La Tournée du Bonheur
9 p.m. Friday, 5:30 & 9 p.m.
Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday
Sponsored by Sisters of Charity Health System, Penmor
Lithographers, Shaw’s
Supermarkets, U. S. Cellular
Returning by popular demand the group La Tournée du Bonheur has been invited for a third consecutive year. Led by the charismatic showman Jean-Guy Piché, this French Canadian quartet has shared their distinctive “joie de vivre” in more than 1,000 shows at more then 300 different venues, from major festivals to small town nursing homes. Joining Piche are singer and pianist Rolande Rainville, violinist Bernard Cormier, and trumpet player Benoit Piché. This group promises to make your visit at the Festival unforgettable.
La Grand’ Dbcle
7 p.m. Friday
2 & 5:30 p.m. Saturday
Sponsored by Dolard Gendron Real Estate, Sun Journal, WPXT5I &WPME35
Returning after a year’s absence this boisterous group hails from the town of Ste. Marie in the heart of La Beauce, the area of Quebec from which many of Lewiston-Auburn Franco forebears migrated decades ago, and la Grand’ Dbcle promises to rekindle that special Beauceronne spirit here this weekend. The audience will have many opportunities to sing along on some favorite chansons, and join in some authentic French Canadian square dances. Serving as animateur extraordinaire is devilishly dynamic Martin Savoie: singer, percussionist (a virtuoso on both feet & bones) and dance caller. Fiddler Andre Bonneville and guitarist Mario Boutin assist on the songs, while Guymond Cyr livens things up with his accordion playing.
René Turgeon
6 p.m. Friday, 5:30 & 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Noon Sunday
Sponsored by Androscoggin Bank, Mailhot’s Best Sausage, Parent Insurance
This dynamic young performer was named Quebec’s top male country-western artist for 1999. At age 25, he has already released a half dozen albums and has gained many fans in his eight years of concert appearances throughout his home province of Quebec as well as in Ontario, Maine and Massachusetts. Always a most popular artist at the Festival de Joie
The Travelers
9 pm Friday, 7:30 pm Saturday
Sponsored by L. L. Bean,
The Medicine Shoppe,
W.D. Matthews Machinery Co.
This group first arrived on the scene in the 60’s playing Lewiston’s renowned PAL hops. Their current reincarnation includes three of the origi-
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nal members Jeannie Martin on vocals and keyboards, husband Dan Martin on vocals and lead guitar, and Bert Breton on drums – plus Andy Arsenault on vocals and bass. The Travelers’ song sampler takes fans irom the 50’s to today with such classics as Great Balls of fire, “Pretty Woman,” “Proud Mary,’ and “Footloose.”
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Gizele Laliberte
8 pm Friday, 12:30 & 6:30 pm Saturday, 1:30 Sunday
Sponsored by Liberty Mutual, Victor News,
Motor Home Center
Reluming again for the third year by popular demand, Quebec’s Miss Country Music of the Year for 1999. She made her public singing debut at the age of 10, and joined a country band while still in her leens- A popular performer throughout French Canada, she has released several albums, including one sung entirely in English.
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Melanie Dorice Saucier
6 pm Friday, 1 pm Saturday, Noon Sunday
Sponsored by Maine Family FCU, Daniel R. Grondin & Associates P.A., The Cote Corporation
This eight year-oid singing sensation from Fort Kent, Maine, first discovered her musical talent at the very young age of two. Today the second grader is working audiences on both sides of the U.S./Canadian Border, with her unique repertoire of songs, which are sung in English, French, and even Latin. Melanie has captured the heart of her native St. John Valley by performing a number of French selections that have been popular favorites for generations of the Acadian and Franco-American.
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Josee Vachon
French folk songs
4 pm Saturday, 1 pm Sunday
Sponsored by The Brenda Fontaine Family Team, ACA Assurance Auburn Savings
Born in Quebec and raised in Maine, folk singer Josee Vachon shares her Franco- American upbringing through her own original music and the traditional and contemporary folk songs of Quebec and Acadia. She accompanies herself on guitar, often adding a rhythmic dash with spoons and foot percussion. She has toured widely throughout the U.S., Quebec and France and has released seven solo recordings, plus Iwo more with the group Chanterelle. For 11 years she also hosted “Bonjour!” the most widely seen French-language television program produced in the U.S. and aired on MPBNas well as on various cable stations across the U.S. and Canada.
