Imagine playing over 2200 concerts on four continents in 22 years and releasing twelve albums to critical acclaim. Le Vent du Nord, a leading force in Quebec’s progressive “Francophone” folk movement, has done just that. Along the way, they have racked up a trunk full of prestigious awards, including two Junos (Canada’s equivalent to the Grammys), three Felix awards, an OPUS award, a Canadian Folk Music Award, and they were named “Artist of the Year” at the Folk Alliance Annual Gala. The list goes on, and it’s easy to understand why the band is so highly acclaimed.
With a broad range of global influences, Le Vent du Nord's repertoire is soulful and rhythmic, drawing from traditional sources, including Celtic and folk music. The band was formed in 2002, and the name translates to “The North Wind.”
Oliver Demers started the band in 2002 while studying music in college. He was formally trained as a violinist and guitarist, starting in chamber music and gravitating towards jazz. As it often happens with bands, members came in and out of the band until a lineup clicks. The current lineup of Le Vent du Nord is made up of a cohesive group of seasoned musicians.
Demers is joined in the band by his college classmate, Nicolas Boulerice, who grew up in a musical family in Quebec. His dad collected songs, which helped form Boulerice’s repertoire. He learned to play the hurdy-gurdy when his passion for traditional music took him to Ireland and France. Deciding to explore traditional folk music further, Boulerice played with Demers on the album Le vent du nord est toujours fret, which was the beginning of Le Vent du Nord as a true band.
Andre Brunet, who started playing traditional Quebec music as a young boy in his village of Lacolle, joined the band in 2016. He played with La Bottine Souriante, touring more than 15 countries in ten years. He has a passion for traditional Quebec music.
Andre’s brother, Rejean Brunet, toured for eight years with La Volee d/Castors before joining Le Vent du Nord in 2016. Growing up, Brunet’s parents recognized his musical talent and encouraged him to follow his passion. He first fell in love with the violin and began taking lessons at age nine. He recorded many albums with his brother, Andre’ Brunet, and together they performed around the world. He plays the accordion, bass guitar, and mouth harp with Le Vent du Nord.
Until recently, Simon Beaudry was a member of the band. He joined in 2004 and left in February 2024 to pursue personal projects. He was replaced with Andre’ Gagne,’ from the same village as Beaudry. Gagne is a singer and musician who was introduced to folk music and traditional arts in his hometown of St-Come, Lanaudiere. He studied guitar in college, and in 2005, he formed a band called La Giroflee with some of his childhood friends. His warm voice adds to the Le Vent du Nord sound, making him a welcome addition to the band.
The band performs around 120 shows annually, mainly in Canada and the United States, with a few side trips to Europe. Their music is somewhat niche -- folk music that is very Quebec-centric yet melds well with traditional folk music. But listen to a few of their songs, and you’ll hear a little pop, funk, rap, and other contemporary genres that surprisingly blend in perfectly with their repertoire. A traditional fiddle reel might be interrupted by a trumpet blast, stomping feet, and chanting – yet the songs work. They are both entertaining and fun.
Not a bar band by any means, Le Vent du Nord typically plays concert halls in winter and festivals in summer. In an interview with Rejean Brunet by Jack MacLean in the McKendree Review, the student newspaper for McKendree University, Brunet says, “You start with something, you cross your fingers, you hope it will work, and people will follow. Of course, there is a little bit of magic, but being active is a big, big thing. If you are available to tour and give concerts, people will follow you. It’s funny because there are people we know who met the band 10 to 15 years ago, and they are still following us.”
Brunet explained that they respect traditional music but add their twist and style. Everyone in the band listens to all kinds of music, and for the most part, it is mainly acoustic music. But adding harmonies and non-traditional instrumentation shakes things up enough to get the audience’s attention. “We all listen to bluegrass and bands from everywhere, so it’s quite lively,” said Brunet.
“There’s a lot of bands that are composing new stuff. Scotland has a lot of bands, but with a lot of drums and electric instruments, and of course the bagpipes. We are closer to tradition when it comes to instrumentation.”