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Soldat Louis

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Soldat Louisare aFrench rockgroup originally fromLorient,who mix thetraditional musicofBrittanywith typicalrock musicinstruments -electricandacoustic guitar,drum kit,etc. - as well as the traditionalbagpipes(biniou brazinBreton) andbombard.The two founding members, who are still playing in the group today, areRenaud Detressan(alias Gary Wicknam) and Serge Danet (alias Soldat Louis, “Soldier Louis” ).

History

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Aymon Folk FestivalatBogny-sur-Meusein August 2004

Soldat Louis's firstalbum,Première bordéeappeared in1988.The band played assupportto the solo singer-songwriterRenaud,in his series of concerts at theZénithin Paris the following year. The firstsinglefrom that album, “Du rhum des femmes”, projected them to national exposure, with the single selling 750,000 copies, and the album wentdouble gold.During the "golden age" of the FrenchTop 50,chansons de comptoir(bar songs) were à la mode ("Allez viens boire un p'tit coup à la maison"etc.) and Soldat Louis found themselves associated with this musical style.

Soldat Louis at theFestival des Terre-NeuvasinBobital,2007.

Their second album was released two years after their first:"Pavillon Noir",however, did not achieve the same success, and nor did any of the albums that followed. Despite disappearing from the mainstream media, Soldat Louis continued, having changed their line-up (except for the two founding members), to tour concert halls around France, also releasing several more original albums,best-ofsandlive albums.

Song themes

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Although thechanson"Du Rhum des femmes" saw the group labelled by the French public as composers ofchansons à boire(drinking songs), the rest of their repertoire, which achieved less success, consists of more delicate songs ( "Pavillon Noir" ), nostalgic ( "Encore un rhum" ), humorous ( "Martiniquaise" ), or even weary ( "T'es mon secret"). Other lyrics equally reveal the group to be politically engaged, such as thepamphlet-like “C'est un pays”, celebrating the Breton identity, as well as "Bobby Sands", about theProvisional Irish Republican ArmymemberBobby Sands,who died in prison on Hunger Strike.

Personnel

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Michel Banuls and Anthony Masselin
  • Anthony Masselin (bagpipes/uilleannpipes/flute)
  • Christophe Sonnic (drums)
  • Gary Wicknam (Renaud Detressan) (guitar/vocals)
  • Hervé Le Guillou (bass)
  • Jean-Paul Barrière (keyboard)
  • Michel Banuls (guitar/vocals)
  • Soldat Louis (Serge Danet)(lead guitar/banjo/lead singer)

Discography

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