Le Vent du Nord

It's always exciting to discover a band or style of music. One group I've recently discovered is Le Vent du Nord, who are a French Canadian band and play what they call "progressive folk" music. I was lucky to have been able to see them perform at Longwood Gardens on Aug. 24, 2014, and it was a great show. The band is a four piece that utilizes traditional folk instruments like accordion (both button and piano accordions), violin, guitar, bouzouki, piano, jaw harp (jew's harp), and hurdy gurdy. Here are a couple of pictures of the stage before the show started in which you can see the instruments.

Left side of the stage where you can see the accordions, bass, and hurdy gurdy.

Right side of the stage, with piano in the center, then bouzouki and guitar. 

I was unfamiliar with the band before seeing them, but was intrigued by the description of "progressive folk" and of the instrumentation. I mean, how can you pass up a band that uses the hurdy gurdy? Sings in French? Well, why not, even if you don't speak the language (which I don't) just listen to the vocals as just another instrument. Needless to say, I was impressed by the show. The musicianship was top notch, the singing was great and you have to love a band where all of the percussion was provided by foot tapping/stomping. Also, I love when musicians play multiple instruments, and everyone in Le Vent du Nord played different instruments. Nicolas, the piano player, also played the hurdy gurdy and piano accordion. 

Rejean played button accordion, bass, and jaw harp. 

Simon played guitar and bouzouki, 

and Olivier played fiddle...okay he also did all of the foot percussion,

 

plus they all sang.

Here are a couple of snippets of the show.

Instruments

Vocals

Hurdy Gurdy 

Definitely worth checking out if you get the chance.