Maillardville’s music festival, Festival du Bois, today announced its’ dates, a roster of fabulous artists from right across Canada and beyond - and a much-anticipated move back to Maillardville, the centre of francophone culture, history and heritage in BC, for the 2008 festival.

Audiences across the Lower Mainland, both francophone and non-francophone alike, are invited to mark March 1 & 2, 2008 in their calendars for one of this province’s premier celebrations of francophone music, dance, craft, food, heritage and culture. The festival also embraces, and seamlessly incorporates a melting pot of folk and world music artists into its eclectic fold - this year highlighting the venerable squeezebox. The accordion and the people who play it are featured throughout the festival weekend, performing a myriad of rich musical genres and styles. And a big change this year: the festival packs up and moves from it’s previous location in Blue Mountain Park to a new home in beautiful Mackin Park, located at 1046 Brunette Avenue (across the Lougheed Highway from IKEA) in the heart of Maillardville for its 19th Annual event.

The soul of Festival du Bois is the celebration of francophone and Québécois culture in a fun, accessible community environment - offering an extraordinary festival experience to folks of all ages and from all cultures and backgrounds. It has also become known for showcasing some of the finest francophone, world and folk music artists performing today. Festival audiences can hear and see great music and dance under the roof of the massive Grand Chapiteau (Main Tent), check out family-focused entertainments in the Petit Chapiteau (Children’s Tent), learn more about the music and its story in the Tente des Ateliers (Workshop Tent) - or wander the site to sample poutine, absorb a bit of Maillardville history, or explore a variety of fascinating exhibits. Grown-ups can put on their dancing shoes and kick up their heels on Saturday night at La Grande Veillée! (The Big Night Out!) in Le Grand Chapiteau. Whenever you’re there, and wherever you roam on site you’ll encounter superb entertainment in a friendly atmosphere sparkling with French spirit!

Some of this year’s featured music artists and groups include: CLUB CARREFOUR - your musical passport to Québecois traditional music; the eclectic, Brazilian-influenced accordion sounds of NY City’s ROB CURTO and his group; the ‘francophone tradition meets Prairie youth’ energy of Saskatchewan-based LES CIREUX D’SEMELLES; MAHERS BAHERS - delivering great Newfoundland traditional music and more than a few laughs; accordion maestro RAYNALD OUELLET and young accordion virtuoso ALEXANDRE CARON, and; the sizzling klezmer sounds of Vancouver-based TZIMMES - to name a few.

And on Saturday night at La Grande Veillée! dance, dance, dance to the funky Cajun/Zydeco sounds of Western Canada Music Award-winning JOHNNY CAJUN, followed by one of Quebec’s most dynamic, virtuosic and internationally-renowned music groups LA VOLÉE D’CASTORS (Translation: THE FLYING BEAVERS).