Fortunately for Harry Manx, and for Penticton music lovers, there are musical gods.
Manx, who hits the stage at the Dream Cafe March 6, had his veenah stolen while he was travelling through Chicago O’Hara Airport.
Fortunately, security cameras captured the culprit and eventually the instrument, a 20-string instrument merging elements from the sitar and guitar, was returned to Manx.
The veenah is an integral part of Manx’s repertoire, a blend of East Indian music with blues.
Manx, who began his musical career at the age of 15 as a roadie for Crowbar, learned the blues while on the road.
I learned to play blues first and then I ended up in India for 12 years,” explained Manx.
“The music got into my soul.
“I started to really love it.
“In my mind the blues and the Indian music started to get to know each other.”
The fusion of the two musical genres, Manx said, was a logical step, but also viewed as musical craziness.
“They (audiences) have rewarded me for my craziness so that must mean something,” Manx said with a chuckle.
Manx, with his veenah and other instruments, hits the Dream Cafe stage at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $36