La bottine souriante

In the fall of 1976, La Bottine Souriante saw the light of day in Lanaudière, a region of Quebec whose culture thrives on a rich blend of Celtic and Acadian roots. The band’s arrival on the Quebec arts scene fits in with a return to tradition that allowed an entire generation, in the 1970s, to rediscover its heritage.

In addition to the ensemble’s current musicians, more than twenty artists have been a part of La Bottine Souriante. This constant rotation has enabled the band to evolve over time, and its long established reputation extends well beyond Quebec’s borders. On the world music circuit, La Bottine Souriante represents a major cultural reference from Quebec. The group’s jovial and festive spirit is infectious, never failing to seduce audiences everywhere La Bottine Souriante has been heard and seen. With its inventive arrangements, which tastefully combine a wide variety of nuances, genres, and rhythms, La Bottine Souriante has unquestionably contributed to the revival of Quebec trad music.

La Bottine’s unique musical mixture is the result of the remarkable chemistry shared between the eleven artists that form the group on stage: Mathieu Gagné (upright and electric bass); Olivier Salazar (piano and keyboards); Éric Beaudry (vocals, foot tapping, mandolin, Irish bouzouki, and guitar); Louis-Simon Lemieux (vocals, accordion, harmonica, and foot tapping); David Boulanger (violin, vocals, and foot tapping); Jean-François Gagnon-Branchaud (vocals, violin, and foot tapping); a horn section featuring Jean Fréchette (horn arrangements, saxophone, flageolet, and percussion), The Sheriff Robert “Bob” Ellis (bass trombone and egg shakers), André Verreault (trombone), and Jocelyn Lapointe (trumpet); and Sandy Silva (percussive dance).