Roots music fans won’t want to miss the next concert in Folk Under the Clock’s 30th anniversary season: the foot-stomping Quebecois group De Temps Antan is performing tomorrow night (November 18th) at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre.
There are still good seats available for the 8 p.m. performance. You can can order tickets online at www.markethall.org. Tickets (assigned seating) are $35 plus fees for adults and $25 plus fees for students.
VIDEO: De Temps Antan Promo
Since 2003, De Temps Antan — which means “Of Olden Times” in English — has been performing melodies from Quebec’s folkloric past. The band’s members — André Brunet, Pierre-Luc Dupuis, and Éric Beaudry — first formed as a trio while touring as members of the legendary Quebec supergroup La Bottine Souriante.
But La Bottine Souriante was a big and loud band (10 members including horns), which meant it couldn’t play traditional music in smaller venues. As a trio, De Temps Antan can get back to the basics, with Brunet, Dupuis, and Beaudry blending their musical virtuousity with the unmistakable energy and joie de vivre of folk music from Quebec.
As Mike Barker of Folk Under the Clock says, “Bring your dancing shoes!”
VIDEO: “La turlutte du rotoculteur” – De Temps Antan
André Brunet (vocals, violin, feet)
André was born in Lacolle, in Quebec’s Montérégie region. Growing up, it was his parents who first noticed his keen interest in music and encouraged him to follow his passion. André’s first love was for the violin and, at the age of nine, he began taking lessons.
Along with brother Réjean, he created Les Frères Brunet and went on to record several albums and perform at various concerts around the world. In 1997, André’s unwavering energy and refined style earned him a spot with La Bottine Souriante, with whom he toured more than 15 countries over the course of 10 years.
Although his journey with La Bottine Souriante came to an end in 2006, André remained immersed in traditional music.
At the Grand Masters Fiddling Competition in August 2008 — an event showcasing more than 20 violinists from across Canada — André took home top honours as “Grand Master of Canada”. It was the first time a Quebecer had won the prestigious award since the competition’s inception in 1990.
Whether he’s accompanying his wife Martine Billette for a piano duet, or playing alongside fiddle stylists Kevin Burke (Ireland), Christian Lemaître (Brittany) and Ged Foley of Celtic Fiddle Festival, André feels right at home on any stage. Today, his passion for traditional Quebec music continues to pave the way for dance and swing enthusiasts the world over — a true journey of musical discovery.
Pierre-Luc Dupuis (vocals, accordions, Jew’s harp)
Pierre-Luc was born in Louiseville, in Quebec’s Mauricie region, and hails from a lineage where traditional music was always at the forefront of daily life.
Although he began singing with his family at a very young age, Pierre-Luc was somewhat of a late musical bloomer, only taking up the accordion at the age of 18. But what he lacked in experience he made up for in determination. At 19, he founded Les Langues Fourchures, with whom he recorded his first album in 2001.
For the next four years, he helped the band pay its dues and make its mark throughout Quebec and, in 2003, he joined La Bottine Souriante, one of the province’s best-known music groups. Since then, he’s wowed audiences from Dublin to Porto and Budapest to Melbourne with his unique humour and warmhearted charisma.
Since ending his journey with La Bottine Souriante in 2008, Pierre-Luc has devoted himself to his true love — De Temps Antan.
Éric Beaudry (vocals, guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, feet)
Éric was first exposed to traditional Quebec music in Saint-Côme, a village in Quebec’s Lanaudière region. Raised by a family entrenched in music, he began singing and playing guitar at the age of 10.
In 1992, he unleashed his musical ambitions on local audiences by founding La Galvaude, followed-up later by Ni Sarpe Ni Branche and Norouet.
Éric’s passion for music also helped foster an interest in song, which led to several awards including a 2002 Prix Mnémo for his role in producing the album Musique gaspésienne, featuring violinist Édouard Richard.
In 2003, hot on the heels of this success, Éric became a member of La Bottine Souriante.
Éric’s love of music also spurred a passion for enlightening others and, following the completion of a Bachelor of Arts in pop guitar and jazz, Éric began teaching traditional music at Joliette’s CEGEP régional de Lanaudière in 2002. Wherever he performs, Éric’s rich vocal range and unquestionable talent on stringed instruments — guitar, mandolin and bouzouki — guarantee a rousing performance for all.
For more information about Folk Under the Clock’s 30th anniversary season, visit www.folkundertheclock.ca.
