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Sitar and drum duo White Raag bringing East Indian sound Creston

Creston's Jason Deatherage and Nelson's Steve Pierson perform Feb. 22 at the Snoring Sasquatch...
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Steve Pierson (left) on sitar and Jason Deatherage on drums in White Raag.

White Raag, featuring Jason Deatherage on drums and Steve Pierson on sitar, will perform at the Snoring Sasquatch on Saturday.

“It has East Indian roots in sound and texture, but is clearly not traditional in form and discipline,” said Deatherage. “Our ‘raag’ crosses space and time, east to west, ancient to contemporary and instrumental to vocal.”

Deatherage quietly continues 25 years of professional musicianship in the artistic mecca of Creston. Having played on and produced major label and Juno-nominated albums, his intense, iconoclastic yet tasteful grooves have driven scores of recordings in all genres. He operates Fort Cosmos Studios in Creston, providing recording, sound editing and duplication services to the whole of southeastern B.C.

Pierson, of Nelson, has been working on his sitar since 1999. He has played in various musical arrangements including rock bands, bluegrass and formerly a duo with tabla (Indian drums). In previous years, he has been involved in the musical arrangements of two short films, one for National Geographic covering orphans of the street in India. Pierson’s primary goal is getting the sounds of the sitar and drums in mainstream Kootenay music.

White Raag is planning summer music festivals and booking gigs throughout the Kootenays and in the U.S.

Doors to the Feb. 22 show open at 6 p.m.; the show starts at 7. Admission is by a $5 minimum donation.

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