Apadooraï - Apadoorai

Apadooraï
Electronic Press Kit
Apadooraï
– nominated World Music Group of the Year at the 2010 Canadian Folk Music Awards – is a very
unique didgeridoo band in the Canadian musical landscape. It is formed by Rodolphe Gagnon (didgeridoo, sliding
didgeridoo and guitar), Julien Fréchette (didgeridoo), Sylvain Plante (drums / percussions), Dany Nicolas (acoustic &
electric guitar, banjo and mandolin) and Michel Dubeau (flutes). Right from the start, and following many musical
influences, the dynamic grooves of the didgeridoo duo set the mood of the show, mixing a strong rhythmic section and
Folk World melodies to carry the crowds to an exhilarating musical experience, while maintaining the natural acoustic
sound of the instruments. Constantly blending tradition and modernity, the young and talented Montreal based group
explores the conventional borders of musical genres and draws the attention wherever it goes.
With their second album, Le Pied Dans Porte (“A foot in the door”), released in November 2012, Apadooraï offers its
vision of a Folk World music where one can think of being either in the Asian steppes, Celtic Islands or wild North
American country. Le Pied Dans Porte was created after offering over 100 shows between 2009 and 2012 all around its
native Quebec, Toronto and British-Columbia tours. The show and album is aimed at publics of all ages, and each tune is
a musical portrait where each instrument brings its specific colour to this unique and refreshing ensemble.
Production / Management / Booking : Rodolphe Gagnon – 2652 Montarville, Longueuil (Québec) J4L 2K9 | Tél. : 450 616.4565 |
© Groupe de musique Apadooraï S.E.N.C. – All Rights Reserved | apadoorai@gmail.com
| www.apadoorai.com
Apadooraï – Biography
Apadooraï was born as a quatuor in 2008 when Rodolphe Gagnon and Julien Fréchette – both didgeridoo
players founding members – met Dany Nicolas (Sagapool) and Sylvain Plante (Papagroove) to forge an
acoustic trance-like sound fusing didgeridoo grooves, drums and string instruments, with the goal of
showcasing a quality didgeridoo music in a festive ensemble accessible to all audiences. The band set up a
first experimental repertoire including reggae, funk, techno folk and World musics. This sound quickly gained
popularity due to its originality.
A first album – Kinda Roots – was released in 2009, displaying the versatility of didgeridoo in many musical
universes. With this first proposal in hands, the band got the coveted bursary program Les Entrées en scène
Loto-Québec 2010-2011, and their showcase at RIDEAU 2010 in Quebec City was a hit and allowed them to
get a tour of over 40 shows all around Quebec, with remarked shows at the Toronto Global Groove festival, as
well as Salmon Arm Roots & Blues festival and other BC venues. After offering over 100 shows between 2009
and 2012, including festivals, theatres, houses of culture and corporate events, the band learned to adapt its
repertoire to a wider range of audiences. This is when they elaborated the melodic section of the band, and
clarified the didgeridoo arrangements so that listeners in different contexts can appreciate all the subtleties of
the musical blend they offer. In this line, the band integrated multi-instrumentist Michel Dubeau in 2011. From
this encounter a new, Le Pied Dans Porte was released in November 2012, after 10 months of work, offering a
new album and show.
The albums of Apadooraï are distributed by Distribution Select and are currently on sale at all major outlets in
Canada.
Production / Management / Booking : Rodolphe Gagnon – 2652 Montarville, Longueuil (Québec) J4L 2K9 | Tél. : 450 616.4565 |
© Groupe de musique Apadooraï S.E.N.C. – All Rights Reserved | apadoorai@gmail.com
| www.apadoorai.com
Band members
Holding a degree in anthropology, Rodolphe
Gagnon discovered the didgeridoo during a one
year trip to Australia. Ex member of the band
QuickSound (1996 to 2002) alongside with Tony
Albino and the Diouf brothers, he participated in
many important venues (Montreal international
Volley-Ball competitions, St-Jean-Baptiste shows,
Guy Laliberté’s private F1 parties at his home and
at Newtown – Jacques Villeneuve’s bar) and he
played in many big Montreal clubs. He
collaborated with the project Métis, which allowed
him to participate in the 1999 Francofolies de
Montréal, in the soundtrack of Denys Arcand’s
Joyeux Calvaire movie and on Yves Laferrière’s
CD Yves Laferrière présente Métis.
