La Bottine Souriante

La Bottine Souriante is a folk band from Quebec specialising in traditional Quebecois music, often with a modern twist.

Formed in 1976, they have toured extensively through North America and Europe. As well as the traditional accordion, fiddle, guitar, piano and double bass, the band added a four-piece horn section in 1990 which gives an element of jazz to the music. In 1998, they contributed a song to the Canadian Celtic music compilation by The Chieftains, "Fire in the Kitchen".

The group's name means "the smiling boot", which refers to the appearance of a work boot with worn-out soles.

They have received three Canadian Juno awards and several Felix awards from the Quebec recording industry. They are known for their high energy live performances and in 2000 were voted "Best Live Act" at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. BBC Radio 3 has also played their music in mainstream programmes.

Members

LBS has changed members numerous times (not unusual for folk groups!). Although Founder Yves Lambert has left the group, LBS continues to perform and wow audiences far and wide. The composition of the band has changed too, and with it the sound. LBS started out with a very French Canadian feel with guitar, accordion and fiddle but has expanded to include other styles and instruments. With a new wave of young musicians joining the group in 2002, LBS has renewed itself once again.

LBS's current line-up is:
* Régent Archambault (double bass,electric bass, vocals) 1988-
* Éric Beaudry (vocals, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, podorythmie) 2002-
* Pierre "Pedro" Bélisle (keyboards, piano accordion, piano,trumpet) 2000-
* André Brunet (violin, guitar, vocals, podorythmie, percussion) 1997-
* Pierre-Luc Dupuis (vocals, accordion, harmonica) 2002
* Robert "Bob" Ellis (bass trombone, tuba, percussion) 1990-
* Jean Fréchette (saxophone, flute, penny whistle, clarinet, percussion, vocals) 1990-
* Jocelyn Lapointe (trumpet, flugelhorn) 1993-
* Sandy Silva (percussive dance)
* André Verreault (trombone) 1990-

Past Members include:
* Michel Bordeleau (snare drum, guitar, mandolin, feet, fiddle, (solo) vocals) 1987-
* Guy Bouchard (spoons, guitar, fiddle, vocals) 1980
* Gilles Cantin (guitar, feet, (solo) vocals) 1977-1981
* Laflèche Doré (flugelhorn, trumpet) 1990-1993 (deceased)
* Mario Forest (spoons, harmonica, vocals) 1976-1979, 1980-1984
* Denis Fréchette (piano accordion, flugelhorn, piano, trumpet, vocals) 1988-1999
* Yves Lambert (accordion, Jew's harp, harmonica, melodion, (solo) vocals) 1976- 2002
* Jacques Landry (bones, bodhrán, fiddle) 1977
* Pierre Laporte (fiddle, (solo) vocals) 1977-1981
* André Marchand (guitar, feet, (solo) vocals) 1976-1988
* Lisa Ornstein (piano, fiddle) 1979
* Martin Racine (guitar, mandolin, feet, fiddle, vocals) 1980-1997
* Daniel Roy (flageolet, Jew's harp, bones, bodhrán, (solo) vocals) 1982-1985
* Bernard Simard (guitar, (solo) vocals) 1984-1986

Guest players

* Dominique D'Haiti (fiddle) on "Je voudrais changer de chapeau"
* Ron di Lauro (trumpet, flugelhorn) on "La Mistrine"
* Michel Dupire (percussion) on "La Mistrine"
* Jacques Landry (bodhrán, bones) on "La traverse de l'Atlantique"
* Danielle Martineau (piano) on "La traverse de l'Atlantique"
* Dominique Messier (drums) on "La Mistrine"
* Lisa Ornstein (fiddle, piano) on "Les Épousailles", "Chic & Swell" and "Je voudrais changer de chapeau"
* Anne Perrot (cello) on "Je voudrais changer de chapeau"
* Daniel Plamondon (viola) on "Je voudrais changer de chapeau"

Discography

* "Y'a ben du changement" (1978)
* "Les Épousailles" (1980)
* "Chic 'n Swell" (1982)
* "La Traversée de l'Atlantique" (1986)
* "Tout comme au jour de l'An" (1987)
* "Je voudrais changer d'chapeau" (1988)
* "Jusqu'aux p'tites heures" (1992)
* "La Mistrine" (1994)
* "En spectacle" (1996)
* "Xième" (1998, also released in the United States as "Rock 'n Reel")
* "Cordial" (2001)
* "Anthologie" (2001)
* "J'ai jamais tant ri" (2003)

ee also

*List of bands from Canada
*List of Quebec musicians
*Music of Quebec
*Culture of Quebec

External links

* [http://www.bottinesouriante.com/ Official web site]
* [http://www.acpo.on.ca/claude/bottine/ Fan site] - with details of lineup and pictures - in French
* [http://www.acpo.on.ca/claude/bottine/chanson/ Detailed discography] - with some sound samples
* [http://cafe.rapidus.net/lylafren/bottine1.html Song lyrics]