Le Winston Band is a Québécois group who draw on the rich cultural heritage of Louisiana and find inspiration in Zydeco music. Like a kind of Montréal Zydeco, they write convivial songs adapted for and inspired by their city.

 

Le Winston Band is almost entirely made up of childhood friends from “Zoo Town” (a neighbourhood also known as Ahuntsic): Vaillant Larock, accordion and occasional fiddle player, a troubadour who sings of love and pain; Fallu, incredible bassist, a crowd tamer and tireless road dog; Vince, guitarist and skilful vocalist, an engineering maestro and acoustic landscaper with a discerning ear; Duke, the man on the frottoir, a collector of ear worms and a merchant philosopher; and Hot Sauce, a drummer raised on Zydeco in nearby Hudson, guardian of good vibes and member of the group since 2022.

 

Formed in 2012, Le Winston Band has more than 600 performances under their belt, having toured their music all across Canada and in France, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Czechia, Denmark and the United States. Their music is good for any occasion, spreading joie de vivre and letting the good times roll. Since 2014, the group has been at the helm of a Mardi Gras celebration in Montréal. They’re committed to reviving this typical Louisiana celebration, its dancing, singing and eating, once also popular in Québec. A carnivalesque celebration featuring parties, songs, costumes and gumbo, their event attracts hundreds of people every year.

 

The boys have been generous with their music and have a huge discography of lively compositions that explore their roots. On the heels of their albums Rembobine (2015), Zig Zag Zydeco Zoo (2019) and Winston Express (2023), and their EPs Canajun (2014), Bolton Boogie (2016), Live au Mardi Gras 2020 (2020) and Enwèye à Lafayette (2021), many of which gained critical recognition in Québec, they will be releasing their fourth full length album Attention, c’est chaud! in the winter of 2026. This marks their first release with Simone Records.

 

Attention, c’est chaud! also marks a turning point for Le Winston Band. The album was recorded in Louisiana with Koray Broussard, in New Brunswick with Mico Roy (Les Hay Babies, Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire), in Toronto with Rob Christian and in Montréal with Guillaume Chartrain. It features grooves that flirt with R&B, painting the quintet in a new light and strengthening the idea of a “Montréal Zydeco” that is permeable and open to expansion. The album also features collaborations with artists the band loves, such as the aforementioned Hay Babies and Koray Broussard, as well as Maxime Gervais.

 

After over twelve years on the scene, Le Winston Band has only just started bringing people together. It’s time to salt your beans – and join the party!