Stef Paquette
Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2003 | SELF | AFM
Music
Press
On comprend aisément que l’homme originaire de Sudbury effectue, avec son second album, un retour à ses premières amours: la chanson. La matière brut du Salut de l’arrière-pays provient du recueil, de l’émission radiophonique de même que du spectacle homonymes créés en hommage à huit petites communautés francophones du nord de l’Ontario. Regroupant 10 des chansons du spectacle, le disque offre une jolie cohésion tant dans la forme (folk, trad) que dans le propos (marasme économique nord-ontarien, relations interpersonnelles). Les arrangements tout en soleil (guitare acoustique, mandoline, violon) viennent soutenir des textes pertinents, intelligents, livrés avec passion par Stef Paquette. Par moments, on jurerait entendre Richard Séguin, et c’est tout un compliment. - Voir
Le Coup de Foudre Réseau Ontario est Stef Paquette et il sera en tournée, dès septembre, dans seize lieux de la francophonie ontarienne. Les Chiclettes, un trio féminin de l’Ontario français présentera le spectacle Hollywood, sous la bannière 100% garanti. - Tribune Ottawa
Local Francophone musician Stef Paquette recently came home from the Contact ontarois music competition with five out of the seven available prizes.
While he's excited about his success at the Jan. 15-18 competition, and the judges' reaction to his second solo album, "Salut de l'arrière pays", Paquette said the prizes mean just one thing to him: employment.
One of the awards he won guarantees him a booking at most of the Francophone music festivals in the country in 2014 and 2015.
“It's not big money, but it's enough to live and feed my kids,” said 40-year-old Paquette, who is also known locally as a host on Le Loup FM, as well as an actor, starring on television shows such as TVO's "Hard Rock Medical".
“To know that I'll be living as a legit artist for the next two years is very cool,” he said. “That's the golden ticket.”
The only drawback the father of three can see is going back on the road, spending a lot of time away from his family, something he admits is a bit more daunting than it was 20 years ago.
This isn't the first award the musician has won with "Salut de l'arrière pays", which was released in 2011.
Last year, he picked up the Prix Trille Or (Trillium Gold Award) for best album. The awards, presented in March, celebrate the best in French music in Ontario and the West.
Paquette said he's surprised by all the attention, as he never really promoted the album, as he was so busy working in television when it was released.
"Salut de l'arrière pays" couldn't be much more “northern.” Co-written by Normand Renault, the acoustic folk-pop album focuses on the stories of small Northern Ontario towns such as Sturgeon Falls and Gogama.
Paquette said the album's message seems to resonate with people from northern communities across the country.
“Northern cities are northern cities, no matter what province you're in,” he said.
Those interested in purchasing Paquette's award-winning album can do so at La librairie du Centre on Lasalle Boulevard, or online at www.apcm.ca or on iTunes.
Paquette also has a few local performances coming up, including Festival Quand Ça Nous Chante, which takes place Feb. 20-23, and La Nuit sur l'étang, which takes place March 22. - NOrthen Life
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Having recently turned 40, Stef Paquette has been taking time to hear his inner voice, write new songs and simply live life. The renowned Franco-Ontarian singer-songwriter is also well known as a radio host across Northeastern Ontario with Le Loup FM and an actor in the popular TV series Hard Rock Medical and Les Bleus de Ramville.
But the Sudbury-born signer is still thrusting forward in his musical career as well. A natural showman with a wacky sense of humour, Stef Paquette loves being on stage and his audiences love seeing him there. Alone with his guitar and harmonica or along with his band, he has been crisscrossing Canada for years, playing countless festivals, concerts, major events and school workshops. In April 2015, his faithful fans were rewarded with a new online EP containing several songs that had previously been heard in live performances only. The multifaceted artist also unveiled the single Si jamais (If Ever), an upbeat pop-rock rendition of his well-loved acoustic ballad. These latest recordings introduce a new sound in comparison to his acclaimed 2012 album Le Salut de l’arrière-pays (Backcountry Blessings). True to his artist’s calling, he’s staking out new ground.
In Fall 2015, with RADARTS and Coup de Cœur Francophone, Stef Paquette was on a big tour that brought him to 43 dates in 50 days going through 9 provinces and 1 territory from New Brunswick to Yukon. First franco-ontarian artist to do the nation-wide tour, he shared the scene with Fred Pellerin for sold out concerts.
In 2015, Stef Paquette garnered the Trille Or (French Ontario’s music industry awards) for Best Male Performer as well as nominations for the Best Singer-Songwriter and the Radio-Canada Public’s Choice awards. His charismatic stage presence and his ability to rally fans are widely recognized, as recently indicated by his Producers Choice award at the 2014 Contact Ontarois industry showcase and his 2013 Trille Or award for Best Album.
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