History of Musique de la Baie
The Acadians of Clare are renowned for their vibrant and unique music. The Acadians of the region often refer to a good party with lots of music as a "grou tyme". Fiddles romance us with soft melodies and then explode into jigs and reels that shake up the desire to dance, sing, or pick up an instrument and join in the fun.
Many great groups and solo artists have come out of Clare: Les Tymeux de la Baie, Grand Dérangement, Blou, Kenneth Saulnier, Johnny Comeau, and many more!
The concept of having live Acadian musique while enjoying your meal was introduced by Paul Comeau of Restaurant Chez Christophe in the village of Grosses Coques. The idea quickly became a project of the Clare Tourism Association in order to allow restaurants throughout the area to offer lively entertainment as well.
Musique de la Baie showcases established local talent as well as the young rising stars of the area. The program features interested local musicians at historical sites and restaurants in the area throughout the summer.
Musique de la Baie has provided visitors from around the world a taste of the Acadian culture through song and storytelling since the summer of 2000. Participating in the project in 2000 was solo artist Eric Surette and les Zoublioux.
Five young musicians, aged between 15 and 16 also took part in the project and together called themselves Les Zoublioux.
Les Zoublioux were formed in January of 1998 and presented themselves at numerous festivals and events throughout Nova Scotia.
These musically inclined high school students quickly became known in the province for their dynamic performances that incorporated traditional Acadian music with Celtic rhythms and dancing.
Musique de la Baie's second season featured another established solo artist named Len LeBlanc who previously played in groups such as Les Tymeux de la Baie and Blou.
His ability to play almost any instrument has made Len very popular in the music community.
To put this statement into perspective, while most musicians can play one or two sometimes three instruments, Len LeBlanc makes use of the harmonica, guitar, rub board, piano, flute, percussion instruments, Irish drum and many others.
The rising stars this season were "Feutchaque", a group comprised of four young men who share a passion for Acadian music and culture. This group became very popular with the younger generation with their modern and eclectic interpretation of traditional Acadian music.
The musical performances offer a sneak peek into our culture and a pleasant diversion from the fast-paced world outside.
The traditional and original compositions make for wonderfully diverse repertoires, which in turn keep the performances fresh and entertaining.
You will be thrown back into a world of days long past when the musicians share cultural anecdotes and local folklore with the audience.
Let yourself be taken back to a time of dirt roads, general stores, quilting bees, kitchen parties, mysterious happenings, and legends with the stories of the area.
