Jean-François Pauzé came to lend a hand to Marie-Annick Lépine for the opening night of the Francos on Friday, creating a tangible wave of emotion on the Place des festivals. Screams were uttered. A few tears were even shed by Cowboys Fringants fans, moved to see the two artists together on the same stage, seven months after the death of Karl Tremblay.
Many of them came, fans of Marie-Annick Lépine and the Cowboys Fringants converging towards the city center to show their support and love to the widow of Karl Tremblay, who died last November after a fight against prostate cancer.
She also seemed emotional – but strong – while addressing an imposing crowd stretching as far as the eye could see in front of the stage erected on rue Jeanne-Mance.
“The first months, the first years, are dotted with small mournings each time I experience something that he would have liked. He would have been upset to be here. He would be proud of his little blonde,” said Marie-Annick Lépine.
Cowboys music in the spotlight
Although the evening’s poster announced a performance by the singer and multi-instrumentalist with three solo offerings to her credit, we suspected that the repertoire of the Cowboys Fringants would occupy a large part of the evening’s program.
“A little everywhere in Quebec, we are going to play Cowboys songs [Fringants] this summer. It would be good if I did some too,” announced Marie-Annick Lépine at the start of the performance.
But the surprise was still perceptible when Jean-François Pauzé came to join his accomplice on the stage, the cries of fans immediately increasing in ardor. The title Thank you well – taken from the band’s latest album – took on its full meaning in the face of this outpouring of sincere love.
We could therefore hardly have found a better way to inaugurate the main stage of the Francos site for this 35th edition, Mother Nature being particularly merciful with her gentle breeze sweeping away the festival-goers.
After hearing Marie-Annick Lépine move the audience with The White hairs then make him dance Shooting Starsthe observation is clear: to say that Karl Tremblay would have been “proud of his little blonde” would be an understatement.
- The Francos continue until June 22 on the Place des festivals.
