Mission Statement

 

Using bygone tunes and lyrics, anecdotes of its own making, contemporary melodies, and legends or stories of yesteryear—everything is amalgamated into a blissful mixture of rhythms from around the globe. Mauvais Sort, whose name translates from French to mean “to put a spell on someone,” has a musical style extremely hard to define, yet unique and proper to its generation. A French-Canadian ensemble from St.-Eugène, Québec, Mauvais Sort has even invented a word of their own for their music: Folk’n’Roll! “Folk” for the inspiration, the foot stomping, the squeeze box (accordion), the fiddle and the guitar. “Roll” for the arrangements, the bass, the drum, the percussion and the energy. The young band members bring together their exceptional musical talents to astonish with a high-quality, high-energy show, infused with a passion for reinventing tradition.


About the musicians

Nicolas Geoffroy (lead vocals, mandolin, guitar and feet)
Nicolas is Mauvais Sort’s founder and leader. He is a native of the Lanaudière area, birthplace of traditional Québec music. He has traveled throughout Canada, France and Belgium to learn more about French folk music.

Stéphanie Richard (accordion and vocals)
She studied the piano during her youth and started learning to play the accordion at age nine. She has 11 different college degrees, which she completed in six years. Since then, she has been recognized in the traditional music circle as a master of the accordion and has performed in many different countries.

Patrick Giroux (violin, mandolin, and vocals)
Patrick has been playing since he was three years old. He has been part of the Vivaldi Movement for more than 13 years and participated in a many musical events throughout Canada and Europe. Giroux was a vocal jazz academic studies major. He plays many different instruments and writes many of the vocal arrangements for Mauvais Sort.

Guillaume Côté (drums and vocals)
Guillaume tried many different instruments before he found his love for the drums at age 15. At first, he taught himself to play. Then, at age19, he attended Laval University in Québec to study classical percussion and jazz drums.

Because Mauvais Sort combines traditional music with modern arrangements, many of the instruments they play will look familiar. Accordion, violin, guitar, bass, mandolin, drums, percussion, feet, and voice: the ensemble combines their mastery of all these musical instruments and elements with their enthusiasm and love for music to create exciting and enchanting arrangements.



Community Workshop

Thursday March 11, 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Room 743 Auditorium

Alexandria Technical College

This event is FREE and open to the public.

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Community Concert

Saturday March 13, 7:00 - 8:30 PM

Discovery Middle School

$5 adults, $2 students

Tickets available at Community Education

1410 McKay  Ave. South, Suite 201

For more information call: 320/762-3310 ext. 4270