La Bottine souriante

La Bottine Souriante was born in the autumn of 1976 in Lanaudière, a region of Quebec where Celtic and Acadian roots fertilized the local soil. The group's arrival on the Quebec art scene was part of a back-to-basics movement that enabled a whole generation to rediscover their traditions in the 70s.

In addition to its current line-up, La Bottine Souriante has included over twenty other artists. This constant rotation has enabled the group to evolve over the years. The group has built a reputation that has long since spread beyond Quebec's borders. Today, La Bottine Souriante is an important reference point in Quebec's world music scene. The playful, convivial spirit that emanates from the group spreads rapidly and irrevocably seduces audiences wherever it is seen and heard. La Bottine Souriante has undoubtedly contributed to the renewal of the Trad style with its musical arrangements based on a delicious blend of nuances and sonorities, combining genres and rhythms.

This musical amalgam is generated thanks to the complicity of a dozen artists on stage who make up the group: Mathieu Gagné on double bass and electric bass; Olivier Salazar on piano and keyboards; Éric Beaudry on vocals, podorhythmics, mandolin, Irish bouzouki and guitar; Louis-Simon Lemieux on vocals, accordion, harmonica and podorhythmics; David Boulanger on violin, vocals and podorhythmics; Jean Fréchette, brass arranger, on saxophone, flageolet and percussion; Jean-François Gagnon-Branchaud, on voice, fiddle and podorythmy; a brass section featuring Sheriff Robert “Bob” Ellis on bass trombone and cocos, trombonist André Verreault, Jocelyn Lapointe on trumpet and Sandy Silva on dance percussion.

BY THE NUMBERS...

Over the course of its career, the group has recorded 13 original albums, four of which are certified Gold (over 40,000 copies sold) and three Platinum (over 100,000 copies). La Bottine Souriante has sold over 750,000 albums in Quebec alone, and won a dozen prestigious awards (Juno, Félix and the famous BBC Award). What's more, in 2001, La Bottine published a musical anthology to mark 25 years in the music business. In 2023, a new album will mark 47 years of existence.

La Bottine Souriante's uniqueness, originality, power and well-known repertoire, as well as the exceptional quality of its live performances and albums, have won it a loyal following.