Award winning Acadian band to tour in Maine

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New England Celtic Arts in partnership with The Franco American Heritage Center and Unity College Performing Arts Center will present Canada’s highly acclaimed Acadian band, BLOU at The Franco-American Heritage Center in Lewiston on Tuesday Oct. 27; at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center in South Carthage on Wednesday Oct. 28; and at Unity College Performing Arts Center on Thursday, Oct. 29. There is a pre-show jam beginning at 6:15 p.m. at FAHC and at Skye.

The jam at Unity will begin at 6:45. Audience members are encouraged to bring their instruments and play for a few minutes with the artists.

From Marc Escarbot Theatre in Church Point, Nova Scotia to the International Festival of Shanghai, BLOU does not cease sowing its unique style of music. We had to invent a word to describe it – ACADICO. Like a hurricane, BLOU was born in Nova Scotia in 1994. The Acadian people fell in love with the sound right away. The origin of the name BLOU comes from an aboriginal man who lived at the end of the street where Patrice Boulianne resides, “L’ALLÉE DES BLOU”.



BLOU’s history started in 1994 with LE GALA DE LA CHANSON DE LA NOUVELLE-ÉCOSSE where Patrice Boulianne won three prizes; Chanson primée pour LA FOLIE (Best Song), singer-songwriter award and the peoples choice award. The first challenge for BLOU was a show designed for the acadian young people. The show was called ‘VOYAGE THRU ACADIE’ and was applauded by more than 12,000 students of the Atlantic provinces.

BLOU is still indisputably on the road towards bigger success. Taking part in several international events. Recognized in the French-speaking communities as well as the anglophone communities across Canada, BLOU continues to promote Acadian and French Canadian culture through out the world.

The years which followed were years filled with beautiful adventures. Mainly on the International market. BLOU visited several countries of Europe such as Norway, Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Holland, Poland. Moreover BLOU always wanted to export his music in countries which he dreamed for a long time. Such as Brazil, Guatemala, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and the Peoples Republic of China. Of course there were several visits to the United States and also in the ten Canadian provinces. Once again BLOU receives several nominations at the East Coast Music Awards and Music Industry of Nova Scotia Awards in the categories; ECMA – “FRANCOPHONE ALBUM OF THE YEAR”, “GROUP TRADITIONAL OF THE YEAR”, MIANS – “GROUP OF THE YEAR”, “ARTIST OF THE YEAR”, “REVELATION OF THE YEAR”. Moreover BLOU saw itself decreed a nomination for the Galaxie price for “FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OF THE YEAR”.



In 2003 BLOU won the prize “Zof-PassepArt-TV5” for its omnipresence over the international scene. And in that same year BLOU received; the “Grand-Pre Prize”, this biannual prize recognizes an artist whose work reflects the cultural Acadian values and its traditions, from its excellence and its originality. Winning MIANS Award for “FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OF THE YEAR” like several nominations at the Étoiles Awards of the ARCANB. BLOU became an Acadian musical tide always rising. 

BLOU has received the Nova Scotia Music award for “Francophone Artiste of the Year”. Also in November 2006 BLOU launched his mini Christmas album “Tringgle”. December 13, Blou received his first gold record for his Christmas album. This is a first for a Francophone Artist from Nova Scotia. Then on December 15 2006, BLOU received 2 nominations at the East Coast Music Awards 2007, for “Francophone album of the year” and for “Artist of the year”. On December 26 BLOU receives second place in the people’s choice Top 5 in the Chronicle Herald’s Honour Roll 2006. On February 18th, 2007 BLOU won the 2007 ECMA award for Francophone recording of the year for his album “Pied-à-terre.”

General admission tickets for the Franco Center are $10.00 and $5 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased by calling the FAHC Box Office at 207-689-2000, online at francoamericanheritage.org or at the door and for Skye Theatre tickets at 207-562-4445. At Unity Theater, tickets are $11 online at http://www.unityme.org/theater/index.html or $10.00 at the door. More information is also available at www.necelticarts.com

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