Tomatoes Tried To Kill Me But Banjos Saved My Life

Everyone has a story. Your stories matter.

Keith Alessi was neither a performer nor a musician before taking to the stage. He was an accountant and corporate CEO. Now, following highly acclaimed international tours and appearances at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Keith shares his unconventional true story of overcoming extraordinary obstacles, including cancer, and how the healing power of music brought him back home to himself.

The grassroots sound of the banjo lures you in and carries you back to a simpler time, as Keith takes audiences on an intimate and deeply human journey through his life. This show has been highly awarded and reviewed while touring internationally and has profoundly affected audiences everywhere. Themes of forgiveness and the importance of pursuing your passions resonate throughout.

The variety of banjos that join Keith on stage are characters in their own right, each having played an important role in his journey. This is more than a show — it’s a cause.

Keith has never accepted any form of remuneration for his performances, instead choosing to donate all income to the venues he performs in. For this performance, all income will be donated directly to WTM, helping to support its community reach and cultural work. As of January 2026, this work has raised over $1.2 million CAD for these causes. For this, we say "thank you".