Barachois (band)
| Barachois | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Prince Edward Island, Canada |
| Genres | Acadian |
| Years active | 1995–2007 |
| Past members |
Hélène Bergeron Albert Arsenault Louise Arsenault Chuck Arsenault |
Barachois was an Acadian traditional music group from the Evangeline Region of Prince Edward Island known for their high-energy stage show and their authentic presentation of the local fiddling and song traditions.
Biography
The group was formed in the mid-1990s. Hélène Bergeron and Albert Arsenault are siblings,[1] and Louise Arsenault is a distant cousin of theirs, but Chuck Arsenault is not related.[2] The name of the group refers to a barachois, an Acadian word for a type of shallow lagoon found on the ocean shores of eastern Canada.
The band's self-titled debut album was nominated in 1997 for three East Coast Music Awards, winning one of them, Francophone Recording of the Year.[3] Over the group's nine year run, they produced 3 albums and were awarded many national, and international awards and prizes including 5 ECMA's, a Juno nomination, and "Chevaliers" de l'Ordre de la Pleades (Officers in the order of French parliaments)
Barachois toured Canada and the US, as well as 15 other countries.[2]
The band amicably retired in 2003. Chuck and Albert toured as a duo for another 7 years enjoying success internationally with a concept including comedic skits as well as traditional music. Louise and Hélène went on to found and perform with two other traditional French-Acadian bands: Les Girls and Gadelle.
Members
The members of the group were:
- Albert Arsenault - fiddle, Acadian percussion, bass, vocals
- Hélène Bergeron - keyboards, guitar, fiddle, vocals
- Louise Arsenault - fiddle, guitar, foot percussion, vocals
- Chuck Arsenault - guitar, brass instruments, harmonica, vocals
Discography
- 1996 Barachois- Acadian Music from Prince Edward Island
- 1999 Encore!
- 2002 Naturel
References
- ↑ "Folk music: Barachois". Bangor Daily News. 2003-08-09. p. 27.
- 1 2 McGarrigle, Dale (2003-03-13). "Ain't nothing but a house party: Barachois keeps Acadian social history alive, lively". Bangor Daily News. p. 1.
- ↑ "Music from Canada will be folksy, lively". The Patriot News. 2003-03-16. p. K05.
External links
- Barachois discography at allmusic<!-not all dates are correct-->
- Distribution Plages for recordings of Barachois, Chuck & Albert, Gadelle, Les Girls