Cajun Cowgirl Sings North American Folk

Phoebe Legere brings her own blend of bluegrass, blues and hillbilly folk to New Brunswick.

(submitted) Phoebe Legere’s ancestors left New Brunswick in 1755. The Legeres were dispersed from Canada to Louisiana carrying their songs, culture and faith everywhere they went. From July 23 to the 30, the Cajun Cowgirl, as she is called, will return to New Brunswick for a set of original songs and dances that celebrate the immigrant experience. Joining her is local multi-instrumentalist/mandolin/fiddler William Patrick Gushue.

Legere is a songwriter whose music combines Acadian bluegrass and Louisiana blues, French chansons and Hillbilly folk music. She is truly a country girl: camping in the Provincial parks of Canada in her tour this summer. “We Abenaki/Acadian people love to be outdoors, in nature, close to the earth,” she said. “We delight in eating and drinking around the campfire in New Brunswick with the family. That’s Heaven, pure and simple.”

Proud of her Abenaki/Acadian heritage, Legere plays traditional French Canadian instruments including spoons and accordion and Native American instruments like the Cedar Flute and Buffalo Drum. Her performances of original songs, based on ancient traditional medicine songs and Acadian folk songs, are celebrations of the power of survival in the face of overwhelming odds. A role model for young women everywhere, Legere projects a winner’s happiness, health, humor and compassion. Her funkiness and personal power, her amazing sense of visual style and her virtuosity delight audiences.

“Legere is an expressive and versatile singer whose voice ranges from a dark and earthy alto to a gorgeous dazzling high soprano. She combines intelligent lyrics and a fusion of French musette, Cajun, pop, rock, folk and jazz into a “roots alternative” stew. – Washington Post

“Des influences de la chanson française des années 1920 et 1930, style musette, et le théâtre musical colorent sa musique qui conjugue la pop, le classique, le folk, le rock, le blues et le Cajun. Elle offre des prestations théâtrales où elle joue plusieurs instruments. Sur scène, elle peint aussi en direct.” – Sylvie Mousseau, Acadie Nouvelle

“New York-based multi-media performer Phoebe Legere is a true Renaissance performer. She does music, film, and art, acts, dances and composes, makes videos and arranges for symphonies. She’s performed at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Centre, toured with Bowie, been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, PBS, and in The New York Times, starred in an HBO production, and created The Shamancycle, a 15 person monster eagle vehicle that runs on alternative energy.” – Bob Mersereau, CBC