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Artists
Mainstage 
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Mahers Bahers*
Saturday, March 1, 12:00 pm
Sunday, March 2, 2:10 pm
Newfoundland's traditional music and the accordion go together like flipper pie and figgy duff. It's a combo that feeds the soul. One of "The Rock's" living legends of the button accordion, Frank Maher hauls three of the Island's favourite traditional musicians all the way across the country to share some fine ditties and a rare old good time with us. Mahers Bahers was concocted in 1998 during a session one Saturday evening at the infamous Ship Inn in St. John's. Frank Maher (accordion, harmonica), Jean Hewson (guitar), Christina Smith (violin, cello) and Rick West (bodhran) had played together a few times at the folk club and decided that "Mahers Bahers" was a slightly better and somewhat sweeter name than "Frank Maher and his Dewdrops". Their repertoire draws heavily from items extracted from the deep recesses of Frank's brain, a wondrous organ containing very bad puns, essence of Guinness and a cornucopia of jigs, waltzes, shanties, reels and a limerick or two. www.mahersbahers.com
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Tzimmes
Saturday, March 1, 1:10 pm
Performing new-generation Jewish music, Tzimmes transcends continents and centuries to deliver a fresh take on this ageless, diverse music. From romantic serenades in Ladino, the Judeo-Spanish dialect spoken for centuries by Sephardic Jews, to Klezmer tunes from long-ago Russia, contemporary folk tunes and Middle Eastern rhythms from Israel-all are part of the multi-facetted Tzimmes experience. Montreal-native Moshe Denburg leads the group (vocals, guitar), with Yona Bar-Sever (electric bass, guitar, vocals, hand percussion), Saul Berson (saxophone, clarinet, flute), Danny Parker (bass), Phil Belanger (drums, percussion) and Amy Stephen on accordion and vocals. New settings for traditional repertoire alternate with completely original creations-there is something here for every taste, delivered to you hot and delicious! Tzimmes is a musical cloth woven of the strands of tradition and innovation, songs that will make you weep, laugh and get you on your feet to dance. www.tzimmes.net
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Club Carrefour*
Saturday, March 1, 2:20 pm
Sunday, March 2, 3:30 pm - FINALE
Welcome to a tour of French Canadian traditional music - no passport required! Your guides are five of "Québécois" music's foremost artists who know their way around a tune or two, so you're in great hands (and feet)! Their leader is one of the most influential traditional musicians in Québec. Raynald Ouellet (accordions, cello) first gained international attention with the seminal 1970s "Québécois" group L'Heritage-becoming world-renowned for his mastery of the diatonic accordion. Joining him is Franco-Ontarian fiddle genius Pierre Schryer and virtuosos Bruno Gendron (voice, guitar) and Benoît Legault (piano). And keeping the tempo at warp speed is Normand Legault, one of the most talented and knowledgeable traditional dancers performing today. Normand favors the authentic, improvisational approach to Québec step dancing, wowing audiences with his fancy feet and his masterful playing of the bones. With a lineup of this caliber, Club Carrefour promises a musical thrill-ride through the rich and lively terrain of "Québécois" tradition.
