actionable dates:
5/19 Duncan, BC - The Garage Showroom
5/20 Salt Spring Island, BC - Salt Spring Anglican Church
5/21 Pender Island, BC - Skookum Community Hall
5/22-5/30 Victoria, BC - Metro Studio (UNO Fest)
6/17-6/27 Ottawa, ON - Mercury Lounge
7/15-7/24 Winnipeg, MB - Fringe Festival
7/31-8/9 Calgary, AB - Fringe Festival
