La Nuit du Chant
Hosted by Michel Faubert, this Nuit du Chant 2023 brought out the emotion in the crowd with performances by Zigue (Lanaudière), Katia Rock (Uashat-Mak-Maliotenam) and FARA (Scotland). The richness of the traditions so generously displayed by Claude Méthé and his family, the poetry and sensitivity of the majestic Katia, and then the sweetness of the voices combined with the energy of FARA’s violins and piano completely seduced festival-goers.
La Veillée de la Rive
After a day punctuated by fiddlers’ encounters, song wheels, intimate church concerts, shows for young audiences and much more, the public was able to experience the famous Veillée, despite the rain. Under the Yves-Steinmetz big top rather than on the quay, the evening got off to a gentle start with the accordion playing of Régis Huiban, the only member of the Skolvan group to make it to Quebec (his accomplices were unfortunately stranded in France due to air travel problems), who defended the Breton quartet’s reputation with a spectacular performance. He was followed by Djely Tapa and his musicians, who completely set the atmosphere alight with their music forged in African blues, Sahelian ambiences and infused with electro. Last but not least, La Bottine Souriante, the quintessential Quebec trad band, put on a full-scale performance in the church, alternating between their greatest hits and new material.
A daring closing day
Sunday opened with an aubade concert in the church, featuring workshop teachers Gabrielle Bouthillier, Alison Gowan, Benjamin Meunier, brothers Rémy and Fabien Villeneuve, Régis Huiban, and trainees. This was followed by the Parade of singers, musicians and onlookers, THE festival tradition. Then, an electrifying energy gradually built up, culminating in the closing concert with the Trio Meunier-Villeneuve, a trio of young musicians emerging from the profusion of trad music from central France, Les Mercenaires du terroir, who delivered a magnificent repertoire of dance tunes with brio, and Brazilian-born Montrealer Diogo Ramos, who got everyone dancing, giving the impression of suddenly finding themselves on a Rio beach. Last but not least, Fred Savard’s queb/trad DJ set proved to be a highlight, a crazy, exhilarating paroxysm!
With its many activities, shows, dances and even sung dragon-boat rides, with its craftsmen and traditional trades to discover, with its sixty or so artists to meet, in short, with its thousand faces, this 19th edition of Chants de Vielles thrilled an entire village to the rhythm of trad, folk and acoustic music.
Next year will mark the 20th anniversary of the event, and the first 19 editions suggest that it will be a grand one! To find out more, subscribe to our newsletter and visit our social media pages.