Since his return from Australia in 1994, Rodolphe strives to make didgeridoo music known to the
musical worlds by collaborating with many projects and talking in the media. He is recognized by his
peers as one of Québec’s pioneers in the professional interpretation of didgeridoo in Québec.
Holding a degree in Cinematography and
documentary film director, Julien Fréchette
developed a passion for didgeridoo. Since 2001,
through his encounters with many gifted
musicians in Europe and in Canada, as well as
by playing in the Montréal subway, Julien has
perfected his style and play. We can hear him
on a few local short movie soundtracks, and
more recently on the soundtrack of the
documentary Le Doigt dans l’oeil, with the music
of Yves Laferrière. He has also participated in
many of Marie Saint-Pierre’s fashion shows.
Young and talented, Julien is part of the new
didgeridoo crowd in Québec, always searching for new collaborations and trends.
Production / Management / Booking : Rodolphe Gagnon – 2652 Montarville, Longueuil (Québec) J4L 2K9 | Tél. : 450 616.4565 |
© Groupe de musique Apadooraï S.E.N.C. – All Rights Reserved | apadoorai@gmail.com
| www.apadoorai.com
Band members (continued)
The immense talent of Dany Nicolas
blends well with the didgeridoo duo.
Holding a degree in music interpretation
(guitar), Dany collaborates on many
projects such as Sagapool (2008 Best
instrumental album Award from the
Canadian Folk Music Awards), Fanfare
trio
Pourpour,
duo
Scherdanzo,
l’Apothicaire and sometimes Kleztory.
Curious by nature, Dany brings to all his
projects his personal touch derived from
jazz, klezmer and a definite contemporary
folk twist.
Sylvain Plante holds the drums section in
a brilliant way. Born of a musician father,
Sylvain started to play the drum at a very
young age. At age 16, he took courses
with Maurice Métayer and started his
career recording two albums with
Insanasomnia. Then he pursued and
participated in many bands such as j-f and
the junkyard dog for many years, followed
by La Chango Family, accumulating tours
in Europe and participating in the recording
of 2 albums. At the summer of 2007 he
was the house drummer for the Autre gala
du festival Juste pour rire, directed by
Franco Dragone.
Today, along with his participation in Apadooraï, Sylvain is part of Papagroove and also collaborates
in other bands such as Oztara, Wes’li, Urban Afro 5, Madame Moustache and King Gorilla Group
which played in Asia and in the Middle East. Now well established on the musical scene, his career is
on the rise.
Production / Management / Booking : Rodolphe Gagnon – 2652 Montarville, Longueuil (Québec) J4L 2K9 | Tél. : 450 616.4565 |
© Groupe de musique Apadooraï S.E.N.C. – All Rights Reserved | apadoorai@gmail.com
| www.apadoorai.com
Band members (continued)
Michel Dubeau carries his impressive musical background to the
band and plays flutes, bagpipes and other wind instruments in a
brilliant way. Michel touches all musical styles and is open to all new
sounds. In 1978 he founded Noar sur BlanC, with members such as
Denis Fréchette and James Gelfand. In 1979 for a full year, he
studied jazz with trumpettist Charles Ellison. The band performed at
2 jazz contests at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. From
1980 to 1987, he was member of various ensembles, playing with
Guy Nadon, Oliver Jones, Bernard Primeau, Jacques Masson, Guy
Thouin, Luc Beauregard in Jazz, as well as World bands such as
Ta legal (Brésil), Mascara (Cuba), El Kady (Afrique). In 1987 he
started learning shakuhachi – a Japanese flute – with master Yoshio
Masumoto. In 2000 in received a grant from the Quevec Arts
Council to study the Jin Nyodo style in NYC with master Nyogetsu
Seldin at shakuhachi. Michel currently studies with Alcvin Takegawa
Ramos. With a classical and jazz university training, bacheler in
music at Université du Québec à Montréal, he’s been teaching
music since 1978. More recently, he played with well known
musicians such as Gilles Vigneault, Chloé Sainte-Marie, Michel
Cusson, Michel Faubert (Charbonniers de l’Enfer) and Anthony
Rozankovic.
