The Georgia Straight proudly sponsors the Festival d’Été Francophone de Vancouver gala

Le Centre culturel francophone de Vancouver presents the 24^th annual Festival d’Été Francophone de Vancouver, a francophone music, arts, and culture festival from June 13 to 21. This year, the gala event will kick off the festival with performances by Zachary Richard and Kevin Parent on the Air Canada Stage (West 7^th Avenue between Granville Street and Fir Street) on Saturday (June 15) at 7 p.m.

Quebecois musician Kevin Parent will open the show. The 41-year-old singer first hit airwaves in 1996 with songs from his debut album Pigeon d’argile. Two more successful French-language albums followed—1998’s Grand parleu, petit faiseur, and 2001’s Les vents ont changé—before Parent’s first English album, Fangless Wolf Facing Winter was released.

Parent’s talents are not exclusive to music. He has worked in film, most noticeably in Jean-Marc Vallée’s Café de Flore. In Vancouver, Parent will perform his greatest hits and include a few new surprises.

Zachary Richard will take the stage after Parent. The Louisiana-based musician, poet, author, and composer returns to the Festival d’Été stage after 11 years. Richard released his 20^th album in 2012, returning to his roots in Le Fou.

Tickets to the Festival d’Été Francophone de Vancouver gala event are $20 to $25 and can be purchased online in advance or by calling 604-736-9806.