Place des Arts unveils Les Veillées, a new acoustic series in the most intimate setting

Six rare get-togethers featuring contemporary francophone artists 

Montreal, January 13, 2026 — Place des Arts is presenting the new series Les Veillées, which will run from March 5 to April 30 at Salle Claude-Léveillée. These six acoustic evenings will feature artists from the pop, folk, alternative, world-music and country scenes: Alex Burger, Gabriella Olivo, Bïa, Corail, Joseph Marchand, Ponteix, Willows, Velours Velours and Stéphane Lafleur. 

Conceived by Place des Arts in collaboration with SACEF, the Société pour l’avancement de la chanson d’expression française (Society for the Advancement of French-language Song), the series invites artists to reveal their talents in a different light: in a solo or otherwise reduced formula, free of artifice, in raw, intimate and more personal performances – like an after-dark gathering at home! Every show concludes with a special discussion with the guest artist: a moment suspended in time to carry the emotion beyond the stage. 

“We were delighted when Place des Arts approached us to collaborate on Les Veillées with them and to come up with a program rooted in the heart of contemporary French-language song. The series gathers together artists from the musical stages of the present moment, some of whom are natural fits for young audiences, at the same time as it makes room for established voices. What results is a gentle, soaring offering, one that encourages attentive listening while fully revealing the power of the acoustic formula.” 

– Sébastien Lacombe, co-programmer of Les Veillées and artistic co-director of SACEF 

“With Les Veillées, what we wanted was to create a truly one-of-a-kind experience: namely, to offer spectators a chance to enter the world of artists in a way rarely experienced: up close and without pretense. Salle Claude-Léveillée offers the perfect setting for this type of intimate performance. We’re very proud of the final program and can’t wait to see it come to life with new audiences.” 

– Mylaine Albert, Vice President Marketing, Sales and Communications, Place des Arts 

Reserve your tickets soon: only 120 seats per performance, and not one more! 

PROGRAM 

Alex Burger solo 
March 5 | Duration: 60 minutes 

Country rhythms shaded with folk and rock influences. Enjoy for one last time Ça s’invente pas, Alex Burger’s latest album, performed solo, up close and personal. This new opus reveals a warm, gentle voice along with a masterly way of writing, both funny and touching and covering subjects like love, the road, everyday living and skidding off course. Normally backed by his loyal and tested Les Prix Staff, at Les Veillées he’s appearing in a solo formula, a pared-down, intimate way of showing off his songs, lending them a new prominence in a rare close proximity with an audience that will also have the opportunity to experience the creative process as reflected in new creations. 

Gabriella Olivo and Bïa 
March 12 | Duration: 30 minutes (Gabriella Olivo) and 60 minutes (Bïa) 

One evening, one journey. Dive into an exhilarating experience that combines Gabriella Olivo’s dream pop, folk, indie rock and R&B and be part of the grand poetic comeback of the enchanting Bïa and La Délicatesse in part two. 

Named Révélation Radio-Canada 2025-2026, Gabriella Olivo delivers captivating and immersive performances imbued with spontaneity, vulnerability and authenticity. Her songs range from French to Spanish and are distinguished by sincere, catchy lyrics. The rising star of a new generation, she precisely embodies that mix of styles and languages – a profoundly universal music that resonates naturally with young people today. 

The well-known songwriter Bïa creates beauty, dream and emotion with a spellbinding voice and hot rhythms that build bridges between the cultures that inhabit her– from Brazil to France by way of Quebec. Still resolutely current, she stands out as a leading figure of poetic, organic Franco-Brazilian song. 

Corail and Joseph Marchand 
March 19 | Duration: 40 minutes (Corail) and 45 minutes (Joseph Marchand) 

A rare opportunity to attend iconic performances by the folk music duo Corail and composer Joseph Marchand with his new instrumental album Treize miniatures. 

 
Corail, made up of Julien Comptour and Philippe Noël, is a Montreal duo whose ’70s-inspired folk sounds express a sincere and touching complicity by way of guitar melodies and perfectly coordinated voices, conveying frank, vivid lyrics. After a first independent album titled Maison in the fall of 2023, and then a collaborative micro-album with Vanille in spring 2024 on the Bonbonbon label, Corail is getting ready to release a powerful second album, a number of whose songs will be featured at this show. 

A composer, producer and musician, Joseph Marchand enjoys wide recognition on the music and audiovisual scene in addition to being an ally of the band Corail. With his brand-new instrumental album Treize miniatures, he opens 13 windows to explore the minimalist language crafted by the very material of the instrument: the guitar. An artist of considerable finesse – one who presents projects that stray far from the beaten path, where time seems to stand still and the music enfolds the listener in a remarkable gentleness. 

Ponteix and Willows 
April 2 | Duration: 45 minutes (Ponteix) and 45 minutes (Willows) 

Experience the hypnotic grooves of Ponteix and the delicate acoustic folk of Willows in an evening filled with beauty and duality. 

 
On stage, Ponteix, led by Mario Lepage, will perform as a duo to deliver a thrilling experience, with lyrics rooted in their origins. Launched in February 2025, the album Le canadien errant, co-produced with Louis-Jean Cormier, explores the cultural divide between Quebec and Saskatchewan. A leading figure of the new generation of francophone artists in western Canada, Ponteix are making a name for themselves as an essential voice in a vibrant musical landscape. 

Willows will be performing her new album, Maison vent, the universal story of a person torn between two cultures. Mostly in French with a bit of English and Michif, the songs evoke the wind, the earth, lakes, rivers, wide-open spaces and the road. A Franco-Manitoban Metis artist, Willows mixes languages and her imaginings with great sensitivity, asserting a strong and unique folk identity. 

Velours Velours alone on stage 
April 16 | Duration: 75 minutes 

Velours Velours sings an uninhibited pop with power and sincerity, sometimes tinged with retro accents, sometimes with the fire of the young. Access his daily reflections – introspective, sometimes touching, sometimes cutting, with humor or in melancholy. Impossible to remain indifferent to a singer who’s become a special favorite of local music lovers. A singular and versatile artist, deeply committed to his creative process, he powerfully embodies the spirit of new French-language song. 

Like a shared secret, this show will also be used to record some tracks for his next album – a special privilege for the audience in attendance! 

Stéphane Lafleur solo 
April 30 | Duration: 75 minutes 

Enter the intimate and poetic atmosphere of singer-songwriter Stéphane Lafleur of the folk band Avec pas d’casque in this solo show. A rare opportunity to hear him in a stripped-down formula, which spotlights the fine lines of his writing and the delicacy of his soundscape. 

An essential player on the local music scene, Stéphane Lafleur is the embodiment of intimate, authentic and deeply human folk. 
 

Consult the Place des Arts website for the complete program 

The series Les Veillées is an initiative of Place des Arts, conceived in collaboration with SACEF, running from March 5 to April 30, 2026, at Salle Claude-Léveillée. 

Source: 
Géraldine Zaccardelli | Communications and Public Relations Manager at Place des Arts, gzaccardelli@placedesarts.com 

Media relations: 
ROY & TURNER | Mélissa Roy, mroy@roy-turner.com