Nicolas Boulerice (founding member of Le Vent du Nord) and double bassist Frédéric Samson, join forces to bring you traditional songs of centuries past made anew in a jazz setting—Confiné aux voyages. 

This emotive work delivers magnificent laments woven together by contemplative soundscapes captured in Nicolas’ hometown of Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu. Confined to a living room, the intimate production is a myriad of tableaus: from traditional songs and poetry, guided by the calls of migratory birds, craftspeople at their work, and imperturbable weather. 

This encounter is an exploration and reflection of one’s place in the world and the sounds of a place in time, under the theme of travel, memory, and love. Confiné aux voyages offers a moment to listen to stories, reflect, and project oneself back into the present, an experience of infinity. 

Nicolas and Frédéric invite the audience to travel alongside them through bare and revealing song cycles accompanied by the double bass; still imagery and poetry; alongside birdsong, wind witches, or the engine of a boat.  Listen to the album here.

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Friday, April 21 at 7:30 PM (doors 7:00 PM), 75-minutes, with an intermission

Tickets are available for $22 in advance, $25 at the door, and $27 for preferred seating (pay-what-you-can-available).

This concert was made possible from support by the Délégation du Québec à Boston

ARTIST BIO

Nicolas Boulerice was born into a family in love with words, songs and stories. Everything was in place to nurture a young man who was already having fun with his clarinet, the living-room piano and the books from his great-grandfather’s cabinet. He first studied jazz piano and then discovered the hurdy-gurdy. He crafted a few copies of this instrument himself before joining the group Ad Vielle que Pourra, with whom he began his career on the North American folk music circuit. Inspired by the songs of his grandmother, he immersed himself in Quebec traditional music, where he discovered his voice and his trade. Since then, he has been exploring the local repertoire, to which he adds his own compositions, often to sing the history of his corner of the world. 

In 2002, he founded Le Vent du Nord. Since first launching 20 years ago (in August 2002), Le Vent du Nord have enjoyed meteoric success, performing well over 2,200 concerts over 4 continents and racking up several prestigious awards, including a Grand Prix du Disque Charles Cros, two Junos (Canada’s Grammys), a Félix at ADISQ, a Canadian Folk Music Award, and “Artist of the Year” at Folk Alliance Annual Gala.

 In 2015, he released Maison de bois, his first solo record as a songwriter, just after winning the CALQ award for creator of the year in the Montérégie region. Released in the fall of 2020, Maison de pierres, a set of traditional laments, is the second solo album in a projected trilogy.

Boulerice is the co-founder of La Veillée de l’avant-veille in Montréal (23 editions) and La Compagnie du Nord (production and management), and president of Festival Chants de Vielles, at home in Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu (15 editions). When stars align, he shares the stage with his father, an author, for a performance of poetry and songs called Carnets de notes. His first collection of poetry will be published by Triptyque in 2021. A collective of authors he joined is also set to publish a book on Georges Brassens at Leméac. In addition to his lectures on the history of traditional music and turlute (mouth music), he is writing an introductory guide to Quebec trad for the Conseil québécois de la musique. He is also taking part in the development of the first online course on Québécois traditional music, TRAD 666, in collaboration with several artists and the CQPV. His whole life revolves around words, songs and stories.

PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN POLICY

No one will be turned away for lack of funds; contact MSA at 207-879-4629 or info@mayostreetarts.org for information on our pay-what-you-can admission policy.

COVID-19 POLICY

Audience members, staff, and volunteers will be asked to mask while not actively eating, or drinking.

Mayo Street Arts is committed to the safety of everyone at our events and will adhere to all Federal & Maine CDC guidelines on the day of the event. As we anticipate mid-season changes to our COVID-19 policy, please click here to visit our website and view the most current information.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Mayo Street Arts has a no refund policy for all reservations. In the event that MSA is forced to cancel an event due to weather, illness, etc., refunds will be offered via the Ticket Tailor platform.