Native stars Karkwa, Souldia, Les Trois Accords, Corneille and Marie-Annick Lépine had been there, as had been French legend Francis Cabrel and his compatriot Zaho de Sagazan.
However they weren’t the one ones who knew tips on how to conquer the Montreal public. Listed here are 4 acts that we found at this 12 months’s Francos.
Yamê
For his first look in Quebec, Yamê made an impression. The French-Cameroonian artist was invited by the Francos to Membership Soda two evenings in a row, June 15 and 16, to current his late-2023 album Elowi.
He is nonetheless on the rise, however world tastemakers are taking observe. Belgian star Stromae provided him a gap slot at his live shows and Timbaland shared his personal selfmade remix of certainly one of his movies on social media with out them having ever met.
Yamê’s types and influences — hip-hop, soul, jazz, rumba — are as stunning as they’re impeccable. “Bécane” hit the Billboard Canadian Scorching 100 early this 12 months, and it was a spotlight of his set. His cowl of “La Bohème” by Charles Aznavour was one other standout.
He was an enormous hit, packing the venue on each nights. The artist saluted “the heat of the Montreal public” and promised to return as quickly as doable.
Virginie B
Montrealer Virginie B additionally had the chance to carry out twice throughout the Francos this 12 months. The hyperpop sensation was capable of show her chops throughout ingenious and high-energy pop units.
She performed twice, as soon as with Rau_Ze on June 18 at Studio TD in entrance of an viewers of trade professionals, then in entrance of festival-goers the following day on the Spotify stage for La Traversée. At that present, she shared the invoice with Radiant Child, Lisa Ducasse and Oete. She gained over crowds at each.
Virginie B’s second album, Astral 2000, is her first file with the Quebec label Bonsound and its launch date is introduced for September 20. We’re impatiently awaiting it.
Rau_Ze
This duo of R&B/neo-soul singer-songwriters shaped by Quebecers Rose Perron and Félix Paul had been on the Francos for 3 performances this 12 months. Their smooth songs had been the speak of the competition.
Along with the showcase alongside Virginie B and Blesse, Rau_Ze introduced collectively crowds who had been eagerly awaiting their live performance on June 22 on the Spotify stage. Additionally they performed the massive closing present of the competition devoted to French-speaking R&B, with Corneille, Les Louanges, Barnev, Zaho, Vacra, Yellowstraps, Naomi, Naïma Frank and Shah Frank.
Rau_Ze, whose reputation has continued to achieve floor since their victory on the Francouvertes in 2022, launched their first album, Virer nos vies, in March. What occurs subsequent must be watched very intently.
Pomme
This French artist divides her time between each side of the Atlantic, however she’s acquired a serious following in Montreal. Her present at this 12 months’s Francos on June 16 on the Bell Stage was her largest within the metropolis. Pomme delighted the packed crowd by performing songs from her profitable albums Les Faults, Comfort and Saisons, in a magical ambiance.
What marked Pomme’s present on the Francos all of the extra was undoubtedly the limitless generosity she demonstrated, each in the direction of the viewers and the artists she invited on stage for emotional moments of sharing. The Boulay Sisters, Safia Nolin, La Pressure and Klô Pelgag joined her on stage, giving it the texture of an enormous communal love-in.
