DESCRIPTION:
La Bottine Souriante is a folk band from Quebec specialising in traditional Québécois music, often with a modern twist.
Formed in 1976, they have toured extensively through North America and Europe. In 1990, the band integrated a four-piece horn section with traditional instruments such as accordion, fiddle, guitar, piano and double bass, in order to add an element of jazz to their music. In 1998, they contributed a song to the Canadian Celtic music compilation by The Chieftains, Fire in the Kitchen.
The group's name means "the smiling boot", which refers to the appearance of a work boot with worn-out soles.
LBS's current line-up is:
Éric Beaudry (vocals, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, podorythmie) 2002-
Pierre "Pedro" Bélisle (keyboards, piano accordion, piano, trumpet) 2000-
David Boulanger (vocals, violin, podorythmie, percussion)
Benoît Bourque (accordion, bones, podorythmie, vocals) 2009-
Robert "Bob" Ellis (bass trombone, tuba, percussion) 1990-
Jean Fréchette (saxophone, flute, penny whistle, clarinet, percussion, vocals) 1990-
Jocelyn Lapointe (trumpet, flugelhorn) 1993-
François Marion (electric bass, acoustic bass guitar)
Sandy Silva (percussive dance)
André Verreault (trombone) 1990-
Past Members include:
Régent Archambault (double bass, electric bass, vocals) 1988-
Michel Bordeleau (snare drum, guitar, mandolin, feet, fiddle, (solo) vocals) 1987-
Guy Bouchard (spoons, guitar, fiddle, vocals) 1980
André Brunet (violin, guitar, vocals, podorythmie, percussion) 1997-
Gilles Cantin (guitar, feet, (solo) vocals) 1977--1981 (deceased)
Laflèche Doré (flugelhorn, trumpet) 1990--1993 (deceased)
Pierre-Luc Dupuis (vocals, accordion, harmonica) 2002
Mario Forest (spoons, harmonica, vocals) 1976--1979, 1980--1984
Denis Fréchette (piano accordion, flugelhorn, piano, trumpet, vocals) 1988--1999 (deceased)
Yves Lambert (accordion, jaw harp, harmonica, melodeon, (solo) vocals) 1976- 2002
Jacques Landry (bones, bodhrán, fiddle) 1977
Pierre Laporte (fiddle, (solo) vocals) 1977--1981
André Marchand (guitar, feet, (solo) vocals) 1976--1988
Lisa Ornstein (piano, fiddle) 1979
Martin Racine (guitar, mandolin, feet, fiddle, vocals) 1980--1997
Daniel Roy (flageolet, jaw harp, bones, bodhrán, (solo) vocals) 1982--1985
Bernard Simard (guitar, (solo) vocals) 1984--1986
Guest players :
Dominique D'Haiti (fiddle) on Je voudrais changer de chapeau
Ron di Lauro (trumpet, flugelhorn) on La Mistrine
Michel Dupire (percussion) on La Mistrine
Jacques Landry (bodhrán, bones) on La traverse de l'Atlantique
Danielle Martineau (piano) on La traverse de l'Atlantique
Dominique Messier (drums) on La Mistrine
Lisa Ornstein (fiddle, piano) on Les Épousailles, Chic & Swell and Je voudrais changer de chapeau
Anne Perrot (cello) on Je voudrais changer de chapeau
Daniel Plamondon (viola) on Je voudrais changer de chapeau