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Rob Curto
Saturday, March 1, 3:30 pm
Sunday, March 2, 11:45 pm
The rich accordion music of Brazil, played by an Italian-American musician at a francofocused /festival in the Great White North-isn't this a great old world? Completely original, authentic and stimulating, Rob Curto brings passion and musicality to the accordion and the music of Brazil. An early devotee of North American swing music, bebop piano, funk, rock and blues, Curto combines these influences with his mastery of their South American counterparts: forró, chorinho, samba, maracatu, frevo and the many other styles from the Brazilian accordion tradition. Curto was a member of the original scene of musicians who established a strong presence in New York City for forró, the dance music of northeastern Brazil, which has became the city's most recent dance craze. Now, along with Pedro Ramos (vocal, cavaquinho, triangle), Scott Kettner (percussion) and Mike Lavalle (electric bass), he's encouraging festival audiences to dance close, dance fast, and most importantly, have a good time. Come give the man what he wants! www.robcurto.com
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Les Cireux d'Semelles
Sunday, March 2, 1:00 pm
And now for a taste of Fransaskois music! Since the time of the voyageurs, francophone culture has been alive and thriving in all four corners of Saskatchewan. Though only numbering around 18,000, the Fransaskois community today is passionate about preserving their heritage. The four young men of Les Cireux d'Semelles are certainly doing their part, with a mission to celebrate the music of their grandparents and tradition in their own original way. Les Cireux have been raising heart rates since 2005, performing across the Prairies at everything from kitchen parties to festivals and celebrations. Their passion for their music and their youthful dynamism on stage promises that audiences here too will have a chance to stomp their feet and swing along to their infectious energy. The group's members are: Mario Poulin (mandolin, Irish bouzouki), David Poulin (guitar, violin). Justin Bell (diatonic accordions, podorhythmia) and Jessé Michaud (violin, didgeridoo). www.lescireux.com
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Les Échos du Pacifique
Sunday, March 2, 9:00 am
This unique and dynamic community choir based in Maillardville has been promoting French-Canadian culture through choral singing since 1973. Under the direction of Jean-Charles Côté, they will present a variety of Canadian mass selections for the Sunday morning mass at Festival du Bois. www.lesechosdupacifique.com
* Mahers Bahers et Le Club Carrefour appear with the generous support of 
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A Big Night Out
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Johnny Cajun
Saturday, March 1, 8:00 pm
Picture Saturday night at Festival du Bois, you're in the Big Tent with your friends or workmates, ready for a Big Night Out! The lights hit the stage, and with Johnny Cajun's first note, you're immediately in the bayou groove and on the dance floor before your head realizes your feet have a mind of their own. With their hot blend of Cajun, Zydeco and Funk, signature kickin' rhythms and sizzling riffs, an hour with this band and les bon temps do indeed rouler! Together since 2002, these Manitobans have won Outstanding Francophone Recording honours from the Western Canadian Music Awards - along with legions of fans. Together, Dan Perreaux (bass), Daniel Roy (mandolin), Marc Arnould (keyboards), Gaétan LaRochelle (drums), Gilles Fournier (washboard) and Joey Landreth (guitar) create a sound that fuses the soul of New Orleans with the snap of a Canuck prairie winter. Get your dancing shoes on for a Maillardville Fais Do-Do! www.johnnycajun.com
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La Volée d'Castors
Saturday, March 1, 9:30 pm
Keep a wary eye on the roof of Le Grand Chapiteau, because if ever a band was to blow it off, it's La Volée d'Castors. For almost fifteen years their podorhythm (foot music)-driven, high-energy, festive music has incited people from Italy to Malaysia to dance. Fuelled by the spirited heritage of Québécois traditional music's reels and call & response songs, this quintet artfully borrows and fuses influences from the world over-adding their own flair for innovation into the mix. This award-winning group of polished musicians is lead by founding member Sébastien Parent (guitars, banjo, voice, response), who's joined by Frédéric Bourgeois (accordion, podorhythmy, harmonica, vocals, response), Mathieu Lacas (violin, response), Frédéric Beauséjour (bass) and André Dupuis (percussion).
And their name? It's a reference to a Lanaudière region joke about a flying flock of beavers. Perhaps another reason to look up occasionally when they perform? www.vdc.qc.ca
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Children's Tent 
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Alexandre Caron
Saturday, March 1, 12:00 pm,
Kid's Tent. With Raynald Ouellet:
Sunday, March 2, 10:45 am, Mainstage.
Sunday, March 2, 2:00 pm, Kid's Tent
A Montmagny-born accordion phenomenon, still in his teens, Alexandre Caron dove into "Québécois" traditional music when he was just 10 years old. Inspired by today's great traditional musicians, Alexandre has recorded two CDs, received a New Artist of the Year Award (Découverte de Monsieur Pointu), and was the guest of honor at the Québec Folklore Association. Last June, he accompanied Raynald Ouellet to the European Accordion Festival in France, and they join forces again at the Festival du Bois. A passionate respect for the music, the energy of youth and the chops of a seasoned professional - the future of traditional music is in good hands!
