Le Vent du Nord Savors And Shares Québécois Folk Music

By John Roos

The French-Canadian band Le Vent du Nord has been on a quest since forming in 2001 to preserve and share the traditional music of Quebec. A folk style called Québécois, this acoustic-propelled music centers on melodies and stories born from the settlers from France, dating as far back as 400 years ago. The songs’ subject matter evolved rather organically, embracing a frontier spirit, social gatherings and festive celebrations, often sung by salt-of-the-earth people determined to seek better lives.

While Le Vent du Nord (meaning the Wind of the North) are dedicated traditionalists, that doesn’t mean the quintet can’t bring fresh ingredients by inserting themselves into this timeless music.

“We do play as close to the tradition as possible but we also bring our own experiences and influences to the mix,” said co-founding member Nicolas Boulerice (lead vocals/hurdy-gurdy/piano) during a recent phone interview from Montreal. “We create a music that comes to us naturally in (measured) movements, it’s not museum music (that sits untouched on display). It’s essential that we push Québécois forward, and the only way to do that is by somehow making what’s considered traditional sound and feel modern, if that makes any sense?”

French-Canadian identity permeates Le Vent du Nord’s melodies, songs, and mouth music as the group—also featuring Olivier Demers (fiddler/foot stomper/vocals), Simon Beaudry (acoustic guitar/Irish bouzouki), and siblings Réjean Brunet (button accordion/bass/vocals) and André Brunet (fiddle/vocals)--induces international audiences to absorb the Québécois soul and spirit of enchantment. (After 18 years on the road, the band expanded into a quintet when André Brunet joined the ensemble on December 30, 2017.)

Boulerice and his bandmates create a near-masterpiece on their 11th and newest release, 20 Printemps. Released in January in celebration of the band’s 20th anniversary, these dozen French-language songs deliver a lively collection of traditional and original compositions featuring some rich vocal harmonizing while traversing a broad spectrum of styles, ranging from the vintage sounds of Brittany and Ireland to the mountain music of Appalachia to the Cajun stylings of the Louisiana bayou. Strictly speaking, the group has no drummer but Demers’ use of a Québécois foot board creates plenty of percussive rhythms and beats.

Boulerice suggests that the timing of 20 Printemps--and supporting tour which includes a stopover Monday night at the Sweetwater Music Hall--couldn’t be better.

“With the exception of the song ‘Marianne’ - that one's pretty dark - we wanted to bring more light and joy . . . and hopefully some happiness to share with our fans,” he said, also noting that the album cover is white and green with a blossoming flower serving as a symbol of rebirth. “`Printemps’ means `springtimes’ in English, and the brighter sound we wound up capturing is exactly what we were after.”

Hailing from Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu in southwestern Quebec, the group is musically dexterous enough so that each member can play a number of instruments with ease and grace. But only Boulerice plays the distinctive-sounding and cool-looking hurdy-gurdy.

Known in France as the vielle a roue, or just vielle for short, it is an ancient instrument which is undergoing a bit of a modern renaissance in Europe and America. Also called a ‘wheel fiddle,’ the hurdy-gurdy produces sound by a hand-crank-turned, rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to those of a violin. Melodies are played on a keyboard that presses tangents—small wedges, typically made of wood—against one or more of the strings to change their pitch. Like most other acoustic stringed instruments, it has a sound board and hollow cavity to make the vibration of the strings audible. (To experience its unique joys, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkBjC_Ovgrg to hear Le Vent du Nord performing Les Amants du Saint-Laurent.)

When talking about the band’s music with fans and journalists, the subject of the hurdy-gurdy is something to be expected. And Boulerice sure has a story to tell. One day many moons ago while walking in the streets of Montreal, he was drawn to an unusual sound coming from someone nearby who was busking. This happenstance became Boulerice’s life-changing introduction to the hurdy-gurdy.

“I just couldn’t believe this amazing sound my ears were hearing,” he recalled. “I remember saying quite loudly, ‘I want to build my own!’ Then a guy standing right behind me - a fella named Henry Boucher--says, ‘Me, too!’ So, we exchanged phone numbers and over time built three hurdy-gurdies together with materials we got from Belgium and France. It was incredible, and such a beautiful way to learn to play the instrument from the inside out.”

Folks, la danse de la vie (the dance of life) is coming to town.

*Le Vent du Nord performs Monday at the Sweetwater Music Hall, 19 Corte Madera Ave., Mill Valley; (415) 388-3850. 8 p.m. $26. All ages. www.sweetwatermusicalhall.com.