First ADISQ gala and industry gala | Daniel Bélanger pockets three Félixes

(Montreal) Singer-songwriter Daniel Bélanger came away as the big winner of the first gala of the Association québécoise de l’industrie du record, du spectacle et de la video (ADISQ). The artist’s latest album, Mercury in May, earned him the Félix for Album of the Year-Pop and the Critics’ Choice. At the industry gala, held earlier, Bélanger also won a Félix for “Album Production of the Year”.

Hosted for the very first time by Sarahmée, this first gala will have rewarded the albums of Ginette Reno (It’s all me), Loud (No Promise), The Three Accords (Presence of mind) and Richard Séguin (Links places), who won the Félix for Album of the Year in their respective categories, namely Adult Contemporary, Rap, Rock and Folk.

With The people we lovePhilippe Brach got his hands on the alternative album of the year, while Angèle Dubeau took home the honors in the Classical category.

Francis DeGrandpré won the golden statuette in the Country category with his album Quay evening.

With Neo-Romancepianist Alexandra Stréliski won the Félix for best album in instrumental music.

With Like Flowers on a Molten LawnMatt Holubowski was able to walk away with the Félix for English-speaking album of the year; Natukunby Shauit, did the same with the album of the year in indigenous languages. Jazz Futonfrom Valaire, stood out in the category of multilingual and other language albums.

ADISQ also celebrated the Cowboys Fringants concert with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of conductor Simon Leclerc, by awarding it the Félix for best reinterpretation.

On stage, the Salebarbes group won the Show of the year in the “Variety-reinterpretations” category.

Jonathan Roy, for his part, walked away not only with the Félix for English-speaking show of the year, but also with a $5,000 scholarship for having obtained the greatest number of votes from the public in the “My first nomination “.

In humor, Quebecois tabarnak earned Adib Alkhalidey the Félix for show of the year.

Finally, ADISQ rewarded Ariane Roy for Kundah, crowned video of the year.

A celebrated industry

The Francos de Montréal were crowned “Event of the Year” as part of the industry gala where around twenty Félixes were distributed.

Les Cowboys Fringants, Dumas, Robert Charlebois and Les Trois Accords will also be able to celebrate, while their management house, La Tribu, won top honors in its category during the event hosted by Claudine Prévost.

Michel Rivard won the Félix for script of the year for Around the block.

As well as winning honors for Album Cover of the Year for the album The people we love by Philippe Brach, La Maison fauve got its hands on the Félix for entertainment agency of the year for a third consecutive year.

Discs 7^e ciel also celebrated a third victory in a row by obtaining the Félix for album production company of the year.

On the small screen side, Soly Club won the Félix for show of the year-Humor, while En direct de l’Univers won the prize for show of the year-Music.

The direction and scenography of the year went to René Richard Cyr and Max-Otto Fauteux, for the show Hedwig and the Raging Thumb.

The Center des arts Juliette-Lassonde in Saint-Hyacinthe was named “Show Presentation Team of the Year,” but it was Salle Odyssée, in Gatineau, which won the Félix for performance hall of the year.

Homage to a “great pillar”

ADISQ also presented an Industrial Félix tribute to Rosaire Archambault for her dedication to the Quebec independent distribution market.

Described as a “great pillar of the industry,” Mr. Archambault “participated in the development and growth of companies such as Disques Audiogram, Distribution Sélect, Éditorial Avenue,” in addition to having largely promoted the expansion of retail sector by creating the Archambault chain of stores which still exists today.

Mr. Archambault was also a director of ADISQ for several years and president for one term and he sat on several boards of directors, notably those of Socan, Musicaction, Sodec, and Fidec.

The ADISQ Gala, which will be hosted by Louis-José Houde, will take place next Sunday. It will be broadcast from 8 p.m. on Radio-Canada live from the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts.