The harmony singing of five voices together with foot-tapping (podorythmie), hurdy-gurdy, bouzouki, bombarde, fiddle and accordion all coalesce to illustrate just how rich, inventive and very much alive Québec’s traditional folk music is. To experience a show by Le Vent du Nord is one where you can let your hair down, dance your heart out, feel moved by the stories and reinvigorated by the energy and drive of these deeply connected musical explorers!
Le Vent du Nord have become incomparable ambassadors of Canada’s Francophone culture and a major creative force within Québec’s progressive folk music scene. Since forming in 2002, they have experienced a meteoric rise that continues to amaze. To date, the band have performed over 2,400 shows across four continents, released 13 albums and received numerous prestigious international awards including Artists of the year at Folk Alliance International & Canadian Folk Music Awards, two JUNO Awards, a BABELMED/Mundial Montréal Prix Pont Transatlantique and a Songlines Music Awards: this recognition was particularly important for the group, as it made them the first French-speaking artists to win in the Americas category. This was highlighted during a gala evening at the Barbican in London (march 2024), where they performed alongside world music artists such as Salif Keita.
The current line-up consists of founding members Nicolas Boulerice and Olivier Demers, Réjean Brunet, André Brunet and newest member André (Dédé) Gagné (since March 2024). The band’s original compositions, arrangements of traditional repertoire and dynamic live performances are now acclaimed worldwide and with their latest release Voisinages they prove their music is very much of our time.
