Le Vent Du Nord – new album

tetu

Quebec’s most progressive folk band Le Vent du Nord return with their eighth album entitled Têtu meaning stubborn or obstinate. For the purpose of clarity the band write Têtu in everyday usage whilst the CD booklet showing TÉtu is purely for the group’s artwork.

With Têtu, Le Vent du Nord have remained true to their Québecois roots whilst at the same time introducing new ideas to their music. The album is made up of fifteen tracks with subject matter ranging from politics to love and satire. They vary from stripped-down a cappella singing to sophisticated arrangements, including the introduction of a string quartet.

Le Vent du Nord’s music is definitely getting sharper, more refined, and ever more thoughtful.

Le Vent Du Nord (Wind from the North) perform traditional Québécois music in French which is heavily influenced by Celtic music from both Ireland and Brittany. The group use a very diverse range of musical instruments augmented by Québécois foot percussion and wonderful vocals presented via a most entertaining, energetic and engaging stage show. Their repertoire features catchy songs and tunes, some taken from the Québec traditional folk repertoire while others are original.

Renowned as ambassadors of Francophonie, Le Vent du Nord are acknowledged as one of the key groups in Quebec’s traditional folk music revival. Since their formation in August 2002 the band have enjoyed major success which has allowed them to take their music to numerous countries. They have now played close to 1,400 sell out concerts across North America and Europe.

LVDN are recipients of several prestigious awards, including a Grand Prix du Disque Charles Cros, two Junos (Canada’s Grammys), a Canadian Folk Music Award, and ‘Artist of the Year’ at the North American Folk Alliance Annual Gala.

Like all artists Le Vent du Nord are not afraid to take chances and experiment in new musical areas. They ignore the passage of time and proudly continue to anchor their musical traditions in the present through inventive arrangements, great instrumentals and vocals, and the best in contemporary production. 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 Quebec Symphony Orchestra, that “puts all traditional folk naysayers to shame” (Voir Montreal). This concert has also been presented recently with The Victoria Symphony Orchestra.

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. At Celtic Connections 2015 LVDN were joined on stage by a host of female artists including Emily Smith, Julie Fowlis, Sharon Shannon, Patsy Reid, Megan Henderson and Christine Hanson.

Artist’s website: www.leventdunord.com

Le Vent Du Nord – ‘Octobre 1837’ live at Celtic Connections 2015: