La Franco-Fête de Toronto - Harbourfront June 24 - 26

From a media release:

FRANCO-FÊTE: June 24-26, 2011
at Harbourfront Toronto
Co-produced with La Franco-Fête de Toronto


Franco-Fête is one of the most important French-language events in Ontario, being Toronto's premier francophone music, arts and culture festival.  This year, Franco-Fête is venturing into the global Hot Spot by celebrating the rich diversity of 75 states and governments that share French as an official language (a rich and constantly evolving system known as "La Francophonie)."  Over the weekend, audiences will witness some of the country's hottest francophone bands and artists, and be introduced to some amazing emerging talent.  This year, Franco-Fête will include a spotlight on France, the birthplace of the language and culture that is now shared by close to one billion people.

Kyssi Wète
Friday, June 24, 7 p.m. (Redpath Stage)

From the Paris music scene, Kyssi Wète has fashioned his music by mixing the rhythms and sounds of multiple universes such as pop, blues, reggae, soul and rumba. Singer, songwriter and performer, his musical universe lives somewhere between France, the Congo and Jamaica. (pictured)

Ben L’Oncle Soul
Friday, June 24, 8 p.m. (WestJet Stage)

Benjamin Duterde a.k.a. Ben L’Oncle Soul is a French nu-soul singer. Duterde first gained prominence in his home country with the Soul Wash EP (2009), which featured six covers of songs by Gnarls Barkley, Spice Girls, Katy Perry and The White Stripes. Ben’s first full-length album, titled simply Ben L’Oncle Soul, was released in the summer of 2010 on the Motown label.



Coeur de Pirate
Friday, June 24, 9:30 p.m. (WestJet Stage)     
  
French-Canadian chanteuse Beatrice Martin (a.k.a. Coeur de Pirate) was originally a singer and keyboardist with Bonjour Brumaire. Once she established her own unique musical vision, Beatrice left the group to concentrate on Coeur de Pirate, establishing herself as one of the biggest names in Canadian francophone music. (pictured)

After-Party with Misteur Valaire
Friday, June 24, 11 p.m. (Brigantine Room)

Misteur Valaire are five guys who have been playing together since they were six years old.  Add to this a trumpet, saxophone, sequencers, percussion, turntables, drums, bass and keyboards, and you get a completely crazy mix of beats to make you dance all night! 

CHOQ FM 105.1 DJ set
Saturday, June 25, 12:30 a.m. (Brigantine Room)

A DJ from local Francophone radio station CHOQ FM 105.1 will keep you dancing until closing time.

Alcaz
Saturday, June 25, 5:30 p.m. (Redpath Stage)

Alcaz is a duo from Marseille, France – two voices and two guitars. Their songs are tender and comment on the world around us. With an infectious charisma, this duo is certainly one to see live. (pictured)

Mamaku
Saturday, June 25, 1:30 p.m. (WestJet Stage)

The Mamaku project bridges French and New Zealand cultures to create a captivating musical concoction of French Bohemian roots, South Pacifica dub and eastern sounds.

LéOparleur
Saturday, June 25, 2:45 p.m. (WestJet Stage)

Brothers Josef and Simon Oster, Maya Martinez and Adrien Geschickt are LéOparleur. Formed in 1992, they’ve traveled the world playing their explosive mix of funk with a touch of psychedelic they call “disco punk”.



Jean-François Lessard
Saturday, June 25, 4 p.m. (Redpath Stage)

Folk singer-songwriter Lessard has been compared to many great Quebec musicians. He is always full of energy and brings many surprises to his show.

Mike Ford
Sunday, June 26, 2 p.m. (Redpath Stage)

Mike Ford is a singer-songwriter who may be best known as part of the 90s band Moxy Früvous. Through a variety of rhythms and musical textures, his new show is aimed at youth and is based on the adventures of Étienne Brûlé in the Great Lakes, and the 18th century reality of the First Nations. The narrator draws from contemporary realities to explore the themes of the environment, consumerism and technology.

Ouanani
Saturday, June 25, 7 p.m. (Redpath Stage)

Ouanani is a multi-ethnic, electro-organic and festive onslaught of music from Montreal that brings together musicians from Canada, Senegal, Mozambique, Ghana and Togo. Ouanani explodes into a thousand rhythms and eight languages, though of course, mostly in French. (pictured)

Les Chiclettes
Saturday, June 25, 8 p.m. (WestJet Stage)

Nathalie Nadon, Geneviève Cholette and Julie Kim are the Franco-Ontarian version of the Andrews Sisters! At Franco-Fête, they present original songs and reinvent great American and French standards in a cabaret style reminiscent of the 1930s, with a mix of comedy and musical theatre. (pictured)

Boucar Diouf
Saturday, June 25, 8:30 p. m. (WestJet Stage)

Comedian Boucar Diouf is sixth in a family of nine children, he was born and raised in the province of Sine, in Senegal.  In a show that reflects tolerance and emotion, Diouf showcases his adopted land with humour, talent and great humanity.  A great laugh with much to walk away with!



Damien Robitaille
Saturday, June 25, 9:30 p.m. (WestJet Stage)

Born and raised in Lafontaine, Ont., (north of the GTA), Robitaille has established himself as one of Canada’s most promising new artists with several awards and nominations already under his belt from L’ADISQ to the Junos.

Bernard Adamus
Saturday, June 25, 11 p.m. (Brigantine Room)

Montreal resident (via Poland) Bernard Adamus has perfectly integrated into his adopted hometown. In fact, he turned his working-class neighbourhoods into the centre of his songs; Hochelaga, Centre-Sud, Rosemont, and their streets and residents become heroes in a new kind of urban fable. Mainly influenced by blues, Adamus first established himself by covering this touching and honest genre of music. 

CHOQ FM 105.1 DJ set
Sunday, June 26, 12:30 a.m. (Brigantine Room)

A DJ from local Francophone radio station CHOQ FM 105.1 will keep you dancing until closing time.

La Diva Malbouffa
Sunday, June 26, 3 p.m. (WestJet Stage)

Nathalie Choquette, an incredible award-winning soprano plays La Diva Malbouffa. She has a huge passion for opera that she loves to share with the whole family. (pictured above)

Patrice Michaud
Sunday, June 26, 4:15 p.m. (WestJet Stage)

Patrice Michaud, a singer-storyteller from Cap-Chat in the Gaspé, combines song, personal anecdotes and humour to tell stories in this wonderful and touching performance.

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