Blou (band)
Encyclopedia
Blou is a band from Meteghan, Nova Scotia
. The group claims a unique style of music which they call "Acadico" – a mix of Acadian
, Cajun
and Zydeco
styles. The group takes its name from the street where the founding member Patrice Boulianne resides: "L’Allée des Blou" was named after an aboriginal man purported to have lived at the end of that street 100 years ago or more.
province of Nova Scotia
when Patrice Boulianne, met Len LeBlanc and Daniel LeBlanc
.
Later the trio became a sextet when Paul Melanson, Owen Muise and Briand Melanson joined. In 1998, Blou self-produced its first recording, "Acadico". "Acadico" was the first CD by an Acadian group that had a Europe
an distribution.
In 2000, Blou changed its lineup. Their second album, "Rhythm 'N Blou" had a more up-beat sound than "Acadico" and the band toured internationally. In 2003, Blou released their third album to celebrate their upcoming tenth anniversary. Also that year the band won the Prix ZOF-PassepArt-TV5 award. On October 17, 2005, Blou released the first single, "Come Away Café" from their unreleased fourth album, "Pied-à-terre." "Pied-à-terre" was later released on February 14, 2006. With this new CD Blou became a solo act as front-man Patrice Boulianne has taken the name as his own.
Meteghan, Nova Scotia
Meteghan is an unincorporated Acadian fishing community in Digby County, Nova Scotia.Meteghan, which draws its name from the Mi'kmaq term "Mitihikan" meaning blue rocks, was founded in 1785 by Prudent Robichaud, Joseph LeBlanc, and other Acadian families...
. The group claims a unique style of music which they call "Acadico" – a mix of Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
, Cajun
Cajun
Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles...
and Zydeco
Zydeco
Zydeco is a form of uniquely American roots or folk music. It evolved in southwest Louisiana in the early 19th century from forms of "la la" Creole music...
styles. The group takes its name from the street where the founding member Patrice Boulianne resides: "L’Allée des Blou" was named after an aboriginal man purported to have lived at the end of that street 100 years ago or more.
History
Blou began in the autumn of 1994 in the CanadianCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
when Patrice Boulianne, met Len LeBlanc and Daniel LeBlanc
Daniel Leblanc
Daniel LeBlanc plays fiddle in the Acadian band Grand Dérangement.-External links:...
.
Later the trio became a sextet when Paul Melanson, Owen Muise and Briand Melanson joined. In 1998, Blou self-produced its first recording, "Acadico". "Acadico" was the first CD by an Acadian group that had a Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an distribution.
In 2000, Blou changed its lineup. Their second album, "Rhythm 'N Blou" had a more up-beat sound than "Acadico" and the band toured internationally. In 2003, Blou released their third album to celebrate their upcoming tenth anniversary. Also that year the band won the Prix ZOF-PassepArt-TV5 award. On October 17, 2005, Blou released the first single, "Come Away Café" from their unreleased fourth album, "Pied-à-terre." "Pied-à-terre" was later released on February 14, 2006. With this new CD Blou became a solo act as front-man Patrice Boulianne has taken the name as his own.
Discography
- Acadico (1998)
- Rhythm 'n BLOU (2000)
- Blou Blanc Rouge (2003)
- Pied-à-terre (2006)
- Tringgle (2006)
Awards and nominations
- 1999
- East Coast Music Awards WINNER - "Francophone recording of the year"
- GALA DES PRIX ÉLOIZES WINNER - "Artist of the year"
- Nominee - GALA DES PRIX ÉLOIZES for "Artist who export Acadie"
- Nominee - GALA DES PRIX ÉLOIZES for "Album of the year"
- Nominee - GALA DES PRIX ÉLOIZES for "Group of the year"
- Nominee - GALA DES PRIX ÉLOIZES for "Folk Group of the year"
- 2000
- Nominee - Music Nova Scotia Awards for "Group of the year"
- Nominee - Radio-Canada prize for "Acadian song of the year"
- 2001
- Radio-Atlantica award WINNER for "Outstanding artist"
- Nominee - East Coast Music Awards - "Francophone recording of the year"
- Nominee - East Coast Music Awards - "Traditional Group of the year"
- Nominee - Music Nova Scotia Awards - "Road warrior of the year"
- Nominee - Music Nova Scotia Awards - "Group of the year"
- Nominee - Music Nova Scotia Awards - "Rising star of the year"
- Nominee - Prix Galaxy - "Francophone artist of the year"
- Nominee - GALA DES PRIX ÉLOIZES - "Group of the year"
- Nominee - GALA DES PRIX ÉLOIZES - "Group Folk/traditional of the year"
- Nominee - GALA DES PRIX ÉLOIZES - "Recording of the year"
- 2002
- GALA DES PRIX ÉLOIZES Award Winner for "Most recognized artist outside Acadie".
- 2003
- ZOF-PassepArt-TV5 Award winner for "Francophone Canadian Artist most recognized on International market".
- 2003 Grand-PréGrand-preGrand-Pré National Historic Site is a park set aside to commemorate the Grand-Pré area of Nova Scotia as a centre of Acadian settlement from 1682 to 1755, and the deportation of the Acadians which began in 1755 and continued to 1762...
Prize Winner - This biannual award recognizes artist whose work reflects Acadian cultural values and traditions, while demonstrating excellence and originality. - Music Nova Scotia Award winner for "L'ARTISTE FRANCOPHONE DE L'ANNÉE" (Francophone artist of the year).
- Multipile nominations at the Gala des Prix Étoiles.
- 2004
- Nominated at East Coast Music Awards for "ARTISTE DE L'ANNÉE"(Entertainer of the year).
- Winner East Coast Music Awards for "L'ALBUM FRANCOPHONE DE L'ANNÉE"(Francophone recording of the year).
- 2005
- Winner of the award for the "BEST SHOW" at the Shanghai Festival of the Performing Arts, Shanghai, China.
- Nominated for "PRIX PARTENARIAT" of the FCCF - Fédération culturelle canadienne-française
- 2006
- Music Nova Scotia Award winner for "L'ARTISTE FRANCOPHONE DE L'ANNÉE" (Francophone artist of the year).
- Gold Record for the album TRINGGLE.
- 2007
- East Coast Music Awards WINNER - "Francophone recording of the year"
- Nominated at East Coast Music Awards for "ARTISTE DE L'ANNÉE"(Entertainer of the year).