Barachois was an
Acadian
The Acadians (french: Acadiens , ) are an ethnic group descended from the French who settled in the New France colony of Acadia during the 17th and 18th centuries. Most Acadians live in the region of Acadia, as it is the region where the de ...
traditional music group from the Evangeline Region of Prince Edward Island.
The band 's high-energy stage show highlighted local fiddling, stepdancing and song traditions.
History
The group was formed in the mid-1990s by siblings Hélène Bergeron and Albert Arsenault, distant cousin Louise Arsenault unrelated Chuck Arsenault.
The name of the group refers to a
barachois, an Acadian word for a type of shallow lagoon found on the ocean shores of eastern Canada.
The four began performing in 1993 at dinner theatres
and house parties.
In 1996 they recorded their first album, ''Barachois''. which was nominated in 1997 for three
East Coast Music Awards, winning one of them, Francophone Recording of the Year. Over the group's nine-year run, they produced 3 albums and were awarded a number of national and international awards, including five ECMA's, a Juno nomination, and "Chevaliers" de l'Ordre de la Pleades (Officers in the order of French parliaments).
Barachois toured Canada and the US, as well as fifteen other countries.
The band amicably retired in 2003. Chuck and Albert toured as a duo
for another seven years, presenting a show which included comedic skits as well as traditional music. Louise and Hélène went on to found and perform with two other traditional French-Acadian bands: Les Girls and Gadelle.
Members
The members of the group were:
*Albert Arsenault -
fiddle
A fiddle is a bowed string musical instrument, most often a violin. It is a colloquial term for the violin, used by players in all genres, including classical music. Although in many cases violins and fiddles are essentially synonymous, th ...
, Acadian percussion, bass, vocals
*Hélène Bergeron - keyboards, guitar, fiddle, vocals
*Louise Arsenault - fiddle, guitar, foot percussion, vocals
*Chuck Arsenault - guitar, brass instruments, harmonica, vocals
"Sit down and dance"
''News Review'', By Christine G.K. LaPado-Breglia 09.11.2003.
Discography
*1996 ''Barachois- Acadian Music from Prince Edward Island''
References
External links
Barachois
discography at allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barachois
Musical groups established in 1994
Musical groups disestablished in 2003
Musical groups from Prince Edward Island
Canadian folk music groups
1994 establishments in Prince Edward Island
2003 disestablishments in Prince Edward Island