From September 6 to 8, Acadian artist P’tit Belliveau will tour the three campuses of the University of Moncton for the classic back-to-school show. For the first time, the Edmundston and Shippagan campuses will be entitled to programming similar to that of Moncton, which this year will be focused on Acadian and French-speaking artists.
The musical tour The Spectacles for the 2024 school year will be organized for the first time by Codiac FM radio, the French-speaking campus and community radio station in Greater Moncton, in collaboration with the University of Moncton and presented by UNI Financial Cooperation.
For Alain Lavoie, president of Médias acadiens universitaires inc. (MAUI), the organization that manages Codiac FM radio, this university tour is an opportunity to increase collaboration and the sense of belonging between the three campuses.
“This tour is the result of a collaboration between local institutions that contribute to the enrichment of the cultural life of our campuses and our communities. It is also a unique opportunity to unite the three campuses of the Université de Moncton and the community to celebrate the start of the 2024 school year,” he explains.
Acadia in the spotlight
The headliner of this series of shows, P’tit Belliveau is enjoying increasing success in Atlantic Canada, but also in Quebec, thanks in particular to his songs “Income Tax», «Boats in the bay», «I would like to have a John Deere» et «Tomorrow».
Originally from Baie Sainte-Marie in Nova Scotia, he is also popular among the student population of the three campuses, as Mr. Lavoie attests.
“We consulted the students over a year ago, and P’tit Belliveau really stood out among the top artists on the list in the survey. We are really lucky that he not only agreed to do the show in Moncton, but that he was up for going to Edmundston and Shippagan and doing the tour,” he says.
In the past, back-to-school shows were different on each campus. Often, in Moncton, the scene gave way to local DJs, but also to nationally and internationally renowned artists. Alain Lavoie wishes to reassure students and the community that despite this change of direction, the celebrations promise to be just as festive.
“P’tit Belliveau, even if you don’t know his songs, his shows are an experience in themselves. I can guarantee you that you won’t stay still. P’tit Belliveau and the Hay Babies give crazy shows,” he says cheerfully.
In Moncton, the Acadian group Les Hay Babies, composed of artists Julie Aubé, Katrine Noël and Vivianne Roy, will also be there. The group has three albums and a career that spans more than a decade.
DJs will also be part of the evening in Moncton, including DJ Alex who will take care of the opening act and a second DJ who will take care of a surprise performance at the very end of the show. Artist and Université de Moncton alumnus, Rothchild Choisy, will also make live art.
The opening acts for the Edmundston and Shippagan shows have yet to be confirmed.
A community initiative
The crowd at the back-to-school shows is usually about 60% students and 40% community members. By having artists from the area, the show organizers hope to attract a wider audience.
“It’s a much more community event than an international DJ. So we want to try to attract the same number, if not more people from the community. It’s open to everyone” recalls the president of the MAUI who also made the decision to sell tickets at lower prices than in past years.
Tickets for the show in Moncton have been on sale since Wednesday at a price of $20 for students and $30 for community members.
