Traverse

Winner of the OPUS Award for Album of the Year in Québécois traditional music, Traverse is a musical journey into the heart of traditional fiddle music that resonates with nuance and vitality.

With Laura Risk on fiddle, Nicholas Williams on accordion and flute, and Rachel Aucoin on piano, Traverse draws from deep immersion into traditional musical communities, from Montreal to the Gaspé via Scotland, as well as a curiosity towards innovation and exploration. The band features three top musicians who have each come to Quebec from elsewhere—Laura from California, Nicholas from Ottawa, and Rachel from the Maritimes—and have been deeply involved with traditional Québécois music for decades.

Together, they play with knife’s-edge precision and a rare intuitive connection that draws listeners into a riveting musical experience.

Catalin Gusevatîi

Born in the Republic of Moldova, Cătălin Gușevatîi began his musical training at the Ciprian Porumbescu Music Lyceum in Chișinău under the guidance of Professor Petru Știucă. He also studied with the virtuoso Radu Rățoi. He is currently pursuing his studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, under the renowned Geir Draugsvoll.

Despite his young career, he has already taken part in prestigious competitions such as the Coupe Mondiale, PIF Castelfidardo, Accordéons-nous (Mons, Belgium), and Grenzenlos, earning the admiration of both juries and audiences. Passionate about showcasing the accordion as a true artistic instrument, Cătălin strives to blend technique with deep emotion.

Babineaux Sisters

The Babineaux Sisters have been making their mark on the Cajun music scene for over a decade. Gracie sings while playing the accordion and fiddle, while Julie keeps the rhythm on bass and provides backing vocals.

They have performed extensively across Louisiana, Florida, Texas, the northeastern United States, and Nova Scotia, Canada. Their music has been featured at numerous festivals, including the French Quarter Festival, Red River Arts Festival, and Festival du Voyageur, among many others.

With four albums to their name, the Babineaux Sisters continue to establish themselves as creative singer-songwriters and dedicated ambassadors of Cajun music.