Many artists, including Feist, Klô Pelgag, The Barr Brothers and Helena Deland, will participate in a major tribute to Lhasa de Sela in the fall, as part of POP Montréal. The festival will also welcome Calexico, Iris DeMent, Kroy and Erika Angell, among others, from September 25 to 29.
In collaboration with Sela’s Lhasa family, a musical tribute will be paid to the fabulous singer-songwriter, who died almost 15 years ago. The show, titled The road singswill welcome on stage the members of the artist’s last two groups, with performances by Feist, Calexico, Juana Molina, Silvana Estrada, Klô Pelgag, Myriam Gendron, Bibi Club, Helena Deland, La Force, The Barr Brothers, Laurence Anne , Yves Desrosiers, Samantha de la Vega and the Stone Bonnet Choir, under the musical direction of Joe Grass.
The announcement of this tribute show coincides with the news of the release of a new album by Lhasa de Sela, recorded as a duo with Yves Desrosiers in 1994. The release of First Recordings will coincide, at the end of September, with the holding of this event which will bring together all these Quebec and international artists who have, for the most part, been closely touched by the heritage of Lhasa. The album is composed of 12 traditional songs performed by the singer-songwriter, accompanied by Desrosiers on guitar. The first extract from the disc, El Cosechero, will be revealed on June 5.
PHOTO ANDRÉ PICHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Feist will participate in the festival.
This year’s POP Montreal programming presents, as usual, well-known names and others representing the city’s thriving independent scene.
As for international guests, POP Montreal will receive Iris DeMent, well-known folk gospel singer from the independent scene, Mannie Fresh, legendary rapper from New Orleans, and Beverly Glenn-Copeland, no less renowned new age folk artist. Also expected are the American group Calexico, which handles Americana as much as mariachi; Edith Nylon, a new French new wave music group, as well as the experienced folk singer Juana Molina, who will arrive from Argentina.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Calexico performance, in 2010
DJ Nu-Mark, from the group Jurassic 5, will arrive from Los Angeles for a performance. We will be treated to an immersion in son jarocho tones (specific to rural music from eastern Mexico), infused with jazz and folk, thanks to the young Mexican Silvana Estrada. Mimi O’Bonsawin, who creates as much in English as in French or in the Abenaki language, will also be at the festival, as will Canadian-American Claire Rousay, who will present her emo pop drawing on recordings of everyday life.
In addition to participating in the show for Lhasa de Sela, the Barr Brothers will be performing, accompanied by guests. Also from the Montreal scene, The Dears will return to their 2003 album No Cities Left, which he will present in its entirety. For another show with nostalgic accents, the Stars group will present the content of Set Yourself on Fire, published 20 years ago. Still on the local scene, Kroy and Fernie will perform at home.
The rest of the POP Montréal programming will be revealed in the coming months.
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