Folk It!

Last October, Le Vent du Nord from Quebec, Canada released a new CD: Voisinages.

Le Vent du Nord ©Annie Diotte

Quebec has a vibrant folk music culture, in which you can clearly hear that a significant part of the population once emigrated from northern France to eastern Canada. Early on, a great deal of music was recorded by the French-language branch of Canadian Radio. The music was also kept alive by being sung and played in domestic settings. From the 1970s onwards, a considerable number of groups also began arranging this music, recording it and performing it on stage.

One of the most popular groups, La Bottine Souriante, was founded in 1976. Le Vent du Nord, another well-known group, was founded in 2002. This group is also well known far beyond Quebec and draws inspiration from the same musical tradition as La Bottine Souriante. For example, a few members of La Bottine Souriante can also be heard in Le Vent du Nord, and an important rhythmic contribution is provided by a tap dancer who fulfils the role of percussion. Both groups continue to release new material.

Playlist

1. Le Vent du Nord – L’Acadie (Voisinages, 2025)
2. La Bottine Souriante – Sur la Montagne du Loup (Y’a Ben du Changement, 1978)
3. La Bottine Souriante – C’est dans Paris (Je Voudrais Changer d’Chapeau, 1988)
4. La Bottine Souriante – Dans Paris y’a t’une Brune (Cordial, 2001)
5. La Bottine Souriante – Hommage à Gille Brunet (Danse, 2019)
6. Le Vent du Nord – Dans l’Eau de Vie de l’Arbre (20 printemps, 2022)
7. Le Vent du Nord – Le Navire de Bayonne (20 printemps, 2022)
8. Le Vent du Nord – Lettre à Durham (Les Voix du Vent avec Cordes et Piano, 2023)
9. Le Vent du Nord – Nicolas / La Galope du Brigadier (Notre Album Solo, 2018)
10. Le Vent du Nord – Le Pari de Jeanne (Voisinages, 2025)
11. Le Vent du Nord – Montcalm (La Part du Feu, 2022)
12. Le Vent du Nord – La Lettre (Voisinages, 2025)
13. Le Vent du Nord – Fleuve (Voisinages, 2025)
14. Le Vent du Nord – Une Nuit dans les Auberges (Voisinages, 2025)
15. Le Vent du Nord – Riton / C’est dans Paris (Les Voix du Vent avec Cordes et Piano, 2023)