La Volée d'Castors is a group of six musicians with a dynamic and contemporary world sound. They travel the world with violins, accordeons, guitars, mandolins, banjos, bass, piano and podorythmia, bringing the young and not so young to their feet, singing and dancing to their irresistible music.

La Volée d'Castors signed on in 1999 with the distributor Musicor and Productions Cœur de Lion (canadian market only), a big family that includes
artists Hélène Ségara, Elmut Lutti et Emma Shapplin. The groupe also brought in Productions Serge Paré, well-known for its role in the international success of La Bottine Souriante, to coordinate its shows.

The group has three albums, two video-clips, a web site (www.vdc.qc.ca) and has given close to 450 performances in Québec, Canada, the US and Europe.
Over 21 000 copies of their three albums, Galant (1994), Par monts et par vaux (1998) and VDC (2000) have been sold to date.

Winners of the Grand Prix du Patrimoine 1999-2000 and nominated in the catégory Best roots and Traditional album ? Group at Canada's prestigious Juno Awards in 2001, and also at the famous ADISQ Award ? Best Traditional Album, La Volée d'Castors was invited to participate in Womex 2001 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, the leading market for world music.

La Volée d'Castors is blasting off once again in 2001 for sites across Canada, the United States, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Sweden.

La Volée d'Castors: a dynamite group you won't want to miss!

Nicolas Froment
Nicolas has been interested in traditional music for a very long time. As a member of the Les Petits Pas Jacadiens dance troop, Nicolas plays guitar and mandolin, as well as providing the vocals for many of the songs. The mandolin allows him to create works that emanate from his soul, musically as well as vocally. Nicolas can be considered the band leader, as he is the main spokesman for the La Volée d'Castors shows.

Frédéric Bourgeois
Frédéric is the band's rookie. In addition to his membership with La Volée d'Castors, he remains part of the Petits Pas Jacadiens, which would explain why he was elected responsible for the steps... Frédéric plays the diatonic accordian, the harmonica and the snare drum.

Réjean Brunet
Réjean is a multi-talented musician, mastering the electric bass, bass, piano and accordian. His profound musical knowleadge provides him with all the necessary tools to support the soloists in exquisite harmony. Originating from a family of musicians, Réjean's musical repertory is practically unlimited.

Mathieu Lacas
Mathieu is the violinist for the group and plays an active part with regards to musical arrangements, as well. He has been playing since the tender age of five, when he was also a member of the Orchestre symphonique des jeunes de Lanaudière. Prior to joining La Volée d'Castors, he was a member of a band called Bonhomme Sept Heures.

Martin Mailhot
Martin is the eldest of the group. He was also a member of the Petits Pas Jacadiens. He plays, as does Frédéric, the diatonic accordian. Martin provides the rhythm for the band on an Irish drum commonly known as a 'Bodhran'. As well as researching songs, he works on the musical arrangements.

Sébastien Parent
As a long-time member of the Petits Pas Jacadiens, Sébastien taught folk dancing for a few years. His musical roots are extremely varied, which awards him an important position with regards to the musical arrangements - an excellent compliment to his very beautiful voice. Sébastien has composed some of the original tracks on which he plays guitar and banjo, which he recently added to the long list of instrumental he has mastered. Once in a while he will put them aside and opt for playing bass on a song or two.

PRESS QUOTES

La Volée D'Castors is one of the most impressive Quebec folk bands to emerge to recent years. VDC, the band's third album, shows the band has not only a good grounding in the tradition, but also an imaginative flair for innovation. Basing the CD or. Songs the members picked up from such impeccable sources as Gaston Lepage and Benoit Themen, they add traditional and new instrumentals and wrap everything in vibrant, joyful arrangements.
Steve WinicK (Philadelphia, PA)

DISCOGRAPHY

" VDC ". Label : Cœur de lion
Distribution Musicor (CDLCD-1979) taken out in 2000
" Par monts et par vaux ". Label : Cœur de lion
Distribution Musicor (COLCD-1955) taken out in 1999
" Galante ". Distribution : La Volée d'Castors taken out in 1994 - Remixed and republished in 2001.

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