October 20, 2010

Brulé moves to Branson

A new adventure for Brulé:  Native American band spending less time on the road and more time on stage in Branson

But musicians make time for another Sioux Falls show at Pavilion

By Jay KirschenmannBranson audiences have embraced South Dakota's Native American band Brulé so well that all 18 cast members and their families moved there.

"The grandchildren are enrolled in the schools here," founder Paul LaRoche says by phone last week from the RFD TV Theater, where he performs in Branson.

"We are loaded up pretty heavily next year, too, so after this next show in Sioux Falls, we probably won't be back to South Dakota for a long time," he says.

The band plays Saturday at the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science, presenting the full stage show it uses in Branson: Brule and AIRO--American Indian Rock Opera.

LaRoche says the show is done with respect to his culture, using feathers, paint and traditional sounds without exploiting native traditions. The show is the story of LaRoche's reunion with the reservation and how he tries to bridge cultures.
Comment:  For more on the subject, see Brule in Rose Parade.

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