Day 24 - André Brunet - 2021 Canadian Fiddlers’ Advent Calendar

Day 24 André Brunet - Mauricie, QC Born in 1976 in Lacolle, in the Montérégie region of Quebec, André Brunet was drawn to music from a young age. His parents, noticing this early attraction, quickly encouraged André to develop his passion for music. From then on, the violin became the instrument of his great talent at the age of nine. He began his career with his brother Réjean, forming the group Les Frères Brunet, with whom he recorded several albums and performed in concert before large audiences around the world. In 1997, his energetic yet refined style earned him a place in the renowned group La Bottine Souriante, with whom he performed in more than 15 countries over 10 years. His adventure continued with his former colleagues from La Bottine Souriante, Pierre-Luc Dupuis and Éric Beaudry, forming the trio De Temps Antan in 2014. Since then, he has continued his rise in the music world, and his music has guided him toward new horizons. In December 2017, André joined the ranks of the renowned group Le Vent du Nord. It was a return to his roots, as he rejoined his brother Réjean in the band founded in 2002 by Nicolas Boulerice, Olivier Demers, and Simon Beaudry, which now tours the world as a quintet. It was also in that same year that he recorded his first album: La grosse maison rouge (The Big Red House). This album showcases his considerable talents on the violin, foot percussion, guitar, and piano. Several musicians with whom he has played throughout his career will accompany him on this album, including his partner Evelyne Gélinas (Galant, tu perds ton temps, Les Langues Fourchues) on flute, harmonica, and vocals. A champion of the musicality and knowledge of traditional Quebec music, he has showcased this heritage around the world with the Celtic Fiddle Festival group from 2004 to 2015, alongside renowned fiddlers Kevin Burke (Ireland) and Christian Lemaître (Brittany), as well as the celebrated guitarist Nicolas Quemener (Brittany). In 2008, he founded a music camp with Éric Beaudry and Stéphanie Lépine, the Lanaudière Traditional Quebec Fiddle Camp. This camp is dedicated to learning and perfecting the repertoire for fiddle in traditional Quebec music. ANDRÉ BRUNET was born and raised in Lacolle in Québec’s Montérégie region. He was first drawn to music at a very young age. It was his parents who first noticed his keen interest in music and encouraged him to follow his passion. André’s first love was for the violin and, at the age of nine, he began taking lessons. Along with his brother Réjean, he created Les Frères Brunet and went on to record several albums and perform at various concerts around the world. In 1997, André’s unwavering energy and refined style earned him a spot with the famous band La Bottine Souriante with whom he toured more than 15 countries over the course of 10 years. Although his journey with La Bottine Souriante came to an end in 2006, his adventure has continued with his former colleagues from La Bottine Souriante, Pierre-Luc Dupuis and Éric Beaudry, forming the power trio De Temps Antan in 2014. And now, since December 2017, his talent has led him with the band Le Vent du Nord. It's a great destiny as he plays again alongside his brother Réjean and his new partners Olivier Demers, Nicolas Boulerice and Simon Beaudry. The same year he recorded his first career opus called "The Big Red House". An album that puts forward his great talents both on the fiddle, foot rhythm, guitar and piano. Several musicians with whom he has played during his career accompany him on this album including his wife Evelyne Gélinas (Galant, tu perds ton temps, Les Langues Fourchues) on flute, harmonica and vocals. Bearer of musicality and knowledge of traditional Quebec music, from 2004 to 2015, Andre was fortunate and honored to showcase his creative talents across the globe within the group Celtic Fiddle Festival alongside the great fiddlers Kevin Burke (Ireland), Christian Lemaître (Brittany) and the renowned guitarist, Nicolas Quemener (Brittany). Since 2008, Andre runs a fiddle camp with friends Éric Beaudry and Stéphanie Lépine (Branchaud-Lépine) called Camp de Violon Traditionnel Québécois de Lanaudière which is a fiddle camp based on learning and development of the fiddle repertoire in québécois traditional music. www.andrebrunet.com https://leventdunord.com I am one of Andre’s biggest fans. It is impossible to not get drawn right in when you experience him playing live. He has a feel and groove to his playing that is unique to him and I can be (and have been, on numerous occasions) reduced to tears listening to him play reels. His footwork and timing is impeccable and I am so happy that he agreed to take part in this year’s advent calendar.