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Jean-Paul Paulain
2:30 pm Saturday, Noon Sunday
Sponsored by L’Bcole Francaise du Maine, Langelier Associates Seltzer & Rydholm, Auburn Savings
A premier French (Franco-American) Cabaret and Popular singer and recording artist of international acclaim. He has performed all over the world inspiring audiences wilh his passionate expression of French, Popular, Traditional, Folk, Children’s & Cabaret favorites. His love for the French language and culture is and has been very evident throughout his musical career and his everyday life. He is a dramatic passionate and energetic “chanleur” in the true French sense of the word. His radio shows, “La Boite a Chansons” in Augusta. South Portland and Biddeford, Maine, as well as his television programs, have had an enthusiastic following.
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DEBBIE MYERS
2:30 pm Sunday
Sponsored by North Center Foods, Central Maine Technical College Federal Distributors, Mechanic Savings
International recording artist Debbie Myers presents; A tribute to the Grand Ole Opray Stars, such as Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton and many more. This is a show not to miss! Debbie will have you in your seat and the music in your heart. Her unique style of singing reaches out to the audience and captures their hearts and their memories. Debbie does not just entertain, she encourages participation through her songs and humor. Kids join in the train line and adults dance to the songs that have their feet keeping the beat. You are invited to come see for yourself why The Debbie Myers Show has become a tradition drawing Festival goers back year after year! Come enjoy great music, acting, comedy and a show you’ll never forget.
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Roadhouse
8 pm Saturday
Sponsored by Isaacson & Raymond, F. X. Marcotte, Austin Associates
This five-piece band has been entertaining audiences in Southern and Central Maine for the past 16 years with energetic mix of classic rock from the 50’5 to the 70’5 as well as contemporary and traditional country. Members are Mark Larlee, lead guitar; Ray Cote, yuilcir; John Zajechowski, bass; Dave Pelletier, keyboard & harmonica; Leo Cloutier, drums. They share the vocals, with Mark, Ray and John taking the leads. Come join Roadhouse for an evening of Country Dancing.
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Maine Attraction Cloggers
7:30 Friday, 2:30 & 8:30 pm Saturday
Sponsored by Peoples, Manic Designs, Sam’s Italian Foods Lewiston Housing Authority
This group of young women has entertained audiences throughout New England and beyond since 1985. Based in Southern Maine, the troupe demonstrates the versatility of country and contemporary clogging through figures, free-style and precision choreography. They have attracted much acclaim in their travels, making appearances at the national clog conventions throughout the South, at Disney World, and even before former-President Bush. Their trophy case holds dozens of awards won throughout the U.S., including the junior Grand Champion and Congeniality awards at the 2001 Clogging Showdown of Champion in Tennessee. They were invited and represented U.S. as festival hosts at the World Fest New York, an international dance and music festival.
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The Mountain Dews
1 to 5 pm Saturday
Sponsored by Grant’s Bakery Inc., Lewiston Municipal FCU Memorials by Collelte, Kennebec Equipment Rental
The Mountain Dews, a popular local bluegrass group organized back in 1964 by the multi-talented Chuck Frechette, a fiddler who also “moonlights” on mandolin, guitar, harmonica and banjo. The rest of the band includes Marcel Larrivee on guitar and vocals, Bill Beauchesne on washtub bass and vocals. Mark Lariee on banjo. Joining them for the afternoon variety show will include the following. Don Roy a champion fiddler with depth in many styles of fiddling. Hailing from roots deep in the Maritimes and Quebec his passion lies with the French Canadian tradition followed closely by Celtic music. Don lias been a member of many successful groups including Bluegrass, Irish and French ;md directed the popular Maine French Fiddlers he also received Fellowship awards from the Slate of Maine in 1994 and 2001 for excellence in traditional music. Also appearing during the afternoon Jam will include will be Ed & Jan and Aurelle Lacroix.
La Releve Beaucerone with
Accordionist Louise Mailhot
4 & 7:30 pm Saturday, 1:30 pm Sunday
Sponsored by Central Maine Medical Center, City of Lewiston, WCNN/WOXO , Great Falls Regional FCU
This high energy group, which hails from the Beauce region of Quebec, deftly blends gigues, quadrilles and other traditional folk choreography with theatrical high jinks. A presence at Canadian festivals and the Festival de Joie for many years, they have danced on the popular Canadian television show “Dans tons les Cantons” and gained international fans through appearances in France. They are also big favorites at this festival. Louise Mailhot Quebec’s young “Queen of the Accordion.” Makes a return to the Festival, where she has appeared with a number of different acts, including her own trio Les Souliers Trop P’tits. With her dazzling smile and infectious laugh, she epitomizes Hie irrepressible French Canadian joie de vivre whether she is singing, jigging, or simply playing the accordion.
