Blou (band)

BLOU, winner of the "Prix ZOF-PassepArt-TV5" award in 2003. The formation hails from Meteghan, Nova Scotia and has attended many events such as : the International Festival of the Arts in Shanghai, China. The group claims a unique style of music which they call "Acadico"—a mix of Acadian, Cajun and Zydeco musical styles. The group's name took its name from the street where the founding member Patrice Boulianne resides. "L’ALLÉE DES BLOU" was named after the family name of an aboriginal man who lived at the end of that street some believe 100 years or more ago.

History

BLOU began in the autumn of 1994 in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia when Patrice Boulianne, met Len LeBlanc and Daniel LeBlanc.

Later the trio became a quintet when Paul Melanson, Owen Muise, and Briand Melanson joined. In 1998, BLOU self-produced its first opus and selected the title "Acadico", the name also given to their new style of music. In 1999, the group decided to join forces with the management team: À l’infini communications. At the turn of the new millennium, "Acadico" was the first by an Acadian group that had a European distribution.

In 2000, BLOU evolved further—some members of the group left and others joined. Their second album, "Rhythm 'N Blou" had a more up-beat sound than "Acadico". At that point, BLOU's fame grew as they took part in several international events. In 2003, BLOU released their third album to celebrate their up-coming tenth anniversary. On October 17, 2005, BLOU released the first single—"Come Away Café"—from their unreleased fourth album, "Pied-à-terre." The single was inspired by BLOU's travels around the world. The release of "Pied-à-terre" was launched February 14, 2006. With this new opus Blou has dropped the band logo and has been taken up as Blou the solo artist. Blou still has the same drive, style and energy. Front man Patrice Boulianne has taken the name to be his own now.

Discography

* "Acadico" (1998)
* "Rhythm 'n BLOU" (2000)
* "Blou Blanc Rouge" (2003)
* "Pied-à-terre" (2006)
* "Tringgle" (2006)

Blou

*Patrice Boulianne (Vocals, Accordion, Guitar)

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-Pré 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).

External links

* [http://www.blou.ca/ Blou Official Site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/bloucanada Blou Myspace Site]
* [http://www.ucolick.org/~ekirby/cajun/acadia.htm#blou Information from an interview with Patrice Boulianne]