Ray Bonneville is a roaming blues poet-inspired by the road and the many other places he has called home—New Orleans, Colorado, Arkansas, Alaska, Boston, Seattle and Paris.

Born in Canada and raised in the United States, Bonneville has lived all over. No place, however, has been more influential than New Orleans. “New Orleans is where I learned to take my time, to allow space between the notes so the songs could truly groove.” That groove is at the core of Bonneville’s sound.

A one-man band, he backs up weathered, storytelling vocals with a highly percussive guitar style, dramatic harmonica lines and a foot that keeps the rock steady beat. The result is a big sound with a primitive quality. It’s visceral, raw music.