Artists

Mes Aïeux

The group catapulted to the top with songs such as Dégénérations: reinventing itself with each song, it does not hesitate to take the listener on a journey where anything goes, even a flight towards distant galaxies... What is certain is, we are likely to encounter that sweet madness, that colourful universe and that sense of celebration that have since their debut, cemented the solid on-stage reputation of the group. Thanks to their concoction of songs spiced up with various influences and a fusion of the most diverse of musical ingredients, Mes Aïeux will invariably put on a show not to be missed!

Les Cowboys Fringants

Les Cowboys Fringants from Lanaudière gamely conquered France and Switzerland earlier this year. This rock-country flavoured folk group has embraced the environmental cause and hold Quebec independence close to their heart. The communion between the band and their fans is evident at every show and their pleasure in reconnecting with each other remains intact each time. Their diehard fans from the early days may have grown older yet hardly miss any of their appearances. Spanning multiple generations, their mosaic of fans cohesively unites young children and those with greying manes, simply confirming the unifying power of this band from the Lanaudière and its societal impact. To date, Les Cowboys Fringants have sold over 800,000 albums across Francophone markets.

Karkwa

Vivid lyrics, highly original compositions and electrifying stage performances, that’s what has made accomplished musicians out of these five passionately gifted Québécois. The release of “Les tremblements s'immobilisent” in 2005, confirmed Karkwa as major players on the Canadian-Québécois rock scene. Acknowledged as a work of innovation, that album was very well received by the public and critics alike, deservedly earning the Félix award for “songwriter or composer of the year”, which the group tied with none other than Pierre Lapointe to win. Their two other albums have been just as successful, making this band a force to be reckoned with.

Édith Butler

A fiercely proud Acadian and staunch defender of tradition, heritage and musical fusion, Édith Butler is always true to herself. It is not without reason that French critics have dubbed her "the Acadian tornado”. She remains unchanged by her international career, still retaining all of her on-stage authenticity.

Yelo Molo

Demonstrating undeniable spirit, Yelo Molo's brass-laden sound sets them apart from other bands. Their musical style takes in ska, pop and jazz for a unique sound where vocal harmonies and instruments combine brilliantly.

Misteur Valaire

Misteur Valaire is a jazz quintet from Sherbrooke. This band of twenty-something musicians will surprise and seduce your ears with their velvet tones and sorties into electro, hip hop and drum’n’bass riffs. Misteur Valaire has understandably earned the reputation of having fans who will raise the roof with their enthusiasm!

Just for laughs

If you're a fan of explosive, wild and full-on humour, then you can't afford to miss this. The Juste pour rire crew promises a truly hilarious show, with: Francois Massicotte, Louis-José Houde, Rachid Badouri, Réal Béland, Alexandre Barette et Charly Pop! There's a non-stop laugh-fest in store for the crowds at the Place de la Francophonie 2010.

Pierre Lapointe

Pierre Lapointe is the indefatigable, gifted Québécois singer-songwriter! An unequivocal demonstration of the best that Canadian-Québécois pop has to offer. Captivatingly hypnotic... he will bring a welcome touch of poetry to the festivities!

Damien Robitaille

Damien Robitaille, a native of Ontario possesses an innate gift that sets him apart from his peers. He is a whole in perfect unison with the boyish voice, his strange sense of rhythm and his unabashed "crooner" qualities. Impossible not to be turned on!

La VolÉe d’Castors

With their formidable repertoire of songs and music that's proved such a massive hit, La Volée d'Castors are experts when it comes to putting smiles on people's faces.

Malajube

One of a kind, Malajube uses various styles, from rock to melody and pop! Since the release of Trompe-l'oeil in 2006, Malajube has been touring regularly across Canada, Europe, the United States and Japan. Following a well deserved rest after spending more than a year recording their new album, Labyrinthes, Malajube takes to the stage again as it embarks on a tour that will take it to the four corners of the Earth… Of course with a stop here on home stage!

Porn Flakes

The Porn Flakes, a Quebec phenomenon of the new millennium comparable to the '80s Monday evening live show, "Les Lundis des Ha! Ha!" of the wonderful era of "Ding et Dong", have quickly become essentials on the music scene. In almost 10 years of performing since 2000, their shows have become real happening events where guest stars turn up to sing, but mostly to have fun and "jam". They will be joined by, among others, Kevin Parent, Éric Lapointe, Marie-Mai, Jean-Francois Breau, Melissa Ouimet!

Robert Charlebois

Robert Charlebois, a true pioneer of the Quebec music scene... with whom we travelled between two junctions – Dorval and Mirabel – and on the wings of his Lindberg. His performances are characterized by warmth and vitality, a great stage presence and talented musicians. At times poetic, at times funny, and even surprising, he always brings a richness and intensity to fill your heart and delight your ears.