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Alpiner Oompah Band
10 pm Friday, 9:30 pm Saturday
Sponsored by Courtemanche & Associates, E Z Rent-All, Ramada Inn
Though based in New England, the Alpiner Oompah Band makes music which transports listeners to the mountains and beer halls of Bavaria, Austria, Switzerland, Poland and Scandinavia. Dressed in traditional German lederhosen and armed with tuba, trumpet, euphonium, Swiss hells, aip horn and percussion instruments, the quintet performs a wide array of polkas, marches, waltzes and two-steps from all over Western Europe and the USA.
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Mariachi Brass
6 pm Friday, 3:30 Saturday
Sponsored by Community CU, O’Maliey Associates, Village Inn
Adding some Soulh-of-the-Border spice to the Festival is Mariachi Brass, who, we might add, are “close cousins” to the Alpiners. Outfitted in flashy Mexican mariachi band costumes, the group presents Latin American music in the style of the Tijuana Brass, blending jazzy bossa novas, sambas, mambos, meringues and tangos with sassy novelty numbers – from “til Garbanzo” to Cinco de Mayo” to the “mexican Shuffle.”
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Graffixx
5 pm Friday, 6 pm Saturday
Sponsored by Robert’s House, Shads Advertising
This trio returns by popular demands, after making several appearances at the Prelude and making its debut at the Festival last year. Lina Fortin. Susan Dube and Marge Bourgoin blend their voices in finely honed three-part harmony to get the sound which is a Graffixx trademark. The three local women (all of French Canadian descent, they proudly point out) sing a range of numbers, spanning classics from years past to today’s adult contemporary songs.
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BOB CHAREST
7:30 pm Friday
Sponsored by WPXT – WPME, Emerson Chevrolet-Buick-Pontiac, The Hartford Agency, Rainbow FCU
Nine diverse musical talents combine to produce a unique entertainment experience, seasoned performers and superbly talented from the youngest to the oldest. Their enthusiasm is contagious and the rapport with the audience plays very well. Add in the vocalists with the new four part harmonies and you’ve got a winning combination that has truly become one of the highlights of their entertainment offerings. Bob Charest, key board & vocals. Lori Bissonnette, Patrick McCarthy and Cindy Charest, vocals & percussion. Andrev Doody, saxophone & vocals. Eric Stokes, trumpet & vocals. Ryan mccalmon, Guitar. Tom Dyhrberg, Bass Vocals. Mike Murphy drums & percussion.
Ladies of the Lake
11:30 am Saturday
Sponsored by Manic Designs and the Fortin Group
Irish folk music is the speciality of this engaging maine quartet, whose members include Sharon Pyne, Julia Lane, Ellen Gawler and Maggie Ericson. They warm the heart with an assortment of lifting ballards sung in four-part harmony, and set toes to tapping with their repertoire of jigs, reels and other dance tunes performed on fiddle, button accordion, harp and flute.
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The Maine Squeeze
2 pm Sunday
Sponsored by City of Auburn, Credit Union League
The group is an all accordion ensemble based on Peaks Island, Maine. They play eclectic ethnic music from around the world, with a range from traditional foot tapping polkas to waltzes to zydeco. Current squeezers include Peter Blackstone, Janine Blatt, Nancy Hoffman, Doug Protsik, Dennis Rock, and Sally Trice. Members sing and play in bands as varied as the Casco Bay Tummlers (K-lezmer Band,) Old Grey Goose and rhe Easy Street Chorus and are also teachers of music, voice, children and adults. They delight in bringing smiles and a sense of fun to any occasion!
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Raatikoon
Noon Sunday
Sponsored by Albert & Burpee, Village Inn Restaurant North Center Foods, Ste. Croix Regional FCU
The band Raalikoon borrows its name from a lively Finnish folk dance, but Finnish folk tunes are just a part of what this eclectic Maine group performs. Accordionist and percussionist Joe Theriault of Lisbon Falls, mandolinist Ray Miller of Bath and guitarist Glenn Torrico of Oxford, who formed the core of the Foxfire Bluegrass Band in the ’80s, joined forces a few years ago for “something completely different.” Introduced to Finnish music by Richard Koski of the Crum Town Ramblers of upstate New York, Theriault now leads his group in performing a lively blend of Scandinavian polkas, schottiscbes and waltzes, as well as tunes from French Canada, “France and Italy.
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