Canadian City Guides #3 + #4 // Radio Radio's Baie St-Marie (NS) & Moncton (NB)

As part of our partnership with the Canadian Blast & The Local present Canada festival on June 30th, we have caught up with some of the artists involved to find out what their home towns are like. In this double edition, Polaris longlist nominees Radio Radio give us the lowdown of their home towns in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Who are you and where are you from?
Alexandre Arthur Bilodeau and Jacques Alphonse Doucet, both come from Baie St-Marie Nouvelle-Écosse and Gabriel Louise Bernard Malenfant comes from Moncton New-Brunswick, to make this simple we say we come from New Atlantis which is historically correct after a quick google search.

What is the city known for (and is that fair?)
Nova Scotia is know for The Oak Island treasure.

If we were come to the city for the first time, what would be the first thing you would take us to see and why?
In Baie St-Marie we would go see Jacque’s father, Alphonse and he’d bring you clam digging. In Moncton, we’d go see Gabriel Mother, Jocelyne and she’d show you pictures of her when she was a disco queen.

Best Place to grab a bite to eat?
In Baie St-Marie ” Chez Christophe”, best seafood lasagna and fishcakes in the world, zero exaggeration. In Moncton, Café Calactus for an amazing Veggie Burger and at Jean’s for the ultimate breakfast dinner experience, with old woman waitress that squeezes your cheek when you walk in!

Good places to see a show?
Alexandre’s grand-mother’s house where she’ll play some organ for you.

If I wanted to pick up a copy of your record, where would be the best place in the city to go…
In Moncton and Baie St-Marie is the Frenchy’s which is like the Costco of second hand shops, where you can get records and a pair of knickers!

What would be your perfect day in the city?
À la Baie St-Marie, you wake-up at Alexandre camp beside Lac des Anguilles, big breakfast prepared by Gabriel, while Jacques tells stories about the prior night. Quick skinny dip in the lac to wake you up. Alexandre and Gabriel go to the beach, Jacque’s goes to play golf. We have a drink with Alphonse then go to Chez Christophe, flirt with the waitresses there. Go have tea at Alexandre grandmother’s for proper digestion and then back at the camp to make chakra opening music till sunrise with a fire keeping us extra warm all night. Before going to bed, we tell each other ” qu’on s’aime ” and then to bed with the sounds of the leaves dancing putting us peacefully to sleep.

Outside the city walls: best day trip outside of the city?
In Moncton we’d go to Magnetic Hill, where your car seems to go up hill on neutral…amazing tourist attraction!

Local Legend: one person (or group of people) (musical or otherwise) who is held to be a legendary figure in the town (and why?)
In Baie St-Marie there’s Baptiste a local musician that has captured the spirit of the region and the world in his do it yourself approach to music. He’s put out dozens of cassettes (you can only get it on tape) and he records only with his 8 track recorder and a synthesizer. He doesn’t do shows. His voice and is stories give you shivers when you listen to him.

Favourite city story/myth
Look up the Oak Island treasure, which is situated near Lounenbourgh in Nova-Scotia. It’s a treasure that’s been sought after for more then 300 years, by the most experienced and well funded treasure hunting companies in the world. It is a tunnel that runs 200 feat deep, but has been water shafts connected to the ocean so when you dig the ocean pumps into the pit. Symbols from Egypt, from the Free Mason, materials from Spain and the Bahamas have been found there.

We would like you to make us a playlist featuring bands from the city (past and present)
Go here for Belmundo’s Mix Tape

….as Radio Radio have made their own mixtape, here’s a video for their own song “Jacuzzi” from their last album “Cliche Hot”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cRPH4lb8UI

Has living in the city had much of an affect on the music you create? If so, how?
Yes the ocean, the woods, the poets and the grand-mothers

What has been your most memorable live show? Have you got anything special planned for your UK dates?
Playing at Gabriel family reunion in front of a hundred highly critical yet happy spectators. Special dance moves, made just for our UK gigs!!

‘Canadian Blast and The Local Present CANADA’ is the inaugural Canada-only music festival in London. In association with The Line of Best Fit and sponsored by: Canadian Tourism Commission, VIA Rail, Sleeman Beer and CIBC.