Le Vent du Nord, King's Place, London

 "Folkies, eh - what are we like?"  Even now there are still those who associate the term folk music with something staid, moribund, old fashioned.  Maybe they need to see Le Vent du Nord, who blend traditional Quebecois tunes and techniques with modern instrumentation and arrangements.  And explode with life - this is a band that connects with it's audience the moment it walks out on stage.

Plug electric keyboard and bass into the mix of traditional instruments - fiddles, accordion, guitar and mandolin, jew's harp and the wonderful hurdy-gurdy.  Then add the Quebecois tradition of podorythmie, where the feet beat out complex rhythms, and five fine harmonising voices, including a triple choice of lead vocalist.  That's Le Vent du Nord.  Most of the songs are old, with a few modern additions to the canon, but the presentation is bang up to date, and almost theatrical at times.

The set list was heavy on tracks form the recent album, 20 Printemps, celebrating their two decades as a band.  Audience participation is encouraged.  It's hard to pick out highlights, but Ma Louise swings from joyous to heart wrenching, even if you understand little of the lyrics, and the mouth music of Turlutte du Mai, where two pairs of percussive shoes accompany an acapella rendition, makes you wonder how such rich harmonies can spring from only five voices, like a mini male voice choir.  Then there was the comedy turn of the drinking song L'Auberge, where four drunks surround soloist Simon Beaudry and sway in formation around him.  Or the podorythmie 'duel' between the two fiddlers.  Meanwhile the music accepts influences from jazz and classical and pop genres, featuring dazzling solos from all the band members.

The gig ends with the audience on their feet, dancing and whooping, and grins on every face.  A good time guaranteed.

Celtic Connections present Julie Fowlis + Le Vent du Nord, Leith Theatre, Edinburgh International Festival

Celtic Connections in August?  In Edinburgh?  In will still be back home in Glasgow come January, but for one night it was the backer for a double bill of two outstanding bands.

First up was Julie Fowlis and her band playing guitar, bouzouki, fiddles and Julie herself on whistles and harmonium (and joined for the final few numbers by 'Mr Celtic Connections', Donald Shaw, on accordion).  Renowned as one of the country's finest Gaelic singers, she also gave us songs in English and Galician, and reminders that she's a very talented musician too.  Traditional and modern numbers, slow airs and foot tapping reels, Scots and Irish tunes.  The arrangements don't break much ground, but deliver traditional music with flair and passion, strong solos and great ensemble playing.  And a beautiful rendition of The Beatles' Blackbird, translated into Gaelic.

Fowlis is a compelling front woman, amusing, interesting, one of our great national voices, and her puirt à beul singing offers a hard to believe rate of syllables per second!  A great set to open the night.

For all that Fowlis and co are a fully fledged headline act, in terms of stage presence they still fall short of the second act of the night.  I've reviewed Le Vent du Nord gigs before, in Glasgow and in London, and there's not a lot I can add to my previous descriptions of their musicianship, style of play and ability to bond with their audience.

They're now a 5 piece outfit, with the addition of the flamboyant Andre Brunet (brother of bass and accordion player Rejean) on fiddle, podorythmie, and vocals.  Both old and new tunes stick to the Quebecois tradition, meaning there's lot's of call and response songs, rich, sonourous, muscular harmony singing, and a storming beat to get the body moving.  All this delivered with a genuine passion and a clear sense of self.  This is music that defines who the musicians are, that is a natural part of their being.  There's plenty humour too, making both the audience and themselves laugh.  It's all infectious stuff.

Julie Fowlis joined them for a few numbers (adding French to her list of languages on the night....), on vocals and whistle, clearly swept up in the joy of the moment.  As were we.  I was still buzzing hours later.  A Le Vent du Nord gig is one of the world's great entertainments.