Local band Bella Donna is quickly carving out their place in the Ottawa live-music scene and says their streamable music is on the way. Bella Donna was first formed in 2022 by music industry arts student Thomas Burr and high school friend Oliver Wright. They experimented with different names before landing on Atropa Bella Donna, the poisonous plant rumoured to have killed Roman emperor Augustus.
The band bloomed as they added new members from their high school, Lisgar Collegiate Institute. Today, the band consists of Burr on lead vocals, Leeah Sullivan on guitar and backing vocals, Darian Cassidy on bass and backing vocals, Evan Chamberlin on guitar and Jake Gareau on the drums.