The 24th edition of the Mémoire et Racines Festival

Five days of traditional art from near and far for the entire family in July

From July 25 to July 29, over 200 musicians, singers, dancers and storytellers will enrapture festival goers during the 24th edition of the Mémoire et Racines Festival (FMR), presented by the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, in the heart of Joliette and on the charming site of Saint-Jean-Bosco Park in Saint-Charles-Borromée.

Mark your calendars for what’s gearing up to be the event of the summer to let loose with authentic Quebec tradition staged in the province’s beautiful Lanaudière region: dance to the sound of deep-rooted rhythm, immerse yourself in stories and legends from here and abroad, and discover traditional music from all around the world!

Festival Mémoire et Racines – WestmountMag.ca

“This year, we’re especially proud to present our rich musical tradition that also holds a well-entrenched modern tenor, as well as world music from the US, Canada, Colombia, Ireland, Sweden, and, for a first time this year at the Festival, Ukraine,” mentions Jean Desrochers, Program Manager.

A pre festival to set the mood

Festivities will begin on July 25 and 26 with a pre festival presented by the Caisse Desjardins de Joliette. The bars and venues of downtown Joliette will host a variety of concerts. There you’ll find various flavours of Quebec traditional music rubbing shoulders with Swedish and Breton traditional music. Performing artists include folk legend Yves Lambert, along with his band, who will be premiering Tentations, the latest album by Yves Lambert TRIO. A large outdoor concert will be presented at Place Bourget on Thursday, July 26 at 7 pm, featuring two iconic local groups – Mythes et légendes and Baqqhus.

From July 25 to July 29, over 200 musicians, singers, dancers and storytellers will enrapture festival goers during the 24th edition of the Mémoire et Racines Festival.

True to tradition, festival organizers will once again foreground the closeness between the audience and the artists, starting July 27, in an enchanting setting nestled under a shady grove of century-old trees along the banks of the Assomption River.

Violins front and centre!

“The violin is paramount in traditional music,” explains Jean Desrochers. “It’s always present and plays its own special part in forging local traditional sounds. Festival goers will enjoy foot-tapping performances by prominent Quebec violinists such as Pascal Gemme from Genticorum or Richard Forest from Réveillons! Also, on Saturday, festival goers will be blown away by the very talented Canadian group The Fretles who will take the stage for a lively performance. Their melodies abound with captivating violin sounds that are fine-tuned through a unique, creative rhythmic approach of playing and arrangements. They take traditional music to a whole new level.”

Festival Mémoire et Racines – WestmountMag.ca

While the violin stands as a flagship instrument in traditional music, the FMR will also present groups that don’t play the violin. Take for instance Musique à bouches, a talented a cappella quintet from the Sherbooke area that was crowned Vocal Group of the Year at the 2016 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Famous for his work with Solas, Seamus Egan, an Irish music star, will be presenting for the very first time his Seamus Egan Project right here in Quebec!

The Gilles-Cantin main stage – the heart of the Festival – will host five concerts every night. Friday’s program will end with a performance by the Gypsy Kumbia Orchestra which includes no less than fifteen musicians and dancers! The group Genticorum, figurehead of Quebec traditional music around the world, will have the honour of performing the closing concert Saturday night, where memorable musical guests and exchanges are guaranteed. The Par un dimanche au soir dans Lanaudière evening will bring the Festival to a close with high-spirited performances by local sensations Grav’Ô Portes and Artifaille, ending with the group Réveillons! and its traditional suburban music that is both unabashed and reinvigorating!

’60 shows on 7 stages, in an enchanting setting nestled under a shady grove of century-old trees along the banks of the Assomption River.’

The legendary Friday and Saturday night dances are hosted by the cream of the crop from Quebec caller and musician circles. Saturday evening, the harmonica prodigy Robert Legault and his group Les Mercenaires du terroir will make a long-awaited return to the stage. After the dance and the show, another party will kick off! Song circles, jam sessions… Artists and festivalgoers get together and celebrate until the wee hours of the morning. Everything you need for a rollicking good time!

Festival Mémoire et Racines – WestmountMag.ca

Saturday and Sunday, starting midday, the FMR will feature a line-up of artists offering acoustic or slightly amped performances one after the other on various stages. The Accordons-nous, Cornet acoustique, Ziguezon, Excusez-là, Cabaret and Centre Bosco stages will each hold hearty programs of storytelling, songs, music, dance, along with concerts and knowledge-sharing workshops.

For the whole family

The little ones will have just as much fun as the grown-ups. During the day, they will be swept away by magical tales and traditional music played just for them. A great way for them to discover a picturesque world.

About Mémoire et Racines

Standing as a major contributor to the development of traditional arts in the Lanaudière region, the Mémoire et Racines Festival is an unforgettable experience that attracts approximately 12,000 visitors every year. It has marched its way up to the top 15 can’t-miss festivals according to Le meilleur du Québec selon le guide Ulysse, and was recently named a public favourite (coup de coeur du public) in the City of Joliette Heritage Awards.