Nice quote for ART POPULAIRE in the famous world-music magazine SONGLINES this month! “Two members of the prize-winning Québécois vocal group Le Vent du Nord — Nicolas Boulerice and Olivier Demers — are joined here in vocals and on fiddle by Cape Breton-born Robert Devaux
What emerges is something immediately touching, authentic and surprisingly modern – LE DEVOIR (excerpt translated from french review to read here) >>> The fruit of a long friendship, the duo formed by Nicolas Boulerice and Olivier Demers was born in 1996 while they were studying
The Boulerice-Demers duo began their explorations over 25 years ago. This third album presents traditional songs from Acadia and Quebec in their most stripped-down form. An ancient repertoire presented as simply as possible, with three voices, two fiddles and a hurdy-gurdy. In short, drone music, with no real modern accompaniment…
Credit: Noémie Martineau
The fruit of a long friendship, the duo formed by Nicolas Boulerice and Olivier Demers was born in 1996 while they were studying music at Cégep. Their duo then became a quartet under the name Le Vent du Nord, which is now known worldwide. One day, during an open mic session, Demers and Boulerice met Robert Deveaux, a scholar and enthusiast of traditional Acadian song, considered one of the important guardians of this living tradition. A friendship was quickly forged between the three, and over time, the idea of inviting Robert for a special project grew… The result is the wonderful album Art populaire, released in 2023!
With this project, the duo wishes to pay tribute to the Acadians, to their memories and to the work of Robert Deveaux, without whom many of these songs would quickly be forgotten: “This record is about the Acadians deported to Quebec, Louisiana or even sent back to France… It’s also about this language which, even today, is threatened; about the francophones, always present and proud, in Minnesota, Vermont and, of course, in Manitoba as well as Ontario”, explains Olivier Demers.
“Francophones in Canada, as in all of America, share a common history and culture. The people of this country have often been driven by the idea of resistance, so that their language and identity survive. Despite the great cultural proximity of these nations scattered across the continent, there are few real moments of exchange for these peoples of America; here is one,” adds Nicolas Boulerice.
Born into a family with a love of words and Quebec culture, Nicolas was soon inspired by his grandmother’s traditional songs and his father’s poetic writings. As a teenager, he learned to play the piano and formed a progressive rock group that later became Ovo, a jazz septet. He went on to study jazz piano at Cégep Lionel-Groulx and Université de Montréal. After the defeat of the 1995 referendum, his passion for history and Quebec began to take on greater importance in his life. He discovered collecting family songs at the same time as playing the hurdy-gurdy, an instrument he learned to make and which changed his vision of trad music. In 1997, he began his career on the American folk circuit with the group Ad Vielle Que Pourra, with whom he learned the trade of touring musician. In 2001, he co-founded the duo Boulerice-Demers, then the group Le Vent du Nord. Over the past 22 years, this group has performed nearly 2200 concerts in over twenty countries. Musician, singer, lyricist and poet, he is also involved in the production and management of urban events such as La Veillée de l’avant-veille and the Festival Chants de Vielles en Montérégie. He has released 3 album as a solo singer & songwriter: CoolTrad (2024), Maison de pierres (2020) and Maison de bois (2015), the latter earning him the CALQ Artist of the Year award in Montérégie, his homeland area.
Trained as a violinist, reformed fiddler and passionate guitarist, Olivier first played chamber music and then jazz. His versatility led him to work with many artists (Le Cirque du Soleil, La Bottine Souriante, Väsen, Michel Faubert, Breabach, Dervish, etc.). He has dedicated his life to traditional music for the past 24 years. He is one of the founding members of Vent du Nord (over 2,200 shows worldwide, 11 albums, including three Félix awards, two Juno awards, two Canadian Folk Music Awards, Best Traditional Band of The Year in North America at the Folk Alliance conference 2007, etc.). He was also a member of the MontcorbieR trio and the Boulerice – Demers duo (two albums, including Best Trad Album in Canada in 2006 with Un peu d’ci, un peu d’ça). A studio enthusiast, Olivier has taken part in over 70 albums, as musician, co-producer and producer. Olivier is also very much involved in the hidden side of tradition, as co-founder and organizer of La Veillée de l’avant Veille (27th edition in 2024), the Chants de Vielles festival, the Roues et Archets label and co-instigator of the session at the Albion in Joliette. In 2020, he published the essential score book “1000 airs du Québec et de l’Amérique française Tome 1“.
Singer and fiddler, Robert Deveaux is a carrier of Cape Breton Acadian traditions, seeking to revive the old French folk songs of his region brought back from France, and to strengthen ties with other (albeit scattered) French-speaking communities who share much heritage thanks to their similar origins. Since the age of 15, most of her work experience has revolved around music, both traditional Cape Breton fiddle and piano styles, as well as Acadian music.
"Two members of the prize-winning Québécois vocal group Le Vent du Nord — Nicolas Boulerice and Olivier Demers — are joined here in vocals and on fiddle by Cape Breton-born Robert Devaux in a refreshingly straightforward but spirited showcase of the folk music of Quebec and the francophone region of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, known in colonial times as Acadie (the historical homeland of today’s Cajuns). A joyful journey indeed"
« Ce "duo" propose la plus importante rencontre de trad acoustique jamais
enregistrée. »
“All the guests fit in so well with Boulerice-Demers you’d think they’d been playing together for all of their lives. I recommend with anyone who wants to hear acoustic music done with finesse and style.”
Traditional album of the year 2006
-
-
« [...] une révélation, assurément un enregistrement majeur et un grand pas en avant dans la musique traditionnelle de nos cousins transatlantiques. »
We use cookies to support a better experience on our website.
We use cookies to support a better experience on our website.
