events
AS more people become disillusioned with the
formulaic pop that passes for a music scene these
days, an increasing number are looking beyond
Beyoncé, Jay Z, Rihanna and Katy Perry for
something with a bit more substance. Thanks to
the wonders of modern technology there’s now a
wealth of easily accessible alternatives available,
and as a result there’s a growing interest in this
nebulous thing we call ‘roots’ music.
However, such is the scope and broad sweep of
the category that many people find it difficult
to know quite where to begin their musical
explorations. Specialist magazines such as
{fRoots} and {Songlines} are a good starting
point, but the sheer quantities of music they
cover can be overwhelming. That said, it soon
becomes apparent that certain artists crop up
more frequently than others; artists that are
regarded as the finest representatives of their
particular countries and/or musical genres.
For example, if you like Malian kora music then
Toumani Diabate is the man for you. Portuguese
fado? Look no further than Mariza. If English folk
floats your boat then Martin Carthy will deliver
the goods and if you fancy a little Tuvan throat
singing then an album by Huun-Huur-Tu should
be on your shopping list.
Across the Atlantic in Canada, or to be more
precise Quebec, the ‘go to guy’ is singer and
accordion player Yves Lambert. Regarded by some
leading authorities as the reference point on the
whole subject of Quebec’s cultural heritage, for 26
years Yves was the frontman of world-renowned
Quebecois band La Bottine Souriante before
leaving to pursue other musical projects, the
latest of which is The Yves Lambert Trio. Together
with Olivier Rondeau (guitar and vocals) and
Tommy Gauthier (violin, bouzouki, mandolin and
vocals), Lambert creates music that has its roots
in the rich Quebecois tradition but which, thanks
to his readiness to add a contemporary twist, is
incredibly accessible to a wider audience. He’s
more than proven this with tours that have taken
him around the globe, including a gig at last
year’s WOMEX event [