Mouth music and musical families. Deep history and playful innovation. Quebec’s Le Vent du Nord knows how to turn the lost past into intense and beautiful performances that push their roots in striking global directions. The group is blazing a path that connects their Québecois roots to the wider world, in both arrangements and on stage.
Considered a driving force in progressive folk, Le Vent du Nord captures the energy and mirth of a Saturday night kitchen party, infusing old Québec with a breath of fresh, cosmopolitan air.
Since its founding in 2002, Le Vent du Nord have become compelling Francophone ambassadors, winning critical acclaim and audience adoration across Europe and North America. The quartet has performed well over 1,000 concerts, racking up several prestigious awards, including two Junos (Canada’s Grammys), a Canadian Folk Music Award, and 'Artist of the Year' at the North American Folk Alliance Annual Gala.
The band delivers catchy songs and tunes, some taken from the Québec traditional folk repertoire while others are original compositions. The group has a rich and varied instrumentation, well-polished musical arrangements, and wonderful vocals.
In addition to their traditional repertoire, the group exhibits great finesse and flexibility, appearing regularly on Canadian, American, French, and UK television and radio, and participating in a wide variety of special musical projects. They’ve collaborated and performed with Harry Manx, Väsen, The Chieftains, Breton musical pioneer Yann-Fañch Kemener, Québecois roots legend and master storyteller Michel Faubert, hip Scottish folk band Breabach, and the trans-Mediterranean ensemble Constantinople.
Not content with standard approaches to tradition, Le Vent du Nord have also created a symphonic concert, presented by the respected Portland Symphony Orchestra and Québec Symphony Orchestra, that “puts all traditional folk naysayers to shame” (Voir Montreal). This concert will be presented again with The Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra in April 2013.
Having given the La Part du Feu concert 250 times in North America, Europe, South America, and Scandinavia, Le Vent du Nord presents a new show with the songs of Tromper le temps (Fooling Time), its 7th album (released in Spring 2012). Made up of 4 singers and multi-instrumentalists, Le Vent du Nord returns to its roots, drawing from yesterday and today to give us a glimpse the hopes of possible tomorrows. Through songs meant to resist the march of time, the Tromper le temps concert evokes often forgotten episodes of Québec’s history with provocative texts and poetic descriptions destined to endure throughout the ages. A way to fool time…while there is still time! It is a concert that stirs emotions and touches the heart and soul.
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