TORONTO (CP) - Gilles Vigneault proved that you don't need a good voice to sing well. Nor do you need to sing in the same language as your audience.
"I'll try it in English. But French is easier," he told the crowd of about 5,000 at the closing concert of the three-day Mariposa Folk Festival. But it made no difference.
The 38-year-old chansonnier from Natashquan, Que., whose voice is a foggy tenor, sang Mon Pays, danced a jig, and exuded such charm that the crowd clapped and cheered him.
Vigneault was not the only performer who caused excitement at the festival at Toronto's Centre Island.
Joni Mitchell, the lissome, 25-year-old blonde from Saskatoon, was repeatedly called back to sing from a repertoire of more than 1200 songs.
Joni who began her professional career at the Mariposa four years ago, told the audience:
"When I first sang here, no one was must interested in me. But tonight, you're a beautiful audience."
The afternoons were reserved for workshop sessions were musicians and folk dancers gathered and performed informally. There were seminars on poetry, gospel music, and East Indian sitar music.
More than 114 performers appeared during the weekend.
Festival officials Tom Bishop, Estelle Klein, and Richard Flohil were rewarded with clear, calm weather and big crowds for the three-day affair. A near-capacity gathering of about 15,000 turned out.
Printed from the official Joni Mitchell website. Permanent link: https://jonimitchell.com/library/view.cfm?id=775
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