Home » What's On Glasgow West End: cinema, clubs, theatre, music, events, festivals, community and more » Celtic Connections 2023 » Le Vent du Nord, Celtic Connections 2023

Le Vent du Nord, Celtic Connections 2023

Le Vent du Nord brought their Joie de Vivre to the Old Fruitmarket Glasgow!

Le Vent du Nord, Canadian folk group from Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu Quebec. performed at the Old Fruitmarket Glasgow, at Celtic Connections music festival on 19 January, 2023.

Le Vent du Nord, Photo Pauline Keightley

The award winning band celebrated their 20th year with their 11th album 20 Printemps and are regular visitors to the festival, embracing its cross-cultural ethos. Vent du Nord collect French folk songs of Quebec and play their own blend of world folk with a mix the music of the Balkans, traditional French song and northern American traditions. Their influences come from Brittany, Ireland, the songs of Appalachia and the beats of the American south.

Le Vent du Nord, -Photo Pauline Keightley.

Vent du Nord means “wind of the north” and they certainly blew our minds with their joyous energy and fun and love of music – and with humorous banter between songs! The award winning band brought their infectious party atmosphere to the sold out Old Fruitmarket crowd.

Le Vent du Nord, . Photo Pauline Keightley

The band play both original and traditional music. They performed tunes from their most recent album – Marianne with a harmony that builds over the hurdy gurdy and dynamic fiddle. The high impact of beautifully controlled a cappella singing for the song L’Auberge with the band centre stage. The Irish rhythms of the instrumental La Centaurée was then followed by the get up and dance beats of  Tour du Monde and guitar and bouzouki counterpoint on Petit Rêve I. This band use ‘foot-tapping’, bass and traditional instruments rather than drums – along with the swirls of hurdy gurdy, bouzouki, and accordion.

Le Vent du Nord, . Photo Pauline Keightley

The crowd were ready to party. Later in the show, to increase the impact, the band were joined by Scots band Breabach, and Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis. The group played with many threads interconnecting – the band truly connected with many Celtic traditions in their unique brand of melting pot to perform a genuinely joyous show!

Celtic concerts always makes me think of warm reds and browns and this show very much encapsulated all this warmth, joy and passion for live music; and for our traditions and connections.

Le Vent du Nord, Photo Pauline Keightley

Le Vent du Nord are Simon Beaudry on guitar, bouzouki and vocals; Nicolas Boulerice on hurdy-gurdy, piano and vocals, André Brunet on fiddle, foot tapping and vocals, Réjean Brunet on button accordion, bass guitar and vocal and Olivier Demers on fiddle, foot tapping and vocals.

The band Dallahan provided suitably upbeat and strong support with Trad music of the Balkans and North America. They’ve had success with their unique style of world folk, which they mix with contemporary influences

Photos & Review Pauline Keightley – pkimage.co.uk

This section: Book and Event Reviews, Celtic Connections 2023, Music Reviews