Gregory Charles

To describe him as an exceptional person is probably a huge understatement. Gregory Charles is a musician, dancer, singer, radio and TV host, actor and backgammon aficionado. One might sum him up rather as an insatiable artiste if it became necessary to try to define the profile of this man who was certainly born with a strong desire to stand out even as life itself left him no other choice. He is also the author of the Olympic torch relay community celebration sign of Vancouver 2010.

Éric Lapointe

Far from being a choirboy, this is an artiste who has burning desires, intense pleasures and torments and with a thirst for rock. With his 7th album released last year, Eric Lapointe, the true rocker, is the master of intense soirées. Confine Éric Lapointe in any way? ...Impossible. This multi-award winning "stage hound" has sold countless CDs with his warmly husky voice.

Ariane Moffatt

With jazz in her blood, folk in her heart and electro in the "gills", Ariane Moffatt makes us delve into the core of her inner world. In this deep ocean, where the imagination has its reasons, she mixes words and sounds, corals and fish, to make beautiful songs. A major talent who is decidedly daring in her musical choices, she never ceases to surprise us with a freshness drawn from her profound authenticity.

ValÉrie Sajdik

The marvellous European singer splits her time between Vienna, Paris and Berlin, where she records pop hits infused with jazz and electronic music, in both French and German.

Garou

He famously played Quasimodo in the musical Notre Dame de Paris but it’s been a while since the name Garou evoked the soulful spectre of the hunchback. The role was the perfect springboard for the singer to launch his imposing talent and powerful voice into the vast universe of variety entertainment. This wolf with a tender heart who is a sucker for love, will electrify you with his energetic interpretations and spellbinding performances.

Zachary Richard

A successful career spanning over thirty years and 19 CDs has firmly cemented Zachary Richard’s fame in the Francophone music world. The singer's music reflects his Louisiana roots, mixing blues, rock, Cajun and zydeco styles. With his sweetly rhythmic melodies, Zachary Richard seduces his audience whom he touches with an authentic artistry and sincerity which is far from skin deep.

Mighty Popo

His performance at the last Live 8 concert still lives in our memory. Named best world music group at the Canadian Folk Music Awards in 2007, and nominated for a Juno Award for the album Muhazi, the Rwandan-born, Ottawa-based artist is a rising star on the international scene. Musically exceptional, Mighty Popo went down a storm at the 33rd Franco-Ontarian Festival (2007). A must for all fans of real African music!

Grand DÉrangement

Grand Dérangement . . . The very name of the group [an allusion to the great upheaval] reflects an admission by the band to want to "shake-up" the audience! The music excites and the show delights the eyes. The group is eclectic in its musical approach offering a merry carousel of songs steeped in French sentiment, with Celtic, rock and folk music. An ice-cool band that’ll give your eyes and ears plenty to think about!

Andrea Lindsay

This young Anglophone singer with her intriguingly childlike yet jazzy voice, is a huge fan of the French language, which she learned to sing. She reinterprets classic songs in her warmly distinctive and unpretentious style, with spellbinding results.

Pascal Lejeune

Pascal Lejeune represents everything we love about Acadia: bags of charisma, beautiful poetry, energy and a healthy dose of humour.

Lynda Thalie

Lynda Thalie’s music is a fascinating blend of instruments and sounds from different parts of the world. In recent years, the Algerian-born artist has reaffirmed her huge universal appeal, winning over audiences on four continents.

Isabelle Longnus

Isabelle Longnus is a singer songwriter, director and poet. For the last ten years, this multidisciplinary artist established herself as one of the predominant figures of the francophone artistic stage in Western Canada. Vancouver is her home base, but she creates and tours in Canada and in France, where most of her productions are recorded live for television or radio. For the Cultural Olympics of the Olympic Games Isabelle will direct 4 shows at La Place de la Francophonie: the opening show, Salut Vancouver!, Le Carnaval, Place aux Chansonniers and the closing show Vancouver Salut!

Joe Amouzou et La Ligue Safari

Lennie Gallant

Recognized by his peers as one of Canada’s best performing songwriters, Lennie Gallant has released nine albums which have won him a host of awards and nominations from both the JUNO Awards and East Coast Music Awards. As a performer, Gallant’s intense delivery reaches down to the very soul of his audience, moving effortlessly through stirring narratives, comic observations, and hard driving rhythms.

MÉlissa Ouimet

Mélissa Ouimet has been preparing her first steps into the music business for a long time. Originally from St-Albert in Eastern Ontario and winner of the Ontario Pop public award in 2003, Mélissa was keen to perfect her art before launching her solo career, and has since been devoting all her efforts to her music.

