Millions to watch Winnipeg band Ça Claque compete in South American song competition

We feel we're representing Canadian culture and French culture.

—Nick Messner, fiddler with Ça Claque

Call it "South American Idol." It's big. It's a song festival in Viña del Mar, Chile, and millions of viewers will watch it on television.  And a band from St. Boniface called Ça Claque will be there.

Ça Claque was chosen to represent Canada at this international festival from over 500 entrants world wide. Ça Claque is a song and dance troupe that has been together officially for only two years, although the musicians have been playing together in other groups since their teens. They are regulars at Folklorama and Festival du Voyageur.

"We're very excited and honoured," says fiddler Nick Messner. "It's another step forward for our music.  We've only recently started writing songs.  This is one of the first songs we wrote.  We feel we're representing Canadian culture and French culture." They will compete with their French-language song called "Automne."

The musicians head south on February 13 to prepare for the competition.  They'll work with professionals for several days before the big event.  They will be competing with bands from Argentina, Peru and Columbia.

This is the 53rd annual Viña del Mar International Song Festival and is one of the most-watched events on television in South America.

Last year Sierra Nobel won the festival's top award for best song and best interpreter in the Contemporary category for her song, "Try Something."