The 37th edition of Francos struck a powerful chord. A look back, in words and images, at the live moments that brought tears to our eyes—or gave us goosebumps.
Lysandre’s Big Cheque
On the first day of the festival, after opening for Lou-Adriane Cassidy, Lysandre received the SOCAN-presented Prix Félix-Leclerc de la chanson from Cassidy herself. Judging by her immediate reaction, the delighted winner clearly wasn’t expecting it. And yet, during the jury deliberations for the award, Lysandre’s name rang out from start to finish as the obvious choice.
Read also: Lysandre: Portrait of a Young Woman on Fire
(Photo by Benoit Rousseau / Les Francos)
Lisa LeBlanc Gets the Party Goin’
Banjo in hand and grinning from ear to ear, Lisa LeBlanc took the stage with La Bottine Souriante as though she were dropping in on cousins for a laid-back family gathering. We heard her on Dans nos vieilles maison, among other songs, before she playfully and endearingly ventured into a bit of “turlutte”, laughing and utterly unabashed. A perfect moment, much like the band she was playing with: an institution that nonetheless never takes itself too seriously.
Read also: La Bottine Souriante : Half a Century of Keeping Memory Alive
Safia Nolin in Le Dôme
Jean Leloup’s classic album, Le Dôme, turns 30 this year, and Les Francos celebrated the occasion with a tribute concert. Honestly, the entire show was a highlight in itself, but there was no denying that Safia Nolin’s cover of I Lost My Baby had a special kind of grace—one that brought the whole crowd together and moved it deeply.
(Photo by Victor Diaz Lamich / Les Francos)
Mantisse In the Stairs
Surprise shows are rare at Francos, but when they happen, they’re worth their weight in gold. On the eve of his band LaF’s show, Mantisse invited passersby to an out-of-the-ordinary concert: just him and his guitar, not even a microphone. What followed was a precious moment cutting through the bustle of Place des Festivals and the ambient noise—one that made those who were there feel as though they were being let in on a secret.
Eman Between Songs
The musical and spoken portions of Eman’s shows are driven by the same urgent need to speak up. From the stage, spontaneously and without warning, the rapper launched into a tribute to his dying father—to the father who fucked up, as he put it, but whom he now thanks, because it made him stronger. What followed, in that same breath, was a powerful ode to life, a natural and deeply embodied moment of truth, as only Eman can deliver.
(Photo by: Marie-Michèle Bouchard)
Ana Dall’Ara-Majek and her Theremin
Magical on the surface, spellbinding through and through. The theremin is an instrument that, by its very nature, leads its performers into movements that seem almost danced. During the presentation of the Christopher J. Reed Award to Jean-François Denis, as part of the Rendez-vous Pros des Francos, Ana Dall’Ara Majek held the room spellbound with her airy, almost supernatural gestures between magnetic fields.
Read also: Jean-François Denis : Electroacoustic Music Trailblazer
Dee End Covers Patrick Norman
Dee End is known for his own songs and a musical universe where R&B and kompa go hand in hand, so Caribbean rhythms obviously took centre stage throughout his set—even, surprisingly, when he chose to cover a country classic, one of the defining songs in Patrick Norman’s catalogue: Quand on est en amour. By making the song his own, the Haitian-born artist built bridges between cultures and offered a powerful expression of unity.
(Photo by Marie-Michèle Bouchard)
Klô Pelgag and Her Daughter
Despite intermittent showers and the threat of violent thunderstorms, the vast grounds in front of the Rogers Stage were packed for Klô Pelgag. Between two bursts of onstage mischief, she brought her daughter out before launching into Lettre à une jeune poète, the song she dedicates to her—and one that, in a troubling way, echoes back to Celui qui attend, a song by her partner, VioleTT Pi, the little girl’s father, who also performed at Francos on the Wednesday.
(Photo by: Frédérique Ménard-Aubin / Les Francos)
Alphonse Bisaillon Makes His Entrance
This young singer-songwriter from Saint-Hyacinthe has all the makings of a future Québec icon. Charismatic and theatrical, Alphonse Bisaillon swept into Pub Brasseur de Montréal like a prince, dressed as a Patriote, a frock coat on his back and two albums already under his belt. His blend of chanson, rap and foot percussion—with a touch of dubstep—left no one indifferent.
(Photo by Victor Diaz Lamich / Les Francos)
Ariane Roy at Her Apex
Only six years separate her triumph at Francouvertes from her concert on the biggest stage at Francos. Ariane Roy arrived there in good company, especially at the very end, when she welcomed her best friend Lou-Adriane Cassidy to sing Fille à porter. Lou-Adriane’s tears were almost contagious; there was something profoundly moving about seeing the two of them standing at the top together, at the same time, with no unhealthy sense of competition—just pure sisterhood.