A Propos
with Jim Corcoran

This week on A Propos, we preview some of the terrific concerts that will fill many of downtown Montreal's venues during the FrancoFolies de Montréal festival in June. This is the most important celebration of francophone music in North America, if not the entire world! Hear the music of some of the artists who will be on stage during this annual event.

The conclusion of our exceptionnally broad, entertaining and inclusive Songwriters' Session recorded last fall for A Propos at L'Astral Theatre in Montreal. Hear a touching new song written in memory of Lhasa by Kiya Tabassian, as well as a wonderful young singer called Audrey Emery. Also, hear the music of Patrice Michaud, Martin Léon and Betty Bonifassi in unique arrangements as they all perform together for the very first time.

This week, host Jim Corcoran presents our broadest and most daring A Propos' Songwriters' Session yet. It brings together Persian musicians and singers, a scholar of la chanson française, and three very different singer songwriters for a unique evening of original music. Hear this exclusive concert featuring Martin Léon, Patrice Michaud, Betty Bonifassi, Audrey Emery, Azam Ali, Kiya and Ziya Tabassian, on stage at L'Astral Theatre in Montreal. This was a very special A Propos' Songwriters' Session that celebrated Coup de cœur francophone's 25th anniversary last November. An unforgettable event recorded especially for A Propos' listeners.

This week, A Propos features some of the French world's most brilliantly talented women songwriters. Hear great songs from women who have something to say. Sometimes they are poetic and soothing and sometimes they are hard, aggressive, even violent. Host Jim Corcoran has translated ten songs for you so that you can discover the creativity and poetry of these amazing songwriters.

This week, we feature Quebec's hottest new young country band, Isabeau et les chercheurs d'or, recorded live for A Propos at the Studio-théâtre de la Place des arts, in Montreal. They are country, but they are also folk, bluegrass, swing, all acoustic and very honest. Hear these great musicians from Quebec City in a terrific intimate concert. Delightful and very surprising.

For the first time in his 24 years on CBC Radio, host Jim Corcoran heads to his hometown for a special live recording of A Propos in Sherbrooke, Quebec, with special guest Caracol. We caught up with Caracol, who is also a Sherbrooke native, the day she was in concert there. Hear her in conversation with Jim Corcoran and also, in live performance with her musicians, Manuel Gasse and Audrey-Michèle Simard.

This week, we feature only women singer songwriters from French Canada. Hear the much talked about Lisa Leblanc, from New Brunswick, as well as many other original and inspired songwriters from Quebec. Discover their poetry as host Jim Corcoran translates their songs.

We feature the music of artists who have been nominated for a Juno award in the Francophone Album of the Year category, this year. The nominees are Catherine Major, Coeur de pirate, Jérôme Minière, Fred Pellerin and Malajube. All artists that we like and have broadcast on A Propos. Hear host Jim Corcoran's translation of their songs and discover these award-winning musicians.

We're presently in climate limbo, between winter and spring, and host Jim Corcoran has just what we need to forget all this uncertainty: music to make you move, make you smile, maybe even make you sweat. This week on A Propos, only groovy, up tempo and feel good francophone music.

Again this week, we are featuring and even celebrating rebellious innovators  who go about songwriting in a non-conventional sometimes provocative manner.  Hear bold, risk taking songwriters and bands who are changing and broadening  popular music in Quebec.