Benoit Bourque, one of Canada's finest step dancers, created an energetic charge in a room that holds an audience spellbound. Benoit also plays accordion, and provides the percussive underpinnings of the band through his virtuoso bones and spoons playing, and his incredible dancing feet.

Acadian born Gaston Bernard was equally facile on mandolin, fiddle, guitar and bouzouki and has been involved in a variety of musical projects, ranging from French to Greek, Celtic and African music.

Composer/arranger Simon Lepage added his diverse background in world music, jazz and classical as a rich compliment to the band?s unique presence on the stage. All three harmonize beautifully on songs and ballads, all introduced in English and sung in French. The audience is treated to an assortment of jigs, reels, quadrilles and rondeaux. Benoit and Gaston were former members of the renowned band Ad Vielle Que Pourra.

Matapat split into two groups in 2002. Le Vent du Nord features Benoit Bourque, Oliver Demers, Nicolas Boulerice (of Montcorbier) and Bernard Simard, of La Bottine Souriante.

Gaston Bernard and Simon Lepage took on a new accordion/fiddle/singer.

Official Web Site: matapat.com