Festival Franco Ontarien 2015

MORE THAN 40 ARTIsts

The Festival franco-ontarien Banque Nationale, which will run from June 11 to 13 at the National Capital Commission’s Major’s Hill Park in Ottawa, today unveiled the program lineup for its 40th edition, which will be peppered “with green and white” as a tribute to the Franco-Ontarian flag, which this year also is celebrating its 40th anniversary. And all this is happening just in time to mark 400 years since the passage of Samuel de Champlain through Ontario! More than 40 artists, half of them Franco-Ontarians, will appear on the Air Canada Main Stage and the smaller 40th FRANCO stage.

Thursday, June 11 – Les 400 coups du FRANCO!The PORN FLAKES and a wonderful array of guests will have the honour of presenting a concert that will feature the top hits of the FRANCO’s last 40 years. A new show concept and a great celebration of music bringing together ÉRIC LAPOINTE, LOCO LOCASS, JEAN-FRANÇOIS BREAU, Acadian JOSEPH EDGAR and Franco-Ontarian CÉLESTE LÉVIS. They will be preceded on the stage by performer Mélissa Ouimet, Gatineau rapper D-Track and the Rond Point artists.

Friday, June 12 – 40 ans comme dans l’temps!The famous Quebec band KAIN, one of the biggest draws in the Festival’s history, has been asked to crown the night of June 12. Right before them, our favourite band, SWING, will be on hand to heat up the stage and warm up the crowd. Afterwards, it will be Le Paysagiste, this year’s FRANCO showstopper, with guest Andréa Lindsay, who has been invited to perform a few songs.

Saturday, June 13 – 40 ans de festival, 400 ans de fierté!To celebrate 400 years of the French presence in Ontario, and to mark the 40th anniversary of the Festival Franco-Ontarien, the FRANCO-SYMPHONIQUE concert will blend the voices and musical universes of Franco-Ontarian artists Tricia Foster, Geneviève Toupin, Le R and Yaowith the extraordinary Orchestre symphonique de La Salle directed by Jason Hutt.

To close the FRANCO, two of the Francophonie’s icons will take turns on the Air Canada Main Stage. Franco-Manitoban DANIEL LAVOIE who, accompanied by two musicians, will take us through his unforgettable hits for what promises to be a unique and vibrant moment! American, Cajun, Canadian by adoption, but first and foremost citizen of the world, ZACHARY RICHARD will bring to the stage J’aime la vie and Le Fou, both from his latest albums, as well as some of his top hits.

In the morning, kids and parents alike will enjoy JOJO ET LES ANIMAUX, as well as LES PETITES TOUNES. At noon, festival-goers of all ages will be invited to the GRAND PIQUE-NIQUE DE LA FRANCOPHONIE, a special production by Christian “Le R”, with Abel Maxwell, Wolanyo, Big Balade (authors of the official song for the 400th of Champlain), Jjanice+, Rômmel Ribeiro and Hey Wow. This big picnic will be followed by a presentation by African rap pioneer DIDIER AWADI.