Mary Barry

Newfoundland's "Jazz Chanteuse" Mary Barry is an award-winning singer, composer, teacher and a graduate of Vancouver Community College's Jazz Program. Ms. Barry's third independent recording entitled "Red Eye Tonight" was released to rave reviews and won Barry both Female Artist and Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year at the 2007 Music NL Awards and a 2009 ECMA nomination for Jazz Recording of the Year.

Saint-pierre

Saint-Pierre has a natural gift and an ability to win over his audiences with his original music, his easy-going style and stage charisma. An accomplished singer-songwriter, Saint-Pierre’s style is a spellbinding and emotive blend of folk, jazz and electro.

AngÉlique Kidjo

Internationally renowned for her talents as a songwriter with several Grammy awards to her name, this “African diva” will have you up and dancing to sultry rhythms with sophisticated influences and an eclectic mix of African pop, Caribbean music, zouk, Congelese Rumba, jazz, gospel and Latin-American styles.

IMA

With a dazzling smile that would melt any heart, Ima’s melodious voice is the perfect instrument for songs imbued with emotion and lyrics inspired by love, a celebration of life and its infinite surprises. She’ll put together a cocktail of pop, rock and folk in a magical, dreamy style.

Anagram

This Vancouver quartet will transport you into a world of inspirational Brazilian jazz and occasional Latin sounds. Catchy melodies and lively improvisations are not to be missed in this delicious cocktail of musical flavours.

Radio Radio

Radio Radio have a style all of their own, somewhere between electro and rap. Their catchy lyrics in chiac - a mixture of English and French – are full of vibrancy and energy, really pushing to the limits of the genre and beyond. The aim is simple – to have fun, get people dancing, and party!

Anique Granger

This gifted guitarist is sculpting her own musical landscape influenced by the wide open spaces of the Canadian West and her unique folk style influenced by funk, roots and “chansonnières” along with her voice’s soothing tones. She’ll take you on a journey to a sensual and enchanting world full of contrasts, where the rich sound of her guitar lends power to her intense melodies.

Leoffenders

This female duo really dominate the stage with their mixture of pop and rock, performed with spirit and enthusiasm. Both will seize the moment to produce an unrivalled performance of passion and sensuality that you’ll never forget.

Vishten

From Canso to Salt Spring Island, Brittany to Milwaukee, Vishten are back performing their traditional Acadian music for our benefit. With their four great voices, percussion, violin and various other stringed instruments, these artists are most definitely making their mark.

Plastic Bertrand

It’s the 80s French pop legend himself! Plastic Bertrand is guaranteed get the crowd going with his unique voice and expansive sound, he’ll take you on a trip into his very own fantastical world of crazy surprises!

Ode À l’Acadie

Ode à l’Acadie is a chance to celebrate, let yourself go and dance to sounds of the past and the present. From Cayouche to the Beatles via Beau Dommage, Ode à l'Acadie cordially invites you to let your hair down and sing along with them to some of our favourite hits. Party time!

Allez Ouest

Four people, from four different backgrounds and with four different styles, come together to weave a spell of musical passion. Hailing from Alberta, they are at one with their heritage and like nothing better than to share their love of their roots with their audiences.

Les 3 Accords

This unique group promises to raise the temperature a notch with their energizing rock songs. Their music has a little of everything, with playful lyrics, feel-good factor and exuberance.

AndrÉ-Philippe Gagnon

From Céline Dion to Michael Jackson, this king of the imitators has an undeniable vocal talent and a multitude of alter egos that will leave you astonished. Watching this “charming singer” perform live is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience.

Lisa Leblanc

A rising star whose style combines folk and rock, with a hint of blues. With her enchanting and charismatic stage presence, her soulful guitar and powerful voice, she’s a truly authentic performer.

GeneviÈve Toupin

When she sings, it’s like hearing the wind blowing across the plains of her native Manitoba, with her versatile and enveloping voice. Hence her style is known as “prairie pop”. With piano or guitar accompaniment, her intimate, and sometimes introspective pop-folk music comes straight from the heart.

Daniel Roa

A hugely versatile singer-songwriter who plays a host of instruments, this raw talent comes to us straight from Manitoba. As gifted a performer of pop-rock as ballads, he leaves his audiences captivated every time! Winner of the Francophone Album of the Year at the 7th Western Canadian Music Awards.

Soir de Semaine

This Francophone folk fusion group originally got together in Whitehorse in 2003. With their famous painted faces, the lively Yukon group have an upbeat style that blends folk, funk, rock and reggae, guaranteed to get young or old into the party spirit.