Production / Management / Booking : Rodolphe Gagnon – 2652 Montarville, Longueuil (Québec) J4L 2K9 | Tél. : 450 616.4565 |
© Groupe de musique Apadooraï S.E.N.C. – All Rights Reserved | apadoorai@gmail.com
| www.apadoorai.com
Press Review
“ With their unusual paraphernalia,
Apadooraï clearly stands out as the
meeting of a bunch of musical
explorers seriously ready to take a hike
out of the beaten tracks. The inclusion
of Michel Dubeau, this mad scientist
of wind instruments, is surely an asset
at this crucial phase of a second
album. Apart from the primal and
trance inducing rhythmic grooves
found in Kinda Roots (first album
released in 2009), the melodic section
is not left aside and is pleasing to hear
for audiences of any festivals. From
the samuraï throat singing to the jig
with violonist Zoé Dumais, this Foot in
the Door (Pied Dans Porte) is a small
step for its anthropologist leader
Rodolphe Gagnon, but a giant leap
for the Australian Aborigines. “
Ralph Boncy, Voir, Nov. 2012
(free translation)
“ Montreal band Apadooraï succeeds in
transmitting the rhythmic power of rave like
music with the wild effects of not one, but
two acoustic didgeridoos. To the percussive
nature of this ancient instrument from the
Australian Aborigines, Apadooraï adds a
whole array of melodic effects, throat
singing, and now blends beat box played
right in the didge. Now a quintette with the
addition of Michel Dubeau, a specialist of
the Japanese shakuhachi and of many
flutes from around the World, the band lets
the melodic lines breath and displays new
influences from oriental universes. Celtic is
also explored at the Bulgarian kaval, with
introspective atmospheres while the banjo
bounces forward; and also dub, folk, and jig.
Sold on iTunes, this second album will be
launched tonight at Quai des Brumes and
will be available in stores end of January
2013. The album of a stunning music.”
Yves Bernard, Le Devoir, Nov. 2012
(free translation)
Production / Management / Booking : Rodolphe Gagnon – 2652 Montarville, Longueuil (Québec) J4L 2K9 | Tél. : 450 616.4565 |
© Groupe de musique Apadooraï S.E.N.C. – All Rights Reserved | apadoorai@gmail.com
| www.apadoorai.com
Press Review (continued)
“(…) Apadooraï has just released its latest album Kinda Roots, recorded in three days and so far only distributed on their
Myspace and concerts. However, they are aleady considered to be one of the rising ensembles in the World Music
produced here (in Québec)” – Free translation
th
(Yves Bernard, Le Devoir, august 19 , 2009)
Production / Management / Booking : Rodolphe Gagnon – 2652 Montarville, Longueuil (Québec) J4L 2K9 | Tél. : 450 616.4565 |
© Groupe de musique Apadooraï S.E.N.C. – All Rights Reserved | apadoorai@gmail.com
| www.apadoorai.com
Apadooraï on scene in 2012
Jan 28 : Quai des Brumes, Montréal
Apr 27 : Corporate – The Flow, Montréal
May 12 : St-James the Apostle Church, Montréal
May 19 : Corporate – Morning Glory, Québec
May 25 : Corporate – Gaïa Québec, Québec
Aug 5 & 6 : Quartier des Spectacles, Montréal
Sep 28 : Corporate – The Flow, Montréal
Oct 7 : La Fête des Récoltes, Weir
Nov 10 : Corporate – Morning Glory II, Montréal
Nov 30 : Quai des Brumes, Montréal
Dec 21 : Christmas in the Park, Montréal
… 2011
12 fé vrier : Théâtre du Marais, Val-Morin
14 avril : Quai des Brumes, Montréal
15 avril : Maison de la Culture Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Montréal
16 avril : Chapelle Saint-Antoine, Longueuil (Printemps Culturel)
28 avril : Théâtre Outremont, Montréal
30 avril : Le P’tit Bonheur de Saint-Camille, Saint-Camille
5 juillet : Centennial o f Cit y o f Greenfield Park
9 juillet : Plaza St-Hubert, Montréal
12 août : Festi val Open Mind, Curran, ON
13 août : Festi val Musiqu’en Nous, St-André-Avellin
19, 20 et 21 août : Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival, Salmon Arm, BC
