La Bottine Souriante

About

More than 35 years ago, La Bottine Souriante spearheaded the renewal of interest in Quebec’s roots music. The ten-piece ensemble—which includes a female dancer and a four-man brass section—is hailed at home and abroad for its innovative arrangements and the wild spirit of its live shows. La Bottine Souriante—the name translates as the smiling work-boot—keeps to a repertoire of traditional songs and tunes from home, but is never content to stay still musically, drawing inspiration from jazz and world music. There’s a New Orleans, party feel to La Bottine that links it to Francophone traditions of Louisiana. The rollicking outfit stays clear of popular trends and folk purism, offering instead music of depth and substance with the freedom to innovate and let the good times roll.


Artist Links: Website  |  Wikipedia

Areas of Representation: Worldwide (except Quebec)

Biography

La Bottine Souriante first appeared on the Québec music scene in 1976 and is a living legend of French North American roots music. In over thirty-five years, they have released twelve albums, four of which are certified Gold (over 50,000 copies sold) and three went Platinum (over 100,000 sold). In 2001, they also released a musical anthology to celebrate their 25th anniversary. Altogether, they have sold over half a million albums! The group has won dozens of awards and headlined festivals around the world. La Bottine Souriante is no longer simply a Québécois/Canadian musical phenomenon. The group and their explosive sound have crossed borders the world over and left in their wake countless enchanted audiences. They have now developed a distinctive sound that successfully allies an homage to tradition with a dash of jazz, salsa and pure folk, while at the same time perfectly representing the symbol of vitality and pride of its mother culture. It is truly World Music in the best of that tradition.

La Bottine has developed an exceptionally tight, cohesive sound, with their unique flavour of celebratory music. These two elements, music and celebration, characterised by pulsating rhythm, breathtaking sound, and exuberant spirit, have been inseparable. And it is directly into this turbulent energy that La Bottine Souriante sweeps its rapturous public. It is no wonder that the US-based Dirty Linen magazine has proclaimed La Bottine “The best band in the world”!

This musical blend is generated by eleven solid, traditionally rooted musicians: Benoit Bourque (vocals, button accordion, foot tapping and dance); Éric Beaudry (vocals, foot tapping, mandolin, bouzouki, guitar); David Boulanger (vocals, fiddle, foot tapping, percussion); Jean-François Gagnon-Branchaud (vocals, fiddle, foot tapping); Pierre “Pedro” Belisle (piano, piano-accordion, trumpet) taking up the swing with jazzman François Marion (acoustic and electric bass). Since 1990, a 4-piece brass section has added an even more exciting dimension to La Bottine’s incomparable sound, featuring the musical direction and brass arrangements of Jean Fréchette (saxophone, percussions and arrangements), with Robert “Bob” Ellis (bass trombone), André Verreault (trombone), Jocelyn Lapointe (trumpet), and powerhouse rhythm from Sandy Silva (percussive dance).

La Bottine Souriante has taken part in numerous folk festivals around the world, among them the TØNDER FESTIVAL and the prestigious WOMAD. The group has appeared on many collaborations, notably with Kepa Junkera (Bilbao 00:00h) from the Basque country as well as with Paddy Molony and The Chieftains (Fire in the Kitchen).

 

Tour Dates

Future Tour Dates

View Tour History

Tour History

Return to Future Tour Dates

2016
Jan 10, 2016 Venue Info
Winnipeg, MB Canada Centenniel Concert Hall
 
Jan 9, 2016 Venue Info
Winnipeg, MB Canada Centenniel Concert Hall
 
Jan 8, 2016 Venue Info
Winnipeg, MB Canada Centenniel Concert Hall
 
2015
Oct 10, 2015 Venue Info
Middlebury, VT USA Campus Green quad
7:30 PM  
Jul 20, 2015  
Toronto, ON CANADA Pan Am Park
1:00-2:30PM  
Jul 19, 2015  
Toronto, ON CANADA Nathan Phillips Square
5:00PM  
Jul 18, 2015 Venue Info
Markham, ON CANADA Markham Theatre
6:30 PM (TBC)  
Jan 31, 2015 Venue Info
Markham, ON CANADA Markham Theatre
8pm  
2014
Sep 14, 2014 MI Irish Music Fest Venue Info
Muskegon, MI USA Heritage Landing
TBA  
Sep 13, 2014 MI Irish Music Fest Venue Info
Muskegon, MI USA Heritage Landing
TBA  
Sep 12, 2014 Chicago World Music Festival Venue Info
Chicago, IL USA Jay Pritzker Pavilion - Millennium Park
7:00 PM  
May 17, 2014  
New Bedford, MA USA Zeiterion Theatre
8 PM  
2013
Sep 8, 2013 Wheatland Music Festival  
Remus, MI USA Wheatland Festival Site
Times TBA  
Sep 7, 2013 Wheatland Music Festival  
Remus, MI USA Wheatland Festival Site
Times TBA  
Sep 5, 2013 Friday Night Live  
Detroit, MI USA Rivera Court-Detroit Institute of Art
7 PM and 8:30 PM  
2012
Dec 8, 2012  
Toronto, ON Canada Koerner Hall
8:00PM  
Oct 27, 2012 Algoma Fall Festival  
Sault Ste Marie, ON CANADA Kiwanis Community Theatre Centre
8:00PM  
Sep 1, 2012 Rhythm & Roots  
Charlestown, RI USA Ninigret Park
9:30 PM  
Aug 30, 2012 Venue Info
Brownfield, ME USA Stone Mountain Arts Center
8:00PM  
Aug 14, 2012 MusicFest Vancouver  
Vancouver, BC CANADA The Vogue Theatre
8:00PM  
Aug 12, 2012  
Edmonton, AB CANADA Edmonton Folk Music Festival
 
Aug 11, 2012  
Edmonton, AB CANADA Edmonton Folk Music Festival
 
Jul 14, 2012 Huntington Summer Arts Festival  
Huntington, NY USA Chapin Rainbow Stage
8:30 PM  

Videos










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Press

“The tightest and most exciting band of any nature anywhere…”  ~ FolkRoots, UK


“One of the best live acts of this universe.” ~ Folk World, Germany


“Simply the best band I saw all through the summer festival season.”  ~ Georgina Boyes, BBC Radio 2


“One of the most innovative and uplifting bands playing contemporary roots music anywhere.”   ~ Tony Montague, The Vancouver Courier

Testimonials

“Show was great!  Exactly what I had hoped – great joi de vivre and spirit of celebration!  Even the weather cooperated – turned out to be a very pleasant evening – not too hot though a little humid.

Jocelyn, Frank, Benoit and everyone with the band were great to work with.  Our technical staff enjoyed the experience and everything ran smoothly.  A very memorable evening – truly one of the highlights of our season!  Fabulous response from audience – good turnout of 1,000+; “Best show yet” heard many times.  I think the band had a good time as well – they certainly enjoy performing together.

Thank you again for all your help in making this happen!  We’ll keep in touch.”

— John Chicherio, Performing Arts Director – Huntington Summer Arts Festival – Huntington, NY, USA

Downloads/Media

Tech Riders

La Bottine Souriante Rider – English: Download (PDF)

La Bottine Souriante Rider – French: Download (PDF)

La Bottine Souriante Stage Plot: Download (PDF)

Press Photos (high resolution):

 

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