La Bottine Souriante in Gatineau

La Bottine Souriante is a Canadian traditional-music ensemble formed in Joliette, Quebec, in 1976. The group plays Québécois folk and néo-trad, expanding dance tunes and French-language songs through brass arrangements and a large ensemble sound. Its best-known recordings include La Mistrine, Chic & Swell and Cordial. The group documented its stage repertoire on the concert album En spectacle, then brought its music to international festival audiences through performances at WOMAD and Celtic Connections. Those appearances established a live history extending well beyond its home province. Its concerts are full-ensemble performances built around fiddle, accordion, piano, guitar, bass, percussion, brass and the foot-tapped rhythms of traditional Québec.