Vishtèn, Traverse

It's my considered opinion that any gig which starts up with a Jew's harp solo is going to turn out well.  And so it proved.

Based on Prince Edward Island, this Canadian trio play music from the Acadian tradition and beyond.  Given that Acadian music derives from French, Irish, Scottish and Cajun sources there's already a strong mix of styles at play, to which Vishtèn have added pop and rock influences to create a sound that brings fresh life to the tradition.  They take original songs and tunes and give them modern arrangements, as well as penning their own material.

Twin sisters Pastelle and Emmanuelle LeBlanc have been performing with Pascal Miousse for more than a decade, have six albums behind them, and share a strong musical imagination.  And an ability to shine on several instruments, with Miousse on fiddle and electric guitar, Pastelle playing keyboard and piano accordion, and the versatile Emmanuelle on keyboard, whistles, bouzouki, bodhran and the aforementioned twanging of the Jew's harp.  Both sisters also contribute percussion with feet on board through the traditional French Canadian art of podorythmie, and share the majority of lead vocals between them.  They've both got good voices, not outstanding nor particularly distinctive, but always enjoyable.  With Pastelle the slightly huskier, Emmanuelle the sweeter, they are at their best combining in harmony.  Miousee adds depth to the backing vocals and proved he has almost as good a voice as the others when he took a turn at the lead.

All are excellent musicians, Miousse often outstanding on fiddle, and the women providing a wonderful interchange of solo podorythmie.  They're strong communicators too, providing interesting and amusing explanations for the origins of the Acadian sound, and of the songs and tunes they'd chosen and composed, while Pascal's infectious grin did a lot to make us warm to them.  They even got the audience singing along in (cod) French.

Above all they communicate the joy of their music so well, with an infectious sense of fun.  While there are few delicate slow numbers (including one which included a beautifully modulated bodhran performance from Emmanuelle), they major on fast, foot tapping music, tunes to inspire and to dance to.  It's exhilarating stuff and had the crowd on their feet for the encore as the final set ended with frenetic energy.  They still have two weeks of their UK tour to go so if you get a chance to catch them I suggest you grab it immediately.