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Francos
>> Check all the free fun at this year’s Francofolies
by RUPERT BOTTENBERG
Superbus: For all intents and purposes, the French No Doubt-the brash yet girly singer, the poppy ska-rock formula, the nutty outfits. Not a big deal on CD, but should be fun live. At l’Aire Ford Focus (Jeanne-Mance and Ste-Catherine) on Friday and Saturday, July 26–27, 6pm Luke: Coming in on the strength of their debut disc La vie presque, this French quintet do tastefully ambitious thinkin’-feller’s rock that would appeal to fans of the Doves and Coldplay and such. Comparable, if perhaps more restrained and pensive. Worth checking out. At La Zone Hip Bleue Dry (Parc des Festivals) on Saturday, July 27, 8pm Miro: The latest funny little figure to emerge from France, this Miro guy has been compared incessantly to another FLF, the impish M. While Miro’s not as effete in his delivery, both play on a delicate funkiness, archly self-conscious songwriting that verges on comedic and sassy cleverness in the lyrical department. Miro’s latest, La voix du vaurien, earned him a big, fat Félix Leclerc prize last year, and an expected strong set here should earn him a toehold on our shores. At le Monde Pop le Lait (in front of Complexe Desjardins) on Thursday, August 1, 5pm Le Peuple de l’Herbe: Straight outta Lyons come these four ragga-dub-hoppers. They made a decent impression at last year’s Francos, nodding to AC/DC at just the right moment in their thick, dirty D&B barrage, so expect good things from Stani, N’Zeng, Psychostick and Pee. At La Zone Hip Bleue Dry (Parc des Festivals) on Thursday, August 1, 10pm Barsony: The lil’ sis of gravel-voiced Arthur H, Barsony showed up on stage with him at last year’s Francos. This year, with a debut disc of her own to flout, she’s not only filling in for Bertrand Burgalat (who cancelled his slot with Stefie Shock on August 3), she’s also doing a free, outdoor show the day before. Given to weird vocal gymnastics in the style of les Rita Mitsouko’s Catherine Ringer, Barsony also shows a penchant for dancehall, Afro-pop and old-skool rap stylings. Clearly a highlight of the fest. At l’Aire Ford Focus (Jeanne-Mance and Ste-Catherine) on Friday, August 2, 6pm
Le Nombre: Coming out of the ashes of Démolition, Caféïne and Secrétaires volantes, these pedigreed Quebec garage punkers will do a number on you, all right. Oh, and get this-they’re gonna have a brass section for this show! Shit, that’s nuts. At La Zone Hip Bleue Dry (Parc des Festivals) on Saturday, August 3, 10pm Midnight DJs at le Shag: Like the Jazz Fest, les Francos have their witching-hour wicka-wacka-woo, too. Unlike the Jazz Fest, the midnight DJ sets cost not a piastre, so get thee hence to le Shag (463 Ste-Catherine W., 2nd floor, enter via St. James United Church). You can catch Fred Everything tonight, Thursday, July 25, DJ Maüs tomorrow, Belgium’s DJ Morpheus on Saturday and Sunday, July 27–28, and the week after, le Son du Peuple (Peuple de l’Herbe’s Pee and Stani in DJ-set format) as well as locals Urbain Desbois and Laïka/Quartier Latin fixture Christelle. : >> Music Listings |
Just
when you thought it was safe, and boring, to go anywhere near Place-des-Arts
metro, here we go again. No sooner have they wrapped up the Jazz Fest
and swept up the last plastic beer cup and jazz-dog wrapper than paf!
Les FrancoFolies de Montréal comes along to give you a hearty
claque in la gueule. A boisterous celebration of all things French,
old world and new, les Francos boast a wide and varied spread of free,
outdoor shows. Which means you can enjoy what fun has sprung in the
tongue of Molière, without giving your hard-earned cash (you
know, with the Queen on it) to Europe’s biggest also-ran. Here’s
some picks.
Les
Tubes: Not to be confused with Fee Waybill and company. This québécois
quintet do French pop klassix of the ’60s and ’70s (France
Gall, anyone?) in a slick, au courant style, so a swanky street party
is all but guaranteed when they go on. At le Monde Pop le Lait (in front
of Complexe Desjardins) on Friday and Saturday, August 2–3, 10pm\