Barachois is a French Acadian quartet from Prince Edward Island who have performing together since 1995. They have produced 3 albums since then and have just released a fourth in 2002 entitled, Naturel. They have won awards and toured extensively throughout North America and Europe. They have been a hit of many major music festivals world-wide. They won the 2001 Irish American New's-Tradition in Review Award for Concert of the Year (for their performance at the Milwaukee Irish Festival). At the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, Scotland, they were referred to as the leading proponent of Acadian traditional Music by the BBC's Ian Anderson.

Meet Barachois:

Albert Arsenault-vocals, dance, fiddle, bass, assorted percussion.

Helene Arsenault-Bergeron-(Albert's sister)-piano,vocals, dance, reed (pump) organ, guitar, foot percussion.

Louise Arsenault-fiddle, vocals, dance, harmonica, guitar, foot percussion.

Chuck Arsenault-vocals, guitar, harmonica, dance, sousaphone, trumpet.

In 1997, their first Album entitled, BARACHOIS, received 3 award nominations and received the Francophone Recording of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards. They have many performance highlites:

Festival International de Louisianne

Canada Day on Parliament Hill (twice)

Vancouver Folk Festival

Lincoln Center-New York

Tonder Festival Denmark

Celtic Colours Cape Breton

Hagesund Roots Music Festival Norway

Kihaus Festival, Raakkyla, Finland

Mosebacke, Stockholm, Sweden

Edmonton Folk Festival

WDR Weltmusik Festival, Bonn, Germany

and many, many more

On stage, their music is dished up with equal portions of dance, humour and innovation, all delivered with a sincerity and confidence that comes from knowing the recipe for having one heck of a good time.

Barachois music has been passed down through generation after generation by way of kitchen parties and community dances and gatherings. Their four Albums Titles are as follows:

Party Acadien

Barachois

Encore

Naturel

Barachois are continuing to tour across Canada, USA and Europe in 2002. On July 17 they head for France with a major tour until July 26 and return for performances in the Maritimes and Easten USA. For more information about Barachois and their music, refer to their above posted website.

BARACHOIS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

After nine years of touring the globe the Acadian musical group Barachois, from Prince Edward Island, Canada has decided that they wish to retire their act. The final show was scheduled near their home and held at the Harbourfront Jubilee Theatre in Summerside, Prince Edward Island on December 13, 2003.

The decision to end the band, or any band for that matter, is a matter of timing and choice of lifestyle for the individual members. During their tenure as a band, they have created and released three recordings as well as six different shows presented over thousands of times in a wide number of countries and regions. The natural timing would now be such that at the end of 2003 it would be incumbent to create a new recording / show. The huge amount of work required in order to do so would warrant a 2-3 year extension of the band. While the individual members love so much of what they do, this renewed commitment has to be balanced against personal lifestyle issues. The reality of touring away from home much of the year, while enriching in and of itself, also requires a distancing from one's family and community. While there has always been an attempt to balance this where possible over the last nine years, the financial reality is such that in order to be successful, extensive touring is inevitable. Collectively the group members realized some time ago that eventually they would wish and need to return to a more normal lifestyle and that time has come.

Barachois has developed a much beloved presentation style and in the process have won the hearts of many fans worldwide. In addition they have made many friends through their music and many of these friendships will endure a lifetime. One of he wonderful aspects of grass roots music is that it is by nature up close and personal. The members of Barachois have been enriched by the many people they have met in their travels, people who have openly shared their communities and gone to great effort to present the band's performances to their public. The group members have also greatly appreciated the on-going support that they have received from their own community on the Island and have always held sacred their inherent roles as cultural ambassadors of that community.

The decision to end is mutual among the members and an amicable one. It has been a great run and all members will look back on Barachois' accomplishments with much pride.

On behalf of the members of Barachois, we wish to sincerely thank everyone who has ever helped to make their artistic careers possible. We would also like to acknowledge the contribution of all those who have kept the cultural traditions of the Island Acadians alive and well. We have cherished our role in being a part of that continuum.

Grady Poe-manager for Barachois