SIAN Kerry, director of Arts Alive, saw the wonderful trio, Bon Débarras, in Canada earlier this year and immediately booked part of their UK tour for audiences in Shropshire and Herefordshire.

Bon Débarras roughly translates as ‘good riddance!’ but that’s the last thing anyone will be saying when they leave the stage. Their performance is a wonderful, energetic mix of Quebecois folk music, thrilling step dancing and influences from around the world. On a dazzling array of instruments including guitar, banjo, mandolin, accordion, washboard, harmonica, foot percussion, jig and body percussion, the trio creates magical musical atmospheres.

Their name is also a pun on another meaning of ‘Débarras’: ‘storeroom’: so the band search out old songs, family repertoire, musical memories – and give them a thoroughly modern take, integrating the many musical influences from around the world that make up contemporary French Canadian culture. And in their words:

“…we see music as kind of an antioxidant of the soul. It makes us feel good when we play so, yeah, it’s good riddance—good riddance to sad feelings.”

Bon Débarras will be at Winforton Community Hall, Kington (01544 328425) on Saturday, November 22 at 7.45pm. Book online at artsalive.co.uk