Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

Vitrine Voix Francophone en Outaouais debuts at the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival from
August 29 to 31, introducing a curated platform for emerging francophone musicians from the
Outaouais. Presented by the FMG and Culture Outaouais and produced by Les Productions
Coin d’Table in collaboration with Le Chapiteau Francophone, the initiative combines
performance, mentorship and professional development.

Four artists are featured in the inaugural edition: Sofia Duhaime, Geneviève RB, Romie
Lacasse and Mia Kelly. They will take part in a workshop on musical self-production with
composer and producer Jeannot Bournival, an artistic mentorship with singer-songwriter
Andréanne A. Malette, and a networking and discovery panel on August 31.

Sofia Duhaime, originally from Gatineau and now based in Montreal, released her debut album
Lune d’argent earlier this year. Her sound blends folk, chanson, country and rock, and she has
performed alongside acts such as TALK and The Franklin Electric. Her earlier EP L’enfant
established her as a thoughtful lyricist with a strong melodic instinct.

Geneviève RB brings over a decade of experience through her work with the folk-pop duo
Geneviève et Alain. The pair received multiple Trille Or (golden trillium) awards and won Best
Francophone Songwriter at the 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards.

Romie Lacasse and Mia Kelly, both from the Outaouais, round out the line-up. Kelly is known for
her bilingual songwriting and has appeared at Festival en chanson de Petite-Vallée and Ottawa
Bluesfest. Lacasse, a classically trained vocalist, is emerging through local showcases and
independent releases.

The showcase concludes with Entre elles, a collaborative performance scheduled for August 31
at 5:15 pm on the Scène Hydro-Québec. Led by Malette, the concert features six young female
singers: Romie Lacasse, Sofia Duhaime, Marie Laperle, Mirani Coehlo, Ange-Élie Ménard and
Samantha Neves.

“The Vitrine is a way to create lasting connections among young artists and the wider musical
ecosystem,” said Jeannot Bournival, who coordinates the initiative. “It reflects a growing
commitment to artistic development and cross-sector collaboration,” added Julie Martineau,
director general of Culture Outaouais.

Photo: Vitrine Voix Francophone en Outaouais debuts at the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival,
showcasing emerging francophone artists from the Outaouais through mentorship, professional
development, and a show featuring Andréanne A. Malette, Romie Lacasse, Sofia Duhaime,
Marie Laperle, Mirani Coehlo, Ange-Élie Ménard and Samantha Neves (TF) Photo: Courtesy of
the Hot Air Balloon Festival.