Artistic Director
Pascal
Gemme
Pascal Gemme
Pascal Gemme has been actively collecting fiddle tunes from our province for over twenty years, and it is this repertoire that has allowed him to develop his technical mastery of Quebec’s fiddle vocabulary. The international tours of his trio, Genticorum, have earned him recognition both in Quebec and abroad.
Pascal was drawn to fiddle tunes and songs from a very young age, especially those he heard within his family, most notably from his maternal grandfather. It was in the late 1990s that he fully dedicated himself to traditional fiddle music, after earning a diploma in Big Band-style arranging as well as in classical and jazz guitar.
Pascal continues to perform with his trio Genticorum and is now also involved with Danse Trad Waterville, an organization that produces a series of dances primarily in Waterville and the Eastern Townships.
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Festival Activities
CONCERTS
As is our tradition, the Main Stage Concerts take place under the tent from Friday to Sunday, with happy hours to start the evening.
Main stage concerts
Our traditional main concerts take place under the big tent, both in the evening and in the afternoon, from Friday to Sunday. Each concert features two to three 50-minute performances by guest artists, coming from Canada and the United States.
Happy hour concerts are set in a relaxed athmoshphere, early in the evening!
FIDDLE
WORKSHOPS
2-day Fiddle Workshops offered by 3 renowned teachers for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.
Fiddle workshops
Workshops led by three renowned violin instructors: Bruce Molsky, Patrick Ourceau and Véronique Plasse.
Participants, upon registering for the workshops, choose their level (beginner, intermediate, advanced) based on their experience and comfort in a learning context.
Each workshop session (1.5 hours per session) divides the three groups into separate rooms, with each group assigned a specific instructor. From one workshop to the next, and from day to day, the instructors will take turns teaching all three groups. This approach allows participants, regardless of their level, to benefit twice from a wide variety of instruction, repertoires, approaches, and techniques, providing a comprehensive experience.
As a bonus, workshop participants can attend the teachers’ concert on Thursday evening, as well as a “special workshop” session. On Friday, a review of the pieces learned in the different groups will bring together all participants from the workshops.
An instrument deposit will be available for all registered workshop attendees.
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THEMATIC
WORKSHOPS
Festival artists meet on stage and take turns sharing a tune with their colleagues and audience members.
Thematic Workshops
At the Festival, artists come together on stage, taking turns to share a piece with their colleagues and the audience. These encounters, marked by a friendly atmosphere, provide wonderful opportunities to exchange and explore repertoire from both here and elsewhere, as well as compare different styles of traditional violin playing.
MASTER CLASSES
Advanced classes and talks with Festival artists, focused on sharing their unique experience and their approach to their practice.
Master classes
Des cours de perfectionnement offerts par des artistes du Festival, axés sur le partage de leur expérience et leur approche. Des rendez-vous uniques à ne pas manquer !
DANCES
Traditional dance evenings (Quebec traditional dance) with live music provided by Festival artists.
Dances
Des veillées de danse traditionnelle accompagnées par des artistes du Festival. Le Balfolk se déroule au son de pièces à danser tirées de différents répertoires et styles principalement européens, tandis que la danse trad québécoise est câllée et fait appel à des musiciens qui joueront des airs du Québec. Rafraîchissements en vente sur place.
JAM SESSIONS
Traditional music jam sessions take place during the day as well as at the end of the evening, in a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all levels!
Jam sessions
Several sessions of traditional music take place during the day as well as in the evening. These are excellent opportunities to learn and share repertoire with other festival-goers and Festival artists in a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all levels!
A free instrument deposit is available during the day from Thursday to Sunday.
ICEBERGS:
THE ROAD OF THE GIANTS
La Fabrique Culturelle's tour stops on Saturday with an immersive 360-degree experience.
CHILDREN'S
FESTIVAL
Free activities for children that help them develop their artisic and musical talents.
Children's festival
Year after year, our children’s festival allows children to learn the violin, participate in artistic activities, and make it “their” festival. Thanks to the recurring support of the Boulanger-Bédard Foundation, we offer them an opportunity to be introduced to the arts in an informal and playful context.
All festival activities (except for the training stage) are offered free of charge to young people under 15.
POETRY
IN THE WOODS
In partnership with the Parc d'environnement naturel de Sutton, an actitvity on the Mountain-Village trail.
Poetry in the woods
Activity in partnership with the Sutton Natural Environment Park
Ms. Zazou will host this joyful roaming event along the Lower Village-Mountain trail on the upcoming 17th. Sutton’s most famous clown will guide you through the bucolic improvisations of four local artists, who will each perform four poems or drawings randomly selected from the expressions of gratitude collected throughout the year on the little bench along the Village-Mountain trail.
Tristan Henderson, a multi-instrumentalist based in Sutton, will join the activity with his violin.
More details here: https://parcsutton.com/activites/poesie-buissonniere
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MANDOLINISTS' ROUND TABLE
A roundtable dedicated to the mandolin, highlighting this instrument to share musical experiences and explore its evolution through time and styles.
Mandolinists' round table
Sutton Museum of Communications and History
32 Principale South Street, Sutton (QC) J0E 2K0
The festival is proud to present a roundtable dedicated to the mandolin, highlighting this instrument to share musical experiences and explore its evolution through time and styles.
Pop-up Mandolin Exhibition – Starting at 10 a.m.
From the 19th and 20th centuries to today
At 11 a.m.,
The event will be hosted by Jonathan Bélanger, alongside the guest mandolinists of the 12th edition of the Sutton Traditional Fiddle Festival. Together, they will share their musical journeys and showcase their talents.
FREE Event
A voluntary contribution to the Sutton Museum of History is suggested.
Also available on site
Bar and snacks
Instrument check
CD Shop
Lutherie service
Camping (with showers)
Proximity to all services in the village
Local, Cultural and Media Partners
