Heard it through the rosebush

THROUGH ROSIER TINTED GLASSES: Self-described as 'romantic, nuanced, tenacious, edgy, yet soft and poised' Quebec five-piece Rosier (Rosebush), brings their mix of traditional folk, indie, jazz, pop, bluegrass and contemporary styles to the Dome Room next week. Picture supplied

Lumberjacks, French-speaking Canadians, grizzly bear trappers and travel writer Bill Bryson's conflicted walk in the woods are about all most of us know about Quebec.

But the Canadian province's music has a rich tradition with roots in songs and dances from northern France, and with later influences from Irish, Scottish and British immigrants, the region developed its own sound.

In Gisborne next week, Quebecois five-piece Rosier's genre-bending music mixes elements of traditional folk, indie, jazz, pop, bluegrass and contemporary styles to create their signature sound.

With an arsenal of instruments that includes piano, fiddle, guitar, bass guitar, lap steel, foot percussion, mandolin, banjo and vocals, the bilingual five-piece injects colour into the folk traditions of Canada, Quebec and Appalachian heritage through original songs, sophisticated arrangements, harmonic progressions and reinvented traditions.

The band's recently released EP Vie Penible (The Painful Life), was described by ICI Musique as “Aerial, sparkling and catchy, with their complex arrangements and unique vocal harmonies, the band's songs put balm to the heart and are soothing”.

“Together since 2009, the Montreal-based band reimagine age-old folk songs in a fresh context, uniting the ancient and the modern, the traditional and the unorthodox, and the timeless with fleeting, the momentary,” writes Ditta Demeter in Atwood Magazine.

“The paradoxical quality of this marriage is what makes their soundscape so intriguing.”

Rosier, The Dome Room. Wednesday, January 22. Doors open 7pm. Tickets $23 from The Aviary or eventfinda.