Grosse Isle
Grosse Isle is a trio of “musiciens sans frontières who refuse to let the Atlantic sunder their love of their own and one another’s Irish and Québecois musical traditions”.
Comprising of Irish uilleann piper Fiachra O’Regan, Québec fiddler/singer Sophie Lavoie, and guitarist André Marchand, the trio take traditional Irish and Québécois traditional music, blended with Lavoie’s “lithe and masterful” compositions. Their choice of songs will “captivate the most casual listener”
“It’s refreshing to hear a traditional band reference the present with such subtlety and finesse”
Quotes from Siobhán Long, of The Irish Times
Sophie Lavoie
Originally from Lac-Saint-Jean, Québec, Sophie Lavoie was first introduced to the world of music when learning classical piano as a child. Soon, she became interested in the traditional music of Québec and began her ongoing trad apprenticeship by listening to legendary fiddlers from her own region of the province, such as the renowned Louis Pitou Boudreault.
In 2004, she completed studies in classical music with a Bachelors degree in piano in the University of Montréal. With two other musicians, she created the band “L’attisée” and began developing a successful career as a player of traditional Québécois music. From 2005 to 2008, Sophie performed with L’Attisée all over Québec as well as in Ireland, recording the eponymous album which was nominated in 2011 as Album Traditional of The Year at ADISQ.
In 2008, she began playing with piper Fiachra O’Regan as the duo Sophie & Fiachra. The duo recorded four albums : Sophie & Fiachra (2010), Rewind (2014) and Un Canadien errant (2016). In 2016, her album Un Canadien errant was nominated for best album of the year at ADISQ and Canadian Folk Music Award. She was also nominated at CFMA for best traditional singer of the year. In 2018, Sophie ? Fiachra launched another album called Portraits with veteren musician André Marchand, “an enchanting CD full of musical twists and turns” (The Irish Music Magazine).
In 2017 Sophie has received a scholarship from FRQSC for studying ethnomusicology at University of Montreal. Following that, Sophie has been invited to teach the fiddle style and repertoire of Quebec at Limerick University, Ireland, at the world recognized Irish Word Academy of Music and Dance. In 2019, she submitted a thesis at Université de Montréal about fiddle style and repertoire of her native region Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. The thesis is ” Les violoneux du Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean : style et répertoire des derniers de leur lignée”.
” Lovely voice and expert fiddling ” Songlines magazine
“One of the rising stars of Québécois music ” fRoots magazine
“Her tune compositions are lithe and masterful, and her choice of songs is enough to captivate the most casual listener.” The Irish Times
Fiachra O’Regan
Fiachra O‘Regan, from Connemara, on the West Coast of Ireland, plays Irish music on the Uilleann Pipes and Whistle, He is a senior All Ireland Champion on both these intruments. Fiachra has performed throughout the world, touring in his own group as well as with many other artists and groups. He is also saught after as a teacher in private lessons and at festivals. In 2008, Fiachra recorded Aisling Gheal, his first solo album, and has since recorded three albums with quebecois fiddler Sophie Lavoie, as well as appearing as a guest on many other albums. More info can be found on his website: www.fiachrapipes.com.
André Marchand
Figure de proue de la scène Trad du Québec, la carrière d’André est jalonnée de projets artistiques qui ont marqué l’histoire de la musique traditionnelle des 40 dernières années. Guitariste, chanteur et compositeur, il débute comme cofondateur de La Bottine Souriante. De 1976 à 1990, il parcourt le Québec, l’Acadie, le Canada, les États-Unis ainsi que plusieurs pays d’Europe et participe à l’enregistrement des six premiers disques de La Bottine.
De 1990 à 2009, il devient ingénieur du son et réalisateur. Il contribue à la naissance de près de 200 projets, donnant ainsi la voix à plusieurs artistes émergents et à d’autres biens connus, concourant activement à l’éclosion du milieu. Durant cette période, il collabore au trio Marchand-Miron-Ornstein qui enregistre Le Bruit Court dans la Ville en 1996 lequel s’attire les éloges du milieu. Il s’associe aussi avec le multi-instrumentiste Gray Larsen avec lequel il parcourt intensivement les États-Unis. Ils enregistrent The Orange Tree en 1993 et Les Marionnettes en 2004.
En 1993 naissent Les Charbonniers de l’Enfer, quintette vocal a capella qui produit un coup de grisou sur la scène québécoise. Le groupe produit six albums dont trois se méritent des prix Félix au Québec. Ils font une tournée et un disque La sacrée rencontre avec le grand poète national Gilles Vigneault.
Chanteur à la voix grave, chaude et bien posée, André est un personnage attachant à l’esprit vif et à l’humour débordant. Son style unique d’accompagnement à la guitare, tout en nuance et en finesse, influence plusieurs générations de guitaristes évoluant aujourd’hui dans le milieu Trad québécois.