Folk music reminds us of where we came from and informs us about where we’re going –– or at least that’s the bracing ethos of Montreal-based band Rosier. A group who spent their formative years wrapped in rich, untouched musical traditions, they are just as attuned to the present and the future, challenging and redefining their world through a modern lens. Rosier injects exuberant color into familiar folk sounds, taking the roots that they have grown from and spinning their foundations into a movement. The result is mature, well-controlled music filled with emotion and a surprising freshness relevant in today’s shifting climates.

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Reclaiming and interpreting the romantic traditions of Québécois folk, the bilingual band Rosier was born from a place of living heritage. These offspring of a pioneering generation of Canadian folk musicians were raised together in the underbelly of music festivals with folk music beneath their fingernails and tradition on their tongues. This upbringing created a unique bond unlike any other; the quintet evolved together musically and individually, immersed in generations of story and song yet influenced by the world around them. They were driven not to simply reproduce the music of their beloved culture but to redefine it. The band’s first iteration was in 2009 and they were known as Les Poules à Colin (the name was based on a funny traditional song everyone knew: La Poule à Colin). Trad lyrics were added to their original compositions, creating a layered sound that beckoned to the past while adding a youthful edge.

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The quintet has performed in major cities and small towns in Canada, the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia and Africa, amassing impressive international experience. Having earned recognition in their own community, Rosier continues to explore the alloys between Quebec folk and a mix of indie, jazzy, pop, bluegrass and contemporary styles. They immerse us in their universe through original compositions, sophisticated arrangements, harmonic progressions and reinvented traditions, connecting generations through origin and craft.

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