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Sand Northrup
Saturday, March 1, 1:00 pm
Kids, and the people who love them will thrill to bubbling energy of juggler, unicyclist, stilter and clown Sand Northrup. Sand introduces the joys of the circus to the young and young at heart with her creative characters and flare for the fabulous. This One Woman Circus has brought circus arts to literally thousands - to schools across the country, innumerable community centres, festivals, events and special education projects since 1984. Though fully bilingual, she communicates mostly through the language of laughter. www.sandnorthrup.com
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Daniel Richer
Saturday, March 1, 2:00 pm
Sunday, March 2, 3:00 pm
Daniel Richer has a passion for history, theatre and his Aboriginal roots, as well as a lifelong gift for telling stories. An award-winning professional Town Crier for 25 years, this actor, teacher and tour guide has also portrayed such historical figures as Samuel de Champlain and Outaouais Chief Pontiac, among others. His story of The Dream Catcher and the Wolf is inspired by his Abénaquis grandmother and Algonquin heritage. He has toured his storytelling across North America and to Europe, Australia and South Africa - sharing the legends and richness of Aboriginal cultures in his imaginative performance. www.danielricher.com
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École des Pionniers de Maillardville
Saturday, March 1, 3:00 pm
Under the direction of music teacher and conductor Jean-Charles Côté, talented young vocalists from l'École des Pionniers de Maillardville will perform a mixed program of French songs. The choir members are part of the school's advanced choir, and include students from Grade 3 through to Grade 10.
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Famille Léger
Saturday, March 1, Noon, Workshop Tent
Sunday, March 2, Noon, Kid's Tent.
Sunday, March 2, 2:30, Workshop Tent
Following in the footsteps of the great French-Canadian family bands, La Famille Léger plays the instrumental dance music of French Canada on fiddle, accordion, guitar, piano and pieds (clogging). They are an 'old school' family band that plays dancing music - music handed down through generations in the New World, music from the backwoods and kitchen parties of Québec and New Brunswick. Patriarch Louis Léger leads the band on the one-row melodeon (a type of button accordion) with son Devon on fiddle, Devon's mom Barbara on guitar, and his wife Dejah on piano. Bring your own family to spend some quality time with theirs!
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Will Stroet
Sunday, March 2, 1:00 pm
With high-energy guitar-driven songs, Will Stroet motivates kids to dance and sing along. A Children's Festival favourite and music teacher, he draws inspiration from his students and transforms their experiences into memorable music, often with a humorous and educational twist. He's carrying on a family tradition. His mom Marion is a retired French Immersion kindergarten and music teacher, and a performer in her own right. Together, they've recorded an album of Marion's catchy songs called "Will et sa maman: Chantons et dansons." This duo dynamique knows what kids like, and how to make learning fun! Join them as they share the love of French and music with Festival families. www.willmusic.ca
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Workshop Tent 
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Spoons and Feet
Saturday, March 1, 12:00 pm
Louis and Devon Leger of La Famille Léger will teach kids (and adults) how to play the spoons and dance "the Quebecois way" in in this interactive workshop for all.
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Brazilian Contemporary Music
Saturday, March 1, 1:30 pm
Spend an entertaining and informative hour with Rob Curto as he describes the role of the Northeastern Brazilian music and the accordion play in Brazilian contemporary music. Rob will demonstrate various styles from the Northeast such as: Frevo, Maracatu, and Forro' and explain their musical and cultural significance.
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Button Accordion Traditions Sponsored by 
Saturday, March 1, 3:00 pm
Join Newfoundland accordionist Frank Maher and Québécois master musician Raynald Ouellet for a deeper look into the button accordion traditions that fuel some of the hottest dance music in Eastern Canada. Both musicians play on the same instrument, but their styles couldn't be more different!
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Newfoundland's sounds
Sunday, March 2, 11:30 pm
Frank Maher's life growing up and making music in Newfoundland makes for a great story! In this workshop, hear his tales of Newfoundland life in the 1930's and 40's and how he learned his music and to play the accordion. Catch this lively and informative session with one of 'The Rock's' most respected musical tradition-bearers.
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Accordions of the Americas Sponsored by
Sunday, March 2, 12:45 pm
Join three accordion virtuosos - Newfoundland's Frank Maher, Raynald Ouellet from Québec and New York's Brazilian music phenomenon Rob Curto for an in-depth look at three very different accordion traditions. Though Brazil may seem worlds away from Central Canada and the Maritimes, the dance music favored by these three cultures unite in their love of the accordion. Come explore how this humble instrument has spread throughout the Americas.
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French-Canadian Singalong
Sunday, March 2, 2:30 pm
Join Louis and La Famille Léger to sing some of their favorite "chansons à réponse" (call and response songs) from New Brunswick and Québec.
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