BLOU

• country:
  Canada
• region:
  North America
• style(s):
  Folk Traditional
• label:
  A L'Infini Communications
• type:
  Band
• gender:
  male
• instrumentation:
  vocal
• artist submitted by:
  A L'Infini Communications

OVER 2500 PERFORMANCES IN 25 COUNTRIES SINCE 1994
VIEWED BY MORE than 1 1/2 MILLION SPECTATORS
WINNER OF 12 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
5 CDS
1 GOLD CERTIFICATION
HISTORY

From Marc Escarbot theatre in Church Point to the International Festival of Shanghai, Patrice Boulianne alias BLOU continues sowing his unique style a style so different we had to invent a word to describe it ACADICO.

Like a hurricane BLOU stormed into the Nova Scotia scene in 1994. The Acadian people fell in love immediately with this band, affectionately named after a First Nations man who lived at the end of Patrice's street: "L'ALLEE DES BLOU".

That year BLOU blew away the competition during "LE GALA DE LA CHANSON DE LA NOUVELLE-ECOSSE". Patrice won three prizes: "Chanson primee pour LA FOLIE", songwriter award and the People's Choice Award. BLOU's next challenge was to design a show for the Acadian youth. TRIP THROUGH ACADIE was applauded by more than 12 000 students in the Atlantic provinces during the following months. That show gradually led to invitations to perform at special festivals, cabarets and bars throughout the Maritimes and eventually to international cultural events.

In 1998, BLOU self-produced its first opus and selected the title ACADICO. The disc was published under an independent label. Blou's career soared higher when ACADICO collected a horde of prizes in 1999. Garnering the Francophone album of the year at the ECMA awards and the Eloizes prize for Artist of the Year, helped cement the group's popularity.

That same year BLOU decided to join the management team a l'infini communications. With the turning of the new millennium BLOU's first album was already destined for European distribution. Thanks to the promotional efforts of the company L'AUTRE DISTRIBUTION, BLOU became the first Acadian artist from Nova Scotia to have an album in circulation in France.

In 2000, BLOU continued to evolve. More energetic than ever, the second CD, RYTHM' N BLOU, explored various topics including love and the Acadian tradition of going dancing on Saturday nights. The band collected several prizes including Eloizes for "the artist most recognized outside Acadie", being nominated for the ETOILE Awards for the "Album of the Year", the "Group of the Year" and for the "Folk Artist of the Year". In addition, BLOU received nominations at the Music Industry of Nova Scotia for "the Group of the Year" and was among the finalists in the Radio-Canada contest for the Acadian Song of the Year.

BLOU was indisputably on the road to success and took part in several international events. Now recognized equally well among francophones and anglophones, Patrice Boulianne has made it his trademark to promote Acadian culture wherever he travels.

The past few years have been filled with fantastic adventures, mainly on the international market. BLOU has visited several European countries including Norway, Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Holland and Poland. Patrice is now exporting his music all over the world, notably Brazil, Guatemala, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and China. He continues to tour in North America as well. Along the way BLOU has received several nominations at the East Coast Music Awards and the Music Industry of Nova Scotia Awards. These include "Francophone ECMA Album of the year", "ECMA Traditional Group of the Year", "MIANS Group of the Year", "MIANS Artist of the Year" and "MIANS Rising Star of the Year". BLOU was also nominated for the Galaxie prize for the "Francophone Artist of the Year".

In 2003 BLOU won the Zof-PassepArt-TV5 prize for its continued presence on the international scene. BLOU's excellence and originality was further rewarded with the Grand-Pre Prize, a biannual award recognizing an artist whose work reflects Acadian cultural values and traditions. Winning MIANS Award for Francophone Artist of the Year and several nominations at the Etoiles Awards of the ARCANB, propelled BLOU into a rising Acadian musical tide.

Receiving the ECMA Francophone Album of the Year at the beginning of 2004, was a gift befitting BLOU's 10th anniversary. As an added bonus, BLOU became the first Acadian artist in Nova Scotia to receive a nomination in the ECMA's prestigious Entertainer of the Year category. The icing on the cake: winning the MIANS 2004 Francophone Artist of the Year.

Pied-a-terre's official launching came on February 14th, 2006. In November 2006, BLOU received the Nova Scotia's Francophone Artist of the Year award. That month, BLOU also launched Trinngle, a Christmas CD. This disc went gold, December 13 a first for BLOU and a first for a Nova Scotian Francophone artist Two days later, BLOU garnered two nominations for the 2007 ECMA awards: Francophone Artist of the Year (he won) and Entertainer of the Year. December 26, readers accorded BLOU second place in the Top 5 of the 2006 Chronicle Herald Honour Roll.

The history of BLOU does not stop here He intends to forge ahead with his unique musical style for many years to come

Links

• BLOU Website