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Rara - Afrobeat Groove Machine

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NEWS !!!

Wesli's musical career looks like a success story: he began by building his own guitar at the age of 8, with oil cans left behind by NGOs and fishing ropes he found on the beach in Haiti; then 30 years later in 2019, he won 3 prestigious awards for his 5th album, “Rapadou Kreyol”:

  • JUNO AWARD “World Music Album 2019” (Canada)

  • FÉLIX DE L’ADISQ PRIZE "World Music Album 2019" (Canada)

  • Favorite of the CHARLE CROS Academy (France)

It seems that nothing can stop the tremendous visibility that is taking place around Wesli and his music.

Indeed, this committed artist never ceases to seduce the music industry. From Canada through Haiti and France, from anglophones to francophones, everyone recognizes the merits and talent that this excellent opus carries.

 

After having traveled through several countries in 2019 (Switzerland, England, France, Italy, Haiti, South Korea, USA, Canada ...), Wesli is restarting the year 2020 with a promotional tour in the USA, which will transport him in particular to New Orleans for a international showcase for the Folk Alliance conference, as well as in New York for the APAP conference.

 

With this 5th album "Rapadou Kreyol", released in July 2019 as a preview in Canada, the land of Wesli, he proves that he can still surprise us.

"Rapadou Kreyol" puts traditional Haitian music back at the heart of our daily lives. This tribute takes root in the Haitian rituals of Lakou Dahomé and Lakou Congo, in traditional musical forms with modern accents, supported by a powerful groove and ingeniously fresh arrangements. Sung completely in the Creole of the descendants of Yoruba, this new opus by Wesli seems to breathe new life into rhythms such as Petro, Congo, Rada, Nago, Rara ... and instruments such as rara, violin, accordion, percussion, banjo ...

In addition to this, you need to know more about it.

DOWNLOAD  2019 MEDIA RELEASE " RAPADOU KREYOL"

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WESLI Lolé Lolé Live

WESLI Lolé Lolé Live

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Wesli Wongol O 2019

Wesli Wongol O 2019

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Wesli Mon konpe unplugged

Wesli Mon konpe unplugged

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MEDIA RELEASES

 

- “…the most formidable creature in world music Montreal presently has to offer the rest of the planet”

Alain Brunet (La Presse, 2015)

- “It sounds like it would be overwhelming, but it works. The entire album has this affect on the listener, who cannot ignore how the sound effects and reverb make the most classical sounds transcend into the 21st Century […] This album is a truly incredible ride.“  

Kristy Rose (Top Shelf Reggae)

- “… no matter how far afield his ears and travels take him, he always hears something that links, very naturally, back to Haiti.“

Luana Grandani, (Reggae Groove)

- "…touching, human and revelatory texts by an authentic artist who benefits from being better known.”

Patrick Baillargeon (voir.ca)

Juno Award World Music Album of the Year 2019

Prix Coup de Coeur de l'Académie Charles Cros 2019

Prix Félix Meilleur Album de Musique du Monde ADISQ 2019

Socan World Music Hagood Hardy Award 2016

Galaxie Rising Star Award London 2011

Prix Babel Med Music France 2010

Révélation Radio-Canada 2009-10

BIOGRAPHY

Wesli is a born troubadour and committed artist whose groove machine fuses afrobeat, reggae and Haitian rara into an energetic and irresistible performance. The multi-instrumentalist and producer-songwriter testifies on behalf of his people in a festive, original and enthralling musical universe, conquering hearts and minds.

Wesli was Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wesli (Wesley Louissaint) built his first guitar out of an old NGO- provided oil can and nylon shoe lace when he was just eight years old. Coming from a family of 8 children where music was a daily food for the soul, it became second nature to him, a unique and vital way out of the violence and misery found in the surrounding ghetto. Wesli’s musical journey started in the gospel choir of his local church and then he adopted the guitar as his main instrument.

Ever since, Wesli has worked relentlessly, perfecting his art, his only hope for a better life. Very early, he took part in serious projects such as the afro-roots Jazz 4ever quartet and SoKute. He performed in many of Haiti’s concert halls and traveled abroad with Kreyol Mizik company. In his teens, Wesli produced and recorded the album Horizon with SoKute. Their soul music gathered wide success and even made them famous outside Haiti.

DOWNLOAD FULL BIO HERE

DISCOGRAPHY

WESLI - RAPADOU - POCHETTE COVER) SQUARE
Cover Immigrand.jpg

ImmiGranD (2015)

Cover Ayiti.jpg
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Kouraj (2009)

LIVE ON THE ROAD 2019

ASIA (2019)

17 Mai    Suseong World Music Festival     Daegu, South Korea
18 Mai    Seoul Music Week                        Seoul, South Korea
19 Mai    Jazztonic Festival                         Cheongju, South Korea

 

EUROPE (2019)

 8 Juin    Afropfingsten Festival                   Winterthur, Swizerland
15 Juin   Post Club                                      Napoli, Italy
19 Juin   Band on the Wall Festival             Manchester, UK
22 Juin   Africa Oye Festival                        Liverpool, UK
24 Juin   La Bellevilloise (Lancement)         Paris, France

31 août   Vidor Festival                                Nyíregyháza, Hungary

 

CANADA (2019)

3 juillet       Rosemont , QC
4 juillet       Jazz Fest, Montreal QC
6- 7 juillet   Weekend du monde 
13 juillet     Kitchener ON
19 juillet     Nuit d’Afrique, Montreal QC
20 juillet     Parc Jean Drapeau, Montreal QC
27 juillet     Toronto City, ON
2 août         Magog
4 août         Toronto Parc, ON
8 août         Sherbrooke QC
17 août       Fantôme Théâtre Vermont 
23 août       Congrès Mondial Acadien, Moncton NB

2 sept         Mondokarnaval Québec QC

8 sept         Multiculti festival Kingston ON

8-9 nov      Francofete Acadie Moncton NB

15 Nov       La Clé, Penetanguishine, ON

 

(2020)

8 jan          SOB’s, NYC, NY (USA)

10-14 jan   APAP New York NY (USA)

15 Jan       Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago IL (USA)

22-26 Jan  Folk Alliance International, New Orleans LA (USA)

7 - 14 Mar MASA (Abidjan, Ivory Coast)

29 mars     Centre Culturel de Hearst, ON (Canada)

28 avril      Convocation Hall U of T, Toronto ON (Canada)

1 Aug        Africa Fest ( Emmindengen, Deutschland)
 

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TECHNICAL RIDER

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