Âmes des bois | New album by La Déferlance - New show

The new installment of La Déferlance, Âmes de bois, will be released on May 9. The traditional music group from Quebec has invited several outstanding musicians to contribute their talent and instrumentation, including percussions, saxophones, trombone, trumpet, and cello.

To preserve Quebec's cultural heritage, La Déferlance composes songs that highlight traditional narratives, such as folktales, legends, and historical events. Their compositions are always crafted with a commitment to maintaining the distinctive elements of the traditional style—through the use of instruments like the fiddle, accordion, or podorythmie(foot-tapping), the inclusion of turluttes (vocal ornamentation), and the presence of typical instrumental melodies such as reels, 6/8 rhythms, or waltzes.

The group nonetheless updates the style through musical arrangements that blend genres and mix traditional and modern instruments. Contemporary concerns also influence their songs, addressing themes like feminism, poverty, and environmental issues. With over a hundred performances under their belt and a promising new album ready for release, La Déferlance is poised to bring their latest show, Âmes des bois, to stages across Quebec.

La Déferlance

Mathieu Baillargeon (voice, piano, foot tapping, jaw harp)

Marie-Desneiges Hamel (accordions)

Renaud Labelle (double bass, electric bass)

Grégoire Painchaud (violin, guitar, mandolin)

Invités sur l'album

Olivier Forest (percussions - 3,5,10)

Martin Desjardins (tenor saxophone - 6)

Joel Thibault (alto saxophone - 6)

Stéphane Boulanger (trombone - 6)

Marcellin Breault (trumpet - 6)

Dominic Painchaud (cello - 7)