22 août : Re velstoke, BC
23 août : Kamloops, BC
28 août : Saint-Eustache outside show
2 octobre : Centre culturel de Gatineau
… 2010
16 fé vrier : RIDEAU Showcase, Capitole de Québec
20 fé vrier : Mouton Noir, Val-David
27 fé vrier : Quai des Brumes, Montréal
25 mars : Chasse-Galerie, Lavaltrie
13 avril : Club Soda, Montréal
24 avril : Quai des Brumes, Montréal
30 juin – 1er juillet : Gatineau, Canada Day (National Capital Commission)
18 juillet : Waterloo
21 juillet : Salle Pauline-Julien
22 juillet : Verdun
23 juillet : Global Groove Festi val (Toronto, On)
26 juillet : Boisbriand
27 juillet : Lasalle
28 juillet : Pointe-aux-Trembles
30 juillet : Vieux-Port de Montréal
3 août : Gatineau
7 août : Saint-Laurent
10 août : Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue
12 août : Sainte-Anne-des-Monts (Sea Shack)
13 août : Carleton (Le Naufrageur)
15 août : Gaspé (Festi val de Musique du Bout du Monde)
16 août : Bonaventure (CIME Aventures)
22 août : Lachine
24 août : Pierrefonds
28 août : Tohu, Montréal
1er octobre : Maison de la culture Frontenac
7 octobre : Maison de la culture Villeray (Auditorium Patro-Le-Prévost)
8 octobre : École André-Laurendeau, St-Hubert
24 octobre : Cowansville (Corporati f – Restaurant Bon)
28 octobre : Palais Montcalm (salle Raoul-Jobin)
25 novembre : Cabaret Jean-Louis Millette du Théatre de la Ville, Longueuil (supplémentaire)
26 novembre : Cabaret Jean-Louis Millette du Théatre de la Ville, Longueuil
Production / Management / Booking : Rodolphe Gagnon – 2652 Montarville, Longueuil (Québec) J4L 2K9 | Tél. : 450 616.4565 |
© Groupe de musique Apadooraï S.E.N.C. – All Rights Reserved | apadoorai@gmail.com
| www.apadoorai.com
APADOORAÏ DRUM & DIDGERIDOO
5 MUSICIANS
Technical needs
*** 5 MONITOR MIXES ***
Drum
1 monitor
1 mic Kick
1 mic snare regular
1 mic hi-hat
2 mic toms
2 overhead
1 mic bongos
1 power supply
1 stereo D.I. for effects pad
Didgeridoo 1
1 monitor
1 mic Sennheiser 421 (mic supplied by artist) + stand
1 mic Sennheiser 421 or equivalent + stand
1 XLR entry for mic ATM35 Wired (mic supplied by artist)
1 mic voice + stand
1 D.I. for acoustic guitar
Didgeridoo 2
1 monitor
1 mic Sennheiser 421 (mic supplied by artist) + stand
1 mic voice + stand
Guitar
2 D.I. (1 for acoustic guitar, 1 for voice effects)
1 mic for electric guitar amplifier
1 mic voice + stand
1 power supply
1 monitor
1 bench
Flute
1 monitor
1 mic SM58 (pour flûtes) + pied
1 mic SM57 (pour saxophones et cornemuses) + pied
1 mic ATM35 clip-on (pour futujara / bourdon de cornemuse)
1 bench
1 small table to put flutes
BACK LINE REQUIRED:
1 Standard drum set with 3 cymbal stands and 2 snare stands
1 bongo & stand
1 standard guitar amplifier
1 keyboard with piano sounds
Contact for technical needs :
Rodophe Gagnon - Tel : (450) 616-4565 // Email : apadoorai@gmail.com
Note : for small theaters and based on technical equipment available, it may not be necessary to put all mics on drums as
specified in the patch. Please contact us ahead of time to discuss this if required.
Production / Management / Booking : Rodolphe Gagnon – 2652 Montarville, Longueuil (Québec) J4L 2K9 | Tél. : 450 616.4565 |
© Groupe de musique Apadooraï S.E.N.C. – All Rights Reserved | apadoorai@gmail.com
| www.apadoorai.com
Apadooraï Stage plot
monitor
Flutes
Guitar
Drums
monitor
monitor
Didgeridoo 2
(Julien)
Didgeridoo 1
(Rodolphe)
monitor
monitor
AUDIENCE
Minimum stage area required : 10 foot X 10 foot (3,3 meter X 3,3 meter)
Note : Technical needs may be reorganized to fit smaller productions.
Please contact us ahead of time.
Production / Management / Booking : Rodolphe Gagnon – 2652 Montarville, Longueuil (Québec) J4L 2K9 | Tél. : 450 616.4565 |
© Groupe de musique Apadooraï S.E.N.C. – All Rights Reserved | apadoorai@gmail.com
| www.apadoorai.com