It is my very real pleasure to welcome you to the 23rd
i annual Festival du Bois. There is simply nothing more
» gratifying than sharing this culture, this diversity, this

wonderful music, dance, food and fun with you, your
friends and your family.

Since this festival began 23 years ago, the world has
changed, and we’ve grown and developed along with
the times — but we’ve never lost sight of our roots, the
traditions and heritage that makes our community and
festival so unique and special. Our goals have always
been to honor and celebrate Maillardville’s legacy as
well as to embrace an open-hearted worldview that
invites adventuresome new ideas and artistic expression.

And what marvelous music and dance you'll discover
this year! We're thrilled to have traditional Quebecois
and Franco-Ontarian groups that deliver irresistible joie
de vivre, along with some formidable podorythmie
with Bon Débarras and Ligue du Bonheur. Juan
Sebastian Larobina brings us a hot new musical fusion he calls Latino-Gaspésien.
Some of BC’s best will also be performing: Tanga’s Afro-Cuban funk and rhythm,
trad music phenoms Qristina & Quinn Bachand, young fiddling star Jocelyn
Pettit, dance dynamo Jacky Essombe, Chibi Taiko’s powerful percussion, the
high-stepping energy of the Maple Sugar Jiggers, Dejah Léger’s Hand-Sewn
Lullabies, Vazzy’s lively toe-tapping tunes and festival favourite Sand Northrup.

We're also thrilled to be co-presenting a pre-festival concert featuring the world-
renowned Le Vent du Nord with our friends at the Rogue Folk Club on March 1st
at the St. James Hall in Vancouver.

Festival du Bois has been described as a cross between a world-caliber music festival
and a village fair. To us, this means it’s a place where you can experience brilliant and
diverse artistry, see living traditions and innovation side-by-side and enjoy the warm-
hearted spirit of an old-fashioned kitchen party.

Come join us for the weekend!

Johanne Dumas, Executive and Artistic Director

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. - Festival du Bo baa