Canadian Indie Band Hay Babies Delight in Their Debut at LASSO Montreal

Spectacles LASSO Montréal: Les Hay Babies Amuse Themselves at Their First Country Music Festival

Canadian Pride at LASSO

The Jean-Drapeau Park took on a Wild West feel this Friday as tens of thousands of country music enthusiasts gathered for the LASSO festival in Montreal. On its opening day, the spirited Acadian trio, Les Hay Babies, made us proud to be Canadians. Known for their blend of indie, folk, and country influences, as well as their unique, comedic, and playful delivery of their compositions, the Canadian band Hay Babies did not disappoint.

“Hello LASSO! It doesn’t feel like we’re in Montreal, it feels like we’re in New Brunswick. We are the Hay Babies, we’re Acadians,” they exclaimed in front of their large pink and orange logo, between songs. Dressed in glittery, black thigh-high leg warmers and black t-shirts with the word “Wanted” printed on them, the three singer-songwriters from Moncton delivered an energetic, eccentric, and completely captivating performance. “New Brunswick is the poorest province in Canada, which means we are people of quality,” they added mockingly, explaining how they’ve learned to have fun “with not much at all.”

Musical Journey through Albums

Accompanied by a keyboardist and a drummer, the winners of the 2013 Francouvertes competition performed songs from their albums “Mon Homesick Heart” (2014), “La 4e dimension” (2016), and their most recent work, “Boîte aux lettres” (2020). “I felt that there wasn’t enough blues written by girls in the world. So we decided to mix it up and write a blues song as the Hay Babies,” they explained before performing “Baby viendra back à genou.”

Know that everything you’ve heard about the Hay Babies is true. The charisma of Vivianne Roy, Julie Aubé, and Katrine Noël is palpable, as is their madness and visible pleasure of being on stage. Not to mention their powerful voices that add to their contagious energy and perfectly improvised choreography. “This was our first experience at a country festival and we loved it,” confessed the artists before delivering their final song, the lively and disco-infused “Boîte aux lettres.”

Electronic and Classic Country

Next, the gentle Acadian madness of the Hay Babies gave way to the danceable hits of the American group Cheat Codes, consisting of Trevor Dahl, Kevin Ford, and Matthew Russell. Although the Los Angeles trio took a country turn with their album “One Night In Nashville – Presented by Cheat Codes,” released in January 2023, they offered festival-goers a DJ set of dance and electronic music instead. The crowd, adorned with cowboy hats, enthusiastically jumped and danced to fiery electronic versions of songs like “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Turn Me On,” “No Promises” (the popular collaboration with Demi Lovato), and “Bets on Us,” featuring the legendary Dolly Parton. As the last rays of sunlight glinted on the river, almost the entire compact crowd danced in line to a remix of Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like A Woman.”

As for American country star Jake Owen, known for hits like “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” “Alone With You,” “The One that Got Away,” and “Anywhere With You,” he delivered an energetic performance to an visibly excited crowd. With his new country sound, turquoise sequined jacket (the very same one he wore on the cover of his latest album “Loose Cannon”), his excellent musicians, and genuine enthusiasm, Owen created a perfect country combo.

Upcoming Festival Highlights

The LASSO Montreal festival continues tomorrow, Saturday, August 19th, at Jean-Drapeau Park. Don’t miss out on the diverse range of country music experiences and performances!