La Bottine Souriante "La Bottine understands that a traditional tune never stays put, that it should reflect the time and place of those who play it. This group unfurls on stage like a tidal wave." - Répertoire   La Bottine Souriante is synonymous with folk music from Quebec and beyond. Born out of a rekindled interest in traditional chansons among Québécois youth in the mid-'70s, La Bottine Souriante soon opened up new avenues of creative discovery. Gaining full production control with the founding of its own Mille-Pattes recording company in 1982, the group rapidly earned itself the title of cultural ambassador par excellence. In no time, it was touring extensively on the folk music circuit in Europe and North America.   Starting in the mid-'80s, La Bottine Souriante embarked on a path of formal exploration titled "Nouvelles Sonorités Joliettaines" (new sounds from Joliette), which resulted in its first experiments with musical fusion, apparent in its album Je voudrais changer d'chapeau. The addition of a permanent brass section in 1991 raised the number of musicians to nine and confirmed the innovative path the band had chosen. The album Jusqu'aux p'tites heures released the same year continued in the same vein, although still retaining the group's signature rustic style.   In 1998, La Bottine Souriante marked its 20th anniversary with its famous album Xième, in which foreign collaborations are more notable than ever: "Arin Québec" is a traditional Basque melody adapted by accordionist Kepa Junkera; the "Suite métisse" was learned from Métis musicians in Manitoba; and "Alice au pays d'Arto" comes from Arto Jävelä, a Finnish musician friend.   Although it continues to perform regularly in Quebec, La Bottine Souriante have developed an enthusiastic following in the international arena as well. The EMIsphère label, a subsidiary of Virgin Records, now distributes its albums across the world. The album Xième, renamed Rock & Reel, was chosen as Album of the Year by the BBC in 1998, and the group was nominated Best Band in the World by the magazine Folk Roots. The 1990s also saw it participating in various international projects - from the A Week in a Real World album of 1992, at the invitation of Peter Gabriel, to the recent Fire in the Kitchen by the Irish group The Chieftains in 1998.   Through its original approach, openness to experimentation and energetic stage presence, La Bottine Souriante has changed the way we think about roots music. Along with other pioneering groups such as Les Batinses and La Galvaude, it has carved out a new niche for traditional Québécois songs, both at home and abroad.   Source : http://www.millepattes.com/ Francais/bottine/index.html

Maison de la culture Frontenac In the heart of the working-class Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district in east-end Montreal, the Maison de la culture Frontenac (a city-owned cultural facility) has become a true institution and popular spot for jazz and traditional-music fans. For many years, it has co-produced, with Radio-Canada's Espace musique, two annual series of free concerts that are greatly appreciated by the general public. This year marks the 10th season of the "Mémoires vives" series that presents concerts of superb traditional music from all over the world, and the 14th edition of the "Silence ... on jazz" series that continues to offer Montrealers (and network listeners) some of the best Canadian and American jazz around.   Through its "maisons de la culture" and other cultural facilities, Montreal boasts the largest municipal cultural network in Canada. The network's mandate is to encourage as many residents as possible, irrespective of social milieu or level of education, to participate in the city's artistic life.