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bio
A poet at heart, Canadian singer-songwriter Élise LeBlanc (She/They) is inspired by the romance of wild things. Heavily influenced by classic country, Appalachia, and western swing- her songs explore queer desire, betrayal, hope, and nature lore. Her gentle twang and rich, expressive vibratto nods to classic crooners Patsy Cline and Peggy Lee.
Her 2024 record "The Fiddle & The Fire" - produced by Leeroy Stagger (Canadian Folk Music Award-Winner whose roster includes: Corb Lund, Joel Plaskett, Mariel Buckley), was listed in the top 10 "Best Country Records on Bandcamp" review in 11/2023, and featured in a CBC Radio-Canada interview on "Culture et Confiture".
Between 2022-2025, Élise has played over 100 shows from Vancouver Island to Nashville, and has been a mainstage performer at prominent BC festivals including Cowichan Bluegrass Festival, Islands Folk Festival, Filberg Festival, and Tofino Jazz Festival. She'll be playing her first UK tour, starting with Maverick Festival in summer 2025.
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Elise's recent showcase initiative at Folk Alliance International 2025 in Montreal was supported by Music BC, Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia.
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Élise is currently based on the unceded traditional territory of the Lukwungen People, the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations (Victoria, BC, CANADA.)
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press
"Elise LeBlanc is based in Cumberland, British Columbia, a small town on Vancouver Island that’s a loooong way from Tennessee and Texas. Nonetheless, bluegrass, traditional country music, and Western swing found their way to her, and you can hear their heavy influence on LeBlanc’s lovely new album, The Fiddle & The Fire. The nine tracks here are not showy, but they are well-crafted and modestly arranged, giving the band a chance to shine but leaving plenty of room for LeBlanc’s engaging, earthy voice."
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- Best Country Music on Bandcamp | November 2023 | Ben Salmon
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"Élise LeBlanc ravive la musique country d'antan"
"Élise LeBlanc est passionnée par la musique Country des années 40 et inspirée par ses racines acadiennes et irlandaise.
Après avoir vécu en Ontario, en Alberta et en Oregon, l'auteure-compositrice-interprète queer de musique country/western swing/alt-bluegrass est aujourd'hui basée dans une petite bourgade de la côte Est de l'Île de Vancouver. "
"Élise LeBlanc Revives Old Country Music
Élise LeBlanc is passionate about 1940s Country music and inspired by her Acadian and Irish roots. After living in Ontario, Alberta and Oregon, the queer country/western swing/alt-bluegrass singer-songwriter is now based in a small town on the east coast of Vancouver Island."
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- Marc Fournier, CBC Radio Canada Premiere | Culture Et Confiture
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"Singer-songwriter Élise LeBlanc brings an old-world sound to us from Vancouver Island, BC. “The Fiddle and The Fire” is deep-steeped in tones that conjure images of the old Southwest mixed with traditional folk and bits of Appalachia. The result is something unusual within a modern context, marrying past and present with a near-gothic sense of foreboding. Her band, The Ridgeriders, brings this tale to life via upright bass, fiddle, brushed drumming and carefully placed, stirring harmonies… if we didn’t know it was written recently, we’d swear it was a vintage folk tale."
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"...Her voice captivated the room from the first song. She resonates with the English folk/soul scene comparable to Lisa Hannigan and Adele. Look out for her new album..."