The program for the 13th edition of the FrancoFête en Acadie was announced today and promises an event filled with talented artists and memorable moments. The annual not to be missed event of the arts will take place in Moncton from Wednesday November 4th to Sunday November 8th 2009. On the menu for this year: various showcases, many concerts, the SOCAN Singer Songwriter Circle, and the Oiseaux de nuit concert series.
“Much more than a working event for the cultural industry, the FrancoFête en Acadie is the ideal occasion to discover the best in francophone talent from the Atlantic Provinces and elsewhere in music, dance, theater, etc., explains France H. Levesque, Chair of the FrancoFête en Acadie. It is an extraordinary event showcasing the vitality and the creativity of our artists and a unique rendezvous during which we can honour the work and efforts of our colleagues and all those who evolve in the world of creation and distribution.”
The official opening of the FrancoFête en Acadie will take place on Wednesday November 4th from 5 pm to 7 pm in the event headquarters at the Crowne Plaza. CBC French radio host on Espace Music, Monique Giroux, will be hosting her show live on site. The event is open to the public.
Colourful events, concerts for all
The SOCAN Singer Songwriter Circle is always a much anticipated evening during the FrancoFête en Acadie, a night filled with wonderful discoveries. This year, the circle will be hosted by Quebec star Boom Desjardins and take place at the Capitol Theatre on Thursday November 5th. Guest artists are: Wilfred Le Bouthillier, violinist Louise Vautour, and Montreal rising star Amylie; taking turns, they will interpret their compositions and speak of their inspirations with the host.
Music, dance, theater, variety, the public will have the chance to discover artists of various domains, some with a great baggage of experience and others who are just starting out in the industry. The showcases will take place from Thursday November 5th to Saturday November 7th at the Capitol Theater, the Empress theatre and the Jeanne-de-Valois concert hall on U de M campus. Artists featured in this 13th edition of the FrancoFête are: Lennie Gallant, Annie Blanchard, Marie-Philippe Bergeron, Danny Boudreau, Sandra Le Couteur, Norbert Pignol, Geneviève Toupin, Pascal Lejeune, Tricia Foster, Guillaume Arsenault, Denis Landry, Chloé Lacasse, Suroît, and Nathalie Choquette as well as Marie-Ève Janvier and Jean-François Breau, Kirbo, Bia, Mathieu Lippé, Bam, Galant tu perds ton temps, Gaële, David Marin, and Misteur Valaire.
In October 2009, two more artists, one from the ROSEQ and one from the Contact Ouest, will be selected to take part in the FrancoFête. Dance and theater fans will have the opportunity to catch highlights of shows by Théâtre la catapulte (winner of the Acadie/Ontario Prize) and dance companies DansEncorps and Destins croisés.
On Friday November 6th at noon, showcases will feature theater and storytelling with le Théâtre populaire d’Acadie, le théâtre l’Escaouette, les Productions L’Entrepôt, and Marie-France Comeau. They will show highlights of their projects for the next season to be presented in the schools. These showcases are reseved for the delegates of the FrancoFête en Acadie.
On Friday November 6th kids will have the chance to see various acts on stage: Nuages en pantaloon (winner of the Acadie/Rideau Prize), Le moulin à musique, and a presentation by Solaris Production. High school kids will have the chance to take in Créason, Ariel Ifergan, and the dance company Destins croisés. All the showcases for the young public are to take place at the Jeanne-de-Valois concert room on the Université de Moncton campus and are free of charge. However, seats are limited.
This year, two concerts from the Coup de coeur francophone will make a stop in Moncton during the FrancoFête. New Brunswick born Fredric Gary Comeau will be on stage Wednesday November 4th at 8:30 pm on the Capitol Theater stage. On Sunday November 8th, discover artists from every Canadian province with the evening Les rencontres qui chantent at 8:30 pm also at the Capitol Theater.
For a fourth consecutive year, the FrancoFête en Acadie presents the Oiseaux de nuit concert series, from Thursday November 5th to Saturday November 7th. Artists from the Atlantic Provinces and all over will be playing in various downtown Moncton bars for the public and FrancoFête delegates starting at 11 pm. Locations include the Paramount, Manhattan, and Studio 700. More details to come on the FrancoFête website.
Tickets for the FrancoFête en Acadie can be bought in the Greater Moncton Ticket Network: Capitol Theater, théâtre l’Escaouette, Université de Moncton Student Centre, and Frank’s Music, by phone at 506.856.4379 or 1.800.567.1922 or by Internet at www.admission.com. Tickets will also be on sale at the door on the evening of the shows (if still available). Tickets for the 13th edition of the FrancoFête en Acadie will be on sale this Friday September 18th 2009.
The FrancoFête en Acadie is an annual event coordinated by the Réseau atlantique de diffusion des arts de la scène (RADARTS). It is one of the most important francophone cultural events in Atlantic Canada dedicated entirely to the promotion of the francophone and Acadian art scene. All the information on the FrancoFête en Acadie 2009 and its activities is available at www.francofete.com.
