-

LA VOLEE D’CASTORS is set to be one of the highlight bands and a closing act for one of the 3 evenings of the Rainforest World Music Festival that is entering it’s 6th year this July from the 11th to the 13th at the Cultural Village in Santubong, Kuching.

Calling themselves “the flying beavers”, these 6 dynamic (and very good looking!) young men from Quebec have an invigorating sound, strong voices, deadly musicianship and amazing stage presence.

Over the last 9 years, they have brought their traditional instruments and contemporary mix of sounds all over the world and are one of the most up-coming and promising groups in the Canadian scene.

They were the winners of the Marcel-Ducharme Prize for Best New Group in traditional music in 1999-2000 and were nominated for a Juno Award in 2001 for Best Roots & Traditional Album.

Audiences all over are on their feet, singing and dancing wherever they perform.

Their music is a crossover between traditional Quebecois and world music – traditional French folk songs spiced with exotic influences and exciting rhythms. You can also hear strong Celtic strains from Ireland and Scotland.

Their shows explode with their contagious energy and enthusiasm. Very often they have been likened to as being the younger sibling of La Bottine Souriante, another fellow Quebec band, minus the brass section.

Steve Boulay plays the mandolin, guitar and provides the vocals to many of the songs.

Mathieu Lacas is the violinist and has been playing since he was 5 years old.

On electric bass, bass, piano and accordion is Rejean Brunet. Martin Mailhot and Frederic Bourgeois play the diatonic accordion as well as the Irish drum, commonly known as the bodhran, harmonica and snare drum.

Singer and arranger Sebastien Parent plays practically any instrument but concentrates on the guitar and banjo.

Look out also for the foot percussion which usually drives audiences wild – it’s straight out from Irish foot dancing. Check the schedules and listings for the afternoon workshops when they are published – there might even be a slot for a foot dance lesson for all those Riverdance fans out there.

This is a must if you like dance and foot stomping music. Tipped to be a party time last act at the festival, La Volee d’Castors promises to be a blast.

The Canadian Council for the Arts is sponsoring their flights in from Quebec.