The Southern Time Band
Besides being forerunners of the ’21st Century Social Classical’ style (AKA’ psychedelic jazzy-classical musical-theateresque art rock‘) the Southern Time Band is pioneering, the band can also play pop/rock/blues music standards from the 1960s to the present day for one’s event. How can such a versatile group covering multiple genres exist? Over one hundred years of eclectic and virtuosic experience shared amongst the band’s professional musicians, of course!
Meet the Band
Bassist
Bryant Didier, owner, and producer of B. Musique studios, operating in Toronto for over thirty years, Bryant has also performed numerous types during this time with such acts as Tom Cochrane, Bruce Cockburn, Bill Bragg, Jane Siberry, Carole Pope, Molly Johnson, Shakura S’Aida and many, many more… He recently also launched his Evolutionary Music Co-op, which aims to be a’ 21st Century Motown.’ Bryant’s website is https://www.bmusiquestudio.com/. Besides being the bassist for the Southern Time Band, he is also the band’s producer.
Percussionist
Richard Sacks is an incredibly versatile and virtuosic percussionist, and he is also a recognized composer and multimedia artist. He has had works commissioned by the Victoria Symphony, has performed at Carnegie Recital Hall, The NY Shakespeare Theatre (Papp), and Alice Tully Hall as a percussionist. He is one of the most highly sought-after percussionists in the world. Luckily for the Southern Time Band, he also enjoys playing their original works. For more on, Rick, visit http://www.rixax.com/.
Guitarist
Donné Roberts, born in Madagascar, was raised and educated in Moscow, Russia, and now lives in Toronto. In Moscow, he was the first black V.J. on MTV Russia. Donné came to wider recognition after he released his albums “Rhythm Was Born” and “Internation” and for his contribution as one of the members of the African Guitar Summit project, which won a J.U.N.O. in 2005 and was nominated for another one in 2007 as member of Okavango The African Orchestra that won a J.U.N.O. Award in 2017. Donné feels honored to play in the Southern Time Band. His website is https://www.donneroberts.ca/.
Backup Singer One
As a person living with H.I.V., Justin Anantawan participates as an H.I.V. activist, working as an H.I.V. outreach worker and counselor in Kenya and volunteering at the P.W.A. (People With AIDS) foundation in Toronto. He is active in the community, bringing awareness to issues affecting P.H.A.’s like H.I.V. stigma and criminalization. He is an ambassador for the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research and appeared in the 2019 MUCH studio documentary, “Positive,” which illuminates the lives of queer and trans Millenials living with H.I.V. He also trained as an opera singer at UofT Opera.
Backup Singer Two
Yessica Rostan, stage name Shessi Sandu, is a singer-songwriter, pianist/keyboardist, and percussionist. Shessi migrated to Toronto as a child from Paysandu, Uruguay, and as a result, her sound reflects her diverse cultural experiences. She creates from the belief that as musical beings, we can all tap into the organic, emotional, and raw, energetic power of music to move, soothe, inspire, and transform us. Shessi is grateful and inspired to be part of the Southern Time Band because she identifies with the challenges of living and thriving with chronic illness expressed through the band’s music and believes in T’s mission to end AIDS by 2030.
Lead Singer
“T” (AKA Timothy Bartsch) has been H.I.V. positive since 1996 and nearly died from AIDS in 2009. He also trained classically as a pianist, cellist, and vocalist, obtaining A.R.C.T.’s with honors in both the cello and piano before turning eighteen. He wrote and produced the multimedia stage production of ‘Southern Time’ in Vancouver in 2005, and has been trying to make it in its cinematic version ever since. In 2018, he found the Southern Time Band’s core members and now is recording the band’s first studio album, which will release in June 2020.
The Southern Time Band is for hire!!!
The more we perform together, the tighter as a band we will get. We aim first to build our (global) fanbase before preproduction on the first film of the ‘Southern Time Tetralogy’ begins later in 2020. Besides making incredibly unique, original, and compelling music, the band’s mission is also to help meet the U.N.A.I.D.S.’ goal of ending AIDS by 2030. By hiring us, you will not only be immensely entertained and touched, but you will be aiding people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide.
To hire the Southern Time Band, please contact us by filling out the form.