La Bottine Souriante

Fiddler and dancer (Sandy Silva) during a performance at the 2006 Festival International de Louisiane.

La Bottine Souriante is a folk band from Quebec specialising in traditional Québécois music, often with a modern twist.

Formed in 1976, they have toured extensively through North America and Europe. In 1990, the band integrated a four-piece horn section with traditional instruments such as accordion, fiddle, guitar, piano and double bass, in order to add an element of jazz to their music. In 1998, they contributed a song to the Canadian Celtic music compilation by The Chieftains, Fire in the Kitchen.

The group's name means "the smiling boot", which refers to the appearance of a work boot with worn-out soles.

1 Members
2 Discography
3 Awards and achievements
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

Members [link]

The line-up for LBS has changed numerous times (not unusual for folk groups), and its sound has evolved accordingly. The band started out with a very French Canadian feel with guitar, accordion and fiddle but has expanded to include other styles and instruments. Although founder Yves Lambert has left the group, LBS continues to perform, and a new wave of young musicians joined the group in 2002.

LBS's current line-up is:

Éric Beaudry (vocals, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, podorythmie) 2002-
Pierre "Pedro" Bélisle (keyboards, piano accordion, piano, trumpet) 2000-
David Boulanger (vocals, violin, podorythmie, percussion)2007-
Benoît Bourque (accordion, bones, podorythmie, vocals) 2009-
Robert "Bob" Ellis (bass trombone, tuba, percussion) 1990-
Jean Fréchette (saxophone, flute, penny whistle, clarinet, percussion, vocals) 1990-
Jean-François Gagnon-Branchaud (fiddle, guitar, voice) 2011-
Jocelyn Lapointe (trumpet, flugelhorn) 1993-
François Marion (electric bass, acoustic bass guitar)2007-
Sandy Silva (percussive dance)
André Verreault (trombone) 1990-

Past Members include:

Régent Archambault (double bass, electric bass, vocals) 1988-
Michel Bordeleau (snare drum, guitar, mandolin, feet, fiddle, (solo) vocals) 1987-
Guy Bouchard (spoons, guitar, fiddle, vocals) 1980
André Brunet (violin, guitar, vocals, podorythmie, percussion) 1997-
Gilles Cantin (guitar, feet, (solo) vocals) 1977–1981 (deceased)
Laflèche Doré (flugelhorn, trumpet) 1990–1993 (deceased)
Pierre-Luc Dupuis (vocals, accordion, harmonica) 2002
Mario Forest (spoons, harmonica, vocals) 1976–1979, 1980–1984
Denis Fréchette (piano accordion, flugelhorn, piano, trumpet, vocals) 1988–1999 (deceased)
Yves Lambert (accordion, jaw harp, harmonica, melodeon, (solo) vocals) 1976- 2002
Jacques Landry (bones, bodhrán, fiddle) 1977
Pierre Laporte (fiddle, (solo) vocals) 1977–1981
André Marchand (guitar, feet, (solo) vocals) 1976–1988
Lisa Ornstein (piano, fiddle) 1979
Martin Racine (guitar, mandolin, feet, fiddle, vocals) 1980–1997
Daniel Roy (flageolet, jaw harp, bones, bodhrán, (solo) vocals) 1982–1985
Bernard Simard (guitar, (solo) vocals) 1984–1986

Guest players

Dominique D'Haiti (fiddle) on Je voudrais changer de chapeau
Ron di Lauro (trumpet, flugelhorn) on La Mistrine
Michel Dupire (percussion) on La Mistrine
Jacques Landry (bodhrán, bones) on La traverse de l'Atlantique
Danielle Martineau (piano) on La traverse de l'Atlantique
Dominique Messier (drums) on La Mistrine
Lisa Ornstein (fiddle, piano) on Les Épousailles, Chic & Swell and Je voudrais changer de chapeau
Anne Perrot (cello) on Je voudrais changer de chapeau
Daniel Plamondon (viola) on Je voudrais changer de chapeau
Daniel Roy (spoons) (bones) on Les Épousailles

Discography [link]

Y'a ben du changement (1978) – (Gold)^[1]
Les Épousailles (1980)
Chic 'n Swell (1982)
La Traversée de l'Atlantique (1986)
Tout comme au jour de l'An (1987) – (Platinum)^[1]
Je voudrais changer d'chapeau (1988)
Jusqu'aux p'tites heures (1992) – (Platinum)^[1]
La Mistrine (1994)
En spectacle (1996)
Xième (1998, also released in the United States as Rock 'n Reel) – (Gold)^[1]
Cordial (2001)
Anthologie (2001) – (Gold)^[1]
J'ai jamais tant ri (2003)
Anthologie II, 1976-2005 (2006)
Appellation d'origine contrôlée (2011)

Awards and achievements [link]

La Bottine Souriante has received the Canadian Juno award for Best Roots/Traditional Album on three occasions for Je voudrais changer d'chapeau in 1989, Jusqu'aux p'tites heures in 1992, and Cordial in 2002. They have also received several Félix Awards from the Quebec recording industry: four Best Folk Album of the Year awards for Jusqu'aux p'tites heures in 1992, La Mistrine in 1995, En spectacle in 1997, and Xième in 1999, two Best Traditional Album awards for Cordial in 2002 and J'ai jamais tant ri in 2004, and one Best Sound (Technical) of the Year award in 1993. Furthermore, they have received four gold records for Y'a ben du changement, En spectacle, Xième, and Anthologie and three platinum records for Tout comme au jour de l'An, Jusqu'aux p'tites heures, and La Mistrine.^[2] They are known for their high energy live performances and in 2000 were voted Best Live Act at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. BBC Radio 3 has also played their music in mainstream programmes.