Samian

Samian’s music offers his own personal take on society, with powerful lyrics highlighting the problems faced by young people, especially in the First Nations. A talented singer-songwriter, the rapper has chosen to perform and promote the language of his forebears, Algonquin, so his hip-hop beats remain faithful to his community.

Alfa Rococo

This duo’s lyrics are a perfect reflection of their personalities, ranging from the deep and poetic, to the vibrant and colourful. Alfa Rococo’s compositions are in a refreshing pop style with retro influences and a sunshine groove.

Marie-Jo ThÉrio

With her original and authentic style, Marie-Jo Thério is brilliantly free, with a natural curiosity. Her superb voice will enthrall and enchant you. Raised in a family of artists, talent and passion are in her genetic makeup. A women who always goes her own way, she's a born rebel who rejects authority and follows her instinct. That spirit is reflected in her music, with its raw beauty. A performance by this Moncton-based artist is an unmissable event!

DJ Bones

Marc Xavier LeBlanc (better known as Bones or DJ Bones) is a photographer, dj, radio show host, scene reporter and music promoter. He received his bachelors degree in Visual Arts at the Université de Moncton and has since been busy working in both photography and the music industry for over 15 years where he's received numerous nominations and prizes for his work. His photographs and artwork have been published internationally. Some of his music mixes and compilations have been played as far as Japan and Sweden. He’s also the host and dj of the legendary monthly ((IPN)) Events with Bones all over the east coast of Canada. Marc is extremely passionate about his work and strives on always going further with his art.

Big Nazo

BIG NAZO is an international touring group of mutant puppet-creatures and masked musicians who have invaded streets and stages around the world with their odd-looking bodies, hilarious heads and creative minds. BIG NAZO’s misfit tribe of trolls, extra-terrestrials and human-animal hybrids combine a variety of mask, puppet, and performance styles to create comedy and visual spectacle with audience-interactive improvisation.

RhÉal Poirier

Originally from Acadia, but now having adopted Vancouver, Rheal gives us a performance full of energy. With a warm yet powerful voice, he goes from pop to country with tones of bluegrass and folk. He has performed at the British Columbia Provincial Francophone Gala three years in a row and ended up claiming the Writer-Composer-Interpreter prize.

Jou tou

Imagine a musical delivery that is part Québec, China, South America and Ireland. That is what awaits you with Jou Tou, a group that “plays everything”. Inspired by the constantly evolving face of Canada, Jou Tou allows each musician to give to the group the best of his country. The result is contemporary world music with a particularly Canadian flavour.

South Asian Arts

The group South Asian Arts aims to make known the culture of southern Asia and make it vibrate through dance music. Through these artistic mediums, the group’s founders, Gurpreet Sian and Raakhi Sinha, hope to recreate the rituals of their ancestors.

North Shore Celtic Ensemble

With its 25 string, wind and percussion instruments, this wild group knows how to set a theatre on fire. The NSCE is a group of young musicians from the Vancouver metropolitan area in British Columbia. Directed by two professional musicians, Claude Giguère and Jay Knutson, this ensemble interprets original music as well as traditional Celtic repertoire music. The NSCE, which regularly fills theatres in the Vancouver region, Is also stepping into the international scene.

Les Échos du pacifique

This choir, formed in 1973, consists of amateur singers from Maillardville in British Columbia. The mission of Les échos du pacifique is to promote French-Canadian culture by choral singing from the regional to the national level. For example, at Expo 86, and during his visit in 1989, the choir accompanied Gilles Vigneault on stage at the Vancouver Orpheum. Since then, the choir remains active and presents new concerts each season and continues to participate at various events.

Alpha Yaya Diallo

Alpha Yaya Diallo, singer and guitar player from Guinea is one of the most visible world music artists in the international scene. Now settled in Vancouver, he has acquired an unparalleled reputation for his musical abilities and his concert performances in solo or with his group, Bafing. The virtuosity of his guitar playing, acoustic as well as electric, his fluid melodic lines, his uplifting rhythms as well as his command of various percussion instruments puts him at the forefront of the African community.

Mimosa

If Mimosa has been around this long, it's because the quality of the music has given it long legs. At the end of the 90s it started out as a hip lounge act, playing several nights a week in all the happening nights spots in Vancouver. The band consists of Rebecca Shoichet (a vocalist), Karen Graves (sax and flute player), Anna Lumiere (the main driver behind the wheel of the band, playing left-hand bass and keyboards and writing most of the music and lyrics), Adam Thomas (bas, vocals) and Nino diPasquale (drums). Mimosa is a cocktail with only the finest ingredients: Jazz, Brazilian sambas and French chansons. Stir or shake, sip, and get ready to feel good.