Taking - Les Poules à Colin

les poules à colin
The fresh, new face of Québec folk-trad!
T
aking their name
from a popular
traditional song,
Les Poules à Colin
are a new take on a
time-tested recipe –
five childhood friends who still live on the same
street, sharing a history of music-making and
family ties. Les Poules are a dynamic and creative
group that turn heads wherever they go. Exposed
to Québécois and other folk music from the
moment they were hatched, these offspring of
trad musicians were immersed in music, whether
backstage at international festivals or at lively
kitchen jams in Lanaudière, arguably Québec’s
most musical region.
Despite their youth (20-25) they’ve already
been together for more than six years, and have
blossomed into intuitive performers. Together they
have won awards, from Young Tradition Vermont
(2006) to the Grand Prix Desjardins (2010), as
well as received grants to record two albums.
Launched to rave reviews, their latest, Ste-Waves,
has charted in Québec and has become a coupdu-coeur in stores there, with the first videoclip,
Ti-Mé, already passing 10,000 hits to date. On top
of that, their new release has been nominated at
l’ADISQ 2015 in the category Album of the Year Traditional.
The group’s sound is a seamless blend of their
strong folk upbringing and North American
influences that range from old-time to jazz,
with some provocative and moody effects. Their
repertoire is a mix of original and traditional
pieces, primarily in French but with some
English compositions, and it reveals gorgeous
vocal, instrumental and rhythmic prowess. Their
adaptations of traditional songs speak eloquently
to their generation while retaining the timeless
beauty of their musical heritage. Fiddle, guitar,
bouzouki, banjo, mandolin, piano, bass and foot
percussion form a rich and varied backdrop for
inventive arrangements.
With major festivals in North America and
European tours under their belt, plus new
representation by a New York based international
agency, they are gearing up and excited about
touring in 2015-2016.
Sarah Marchand (piano, vocals), Béatrix Méthé (fiddle,
vocals), Éléonore Pitre (guitar, vocals), Colin Savoie-Levac
(guitar, mandolin, banjo, bouzouki, foot percussion, vocals),
Marie-Savoie-Levac (bass, vocals).
lespoulesacolin.com
Media coverage
Songlines magazine, track “Ti-Mé” (Ste-Waves) on Canadian world music
compilation presented by the Canada Council for the Arts, with Tanya Tagaq, H’sao,
Shauit, Ayrad, Boogat… (Oct 2015)
Les Méconnus, web article (2015)
Le Devoir, “discovery” (2014), “This group is truly unique!” (2015)
Bucket List, short review (2015)
Penguin Eggs, ”Their impeccable pedigrees suggest great possibilities. Their new disc
provides the undeniable proof.” (2 pages, 2014)
Québec Folklore, cover story
fRoots, article (2013) “…the five have become seasoned players, with a new take on
Québécois folk – recharging the music from within while at the same time bringing
fresh elements from outside.”
Georgia Straight, “multi-talented” (2013)
Discography
Ste-Waves, CD, independent, Outside Distribution, 2014
Hébertisme Nocturne, CD, independent, 2011
Annabel, EP, independent, 2009
Video
Ti-Mé, official video for album Ste-Waves, Maxime Valsan Productions, 2015
Live videos : La Fleur du bois, Chantons pour passer le temps, Breakfast at the
Méthé’s
Mini-documentary, Vocalist magazine, Bell TV, Sept 2015
YouTube channel : youtube.com/lespoulesacolin
Recent performances
Tour of France and Belgium
Vancouver Folk Festival (2015)
Vancouver Island Musicfest (Comox, BC 2015)
Harrison Festival of the Arts (Harrison Hot Springs, BC 2015)
Bal du Mai, Centre Culturel de Joliette, QC (2015)
La Grande Rencontre (Montréal, 2015)
Northern Lights Boréale Festival, Sudbury, ON (2015)
FlynnSpace (Burlington, VT, 2015)
Official Showcase, Folk Alliance International (Kansas City, MO, 2015)
O Patro Vys (Montreal, 2014)
Festival de la Chanson de Tadoussac (Tadoussac, QC, 2014)
POP Montréal (2014)
Tour of France, including Festival des Hautes Terres (2014)
Winnipeg Folk Festival (Winnipeg, MB, 2014)
Festival Mémoire et Racines (Joliette, QC, 2014)
Sunfest London (London, ON, 2014)
Stratford Summer Music (Stratford, ON, 2014)
Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center (Stowe, VT, 2014)
APAP Ice Storm Showcase (New York, NY, 2014)
Upcoming in 2015-2016
Montréal, Canada
London, UK
Heidi Fleming President
heidi@famgroup.ca / 001 514 844 7393
Marie Savoie-Levac, co-manager, Les Poules
marie@famgroup.ca / 001 514 844 7393
Daniela Gerstmann, representative, Europe
daniela@famgroup.ca / 0044 75 9239 0440
Ore Dock Brewing Company, Marquette, MI
Oktoberfest, Sudbury, ON
Festival La Virée, Carleton, QC
Coop Le Bercail, Rimouski, QC
ROSEQ, Rimouski, QC
Francofête de l’Acadie, QC
NERFA, Kerhonksen, NY
Sunfest concert series, London, ON
Celtic Connections, Glasgow, UK
Festival du Voyageur, Winnipeg, MB
Festival Chantez-vous bien chez nous, St-Bernard-de-Michaudville, QC
Festival International de Louisianne, Lafayette, LA