The Montreal French folk band Le Vent du Nord is getting ready to blow into Ogden next Friday like the North Wind for which it is named.

Bringing with them the music and culture of Quebec, band members will be performing a new show drawn from their new album, "Tromper le Temps" ("Fooling Time"), which debuted in the U.S. on Nov. 3.

Oliver Demers spoke to the Standard-Examiner just two days after they launched the tour and album in Canada, with a hometown preview concert of the album.

Although the musical forms and instrumentation of Le Vent du Nord are drawn from the past, as are some of the stories, many of the lyrics are inspired by current world events and the present-day society of French Canada.

There are 8 million people of French-Canadian heritage, most of them residing in Quebec. Demers, and fellow band members Simon Beaudry, Réjean Brunet and Nicolas Boulerice, are four among those millions.

Many in their numbers long for more recognition and representation in Canadian life. Some would even like to see Quebec secede to become a truly separate French nation.

Though it's a touchy subject for many in the band's home country, Le Vent du Nord has worked hard to deliver its commentary on the matter in a positive, rather than combative, way.

"We want to talk a little bit more about the way we live in Quebec, but we don't want to do it in a negative way," said Demers, calling from his hometown. "In the band we four guys, we talk about it together. We talk about the world, the situation of the world. Maybe because we are growing up, and have more confidence now, and we wanted this to be more than just songs in a show."

Bigger issues

Americans with French as a primary language are far smaller in numbers than in Canada. Our biggest population, about 250,000, is in Louisiana, though Hurricane Katrina muddied the numbers somewhat, as many were lost and even greater numbers took refuge in other states.

There is also a long-standing Creole population around the Bay Area of California, and in a few other pockets in other parts of the U.S.

But, perhaps due to their relative scarcity, the Creole and Cajun of the U.S. do not tend to be a very vocal minority here. Through music and entertainment, Le Vent du Nord wants to let others know that there is, indeed, a large and vital French culture in North America.

"For sure, this will be very surprising for many people to understand that there is this group with their own newspapers, schools, all of it, in French. In Montreal, it is about 50 percent English-speaking, but outside the city, it is pretty much French. They will be intrigued by the way we speak and live."

Band members said that though they do many songs in French, they've never had issues with playing in the U.S., as far as the audience accepting them. They have played about 400 shows in 42 states in their history.

"People really take this as a cultural experience. You will have two hours to really dig into our place -- like teleportation. That is what we set out to give them."

One song that puts today's Québécois problems in perspective and historical context is inspired by a colonial-era report by Lord Durham. The song, a retort, is called "Lettre á Durham."

The report, from the 1840s, talks about what is to be done with the French-speakers of what was then two separate Canadas, Upper and Lower.

"He (Lord Durham) said, 'The best thing we can do for the French-Canadians in the two Canadas is assimilate them, and make them part of our society.' Fortunately for us, he was wrong and it did not happen. We are here still. We have a different way of thinking, and seeing the world. And we think differences, diversity in opinion, is good. We will write about this more and more on our albums now."

The album also looks at issues that are bigger than Quebec. For instance, in one song, they take on "frackers," gas prospectors who trample much of North America looking for natural gas in ways that are seen as threatening to the people living on the land.

"These are things that should matter to all of us," said Demers.

But lest you think this band is too serious, know that dragons and damsels and jubilant hockey celebrants are also part of the stories they tell.

Acoustic sound

Though some of the messages of the original songs might have been ripped from the headlines of the 21st century, the instrumentation, and the music that inspires Le Vent du Nord, is from the past.

The instruments they play are all acoustic -- fiddle and French-Canadian foot percussion, guitar, Irish bouzouki, accordion, and, something of a rarity these days, hurdy gurdy.

The old hurdy gurdies used to slip out of tune so much, Demers said, that they were almost impractical to play for an entire concert. But Le Vent du Nord's hurdy gurdy handler, Boulerice, has a top-of-the-line modern French instrument.

"It's like a Cadillac," said Demers. "During the shows, it is very stable. We don't even have to worry about that. And that makes it more accepted as a real instrument."

After 10 years together, the group has come up with a solid method for choosing songs to record for an album. First, the foursome splits up for a good year, doing their own research on historical songs, and composing new material as well.

Then, about a year before a new album is due, they get together for a day of listening to what each has brought to the table. At the end of that day, they might be down to 20 or 25 songs -- reels, folk tunes and other historical music taken from old books, from referrals by friends, and other research, as well as newly composed tunes.

"Then we get together and start arranging the songs together, and go in for maybe 20 or 25 rehearsals. Then we record."

It is during those rehearsals and arrangements that the group becomes a sort of Gestalt unit -- four parts, one mind, one sound.

"The four guys coming together, the input of everyone, is the sound of Le Vent du Nord," said Demers. "It is really not a reflection of just one mind. We believe in creativity and diversity in the band and otherwise. Sometimes we argue, but we always find a place where everyone is happy.

"It is a good way to learn about living our lives, too. It is the same as a family, a whole little society. We learn a lot from the band for the life, and learn a lot for the life from the band."