Not a tourist postcard, the real thing!!

Gilles Vigneault's "Mon pays" defines an entire nation.
Les Cowboys Fringants critique their own society with love and rage.
Plume Latraverse's raw poetry makes you laugh and wince in the same breath.
Montréal haunts three different artists three different ways.
A rural farmer watches his land disappear.
And we end with a subversive cover of the national anthem that says everything about who Quebec really is.
This is what identity sounds like when artists refuse to simplify it.
Identity isn't one song. It's Héron's lakeside folk, and Beau Dommage's Sunday nights.

It's fierce, it's tender, it's complicated, and it's unmistakably Quebec.

No French required. Just listen to what a people sound like when they're telling their own story.

• Songs played
• Stéphane Archambault - Pays
• Gilles Vigneault - Mon pays
• Les Cowboys fringants - En berne
• Plume Latraverse - Jonquière
• Héron - Bonaventure
• Treizième étage, - Le Coeur de Montréal
• Robert Charlebois - Je reviendrai à Montréal
• Karkwa - Le tour de l'île
• Les colocs - La rue principale
• Beau Dommage - Harmonie du soir à Chateauguay
• Philippe Brach - Ôk Canada

Rocé's rage and poetry from his new album.

A 78-year-old street storyteller from Toulouse remixed by a beatmaker from the same city—two generations, one song.

Belgium's Camille Yembe on her raw debut.

Luc de Larochellière's folk poetry.

Sens Unik's Swiss 90s rap legacy, back with fresh material.

Mitsou's sensational return as Quebec's answer to Madonna.

Ezéchiel Pailhès adapting Shakespeare into electropop.

And the synth pioneers who shaped Daft Punk before anyone knew what they were doing.

What binds it all is this: artists everywhere refusing to fit neatly into a box, and four people across continents who refuse to agree on anything except that good music deserves to be heard.

Discover francophone culture. No French required. Just curiosity.

Tune in now on lesound.live or catch us Tuesday 7pm on 4ZZZ. Tuesday 7pm on Zed Digital, or stream anytime at lesound.live.

• Songs played
• Rocé - En pas sautés
• Claude Sicre, Al 'Tarba - Are you a Tamborine Girl
• TeddyBear - Chaussures roses
• Jean Leloup - La vallée des réputations
• Sens Unik - 37,2
• Ezéchiel Pailhès - Eternel été
• Camille Yembé - Rien à fêter
• Luc de la Rochelière - La route est longue
• Télex - En route vers de nouvelles aventures
• Mitsou, Ya Cétidon - C'EST CHAUD (+HOT)

We took our mics to Le Festival 2026. Live recordings, artist interviews, and the sound of a whole francophone weekend in Brisbane. This week's episode is that weekend, captured as it happened.

Elya, a young Belgian singer currently in Australia, gave us her voice. Heilani brought Polynesian dance and everything that comes with it. Avalon Swing had people moving before they realised it. Fanfare Malawi travelled from New Caledonia and turned the place into a brass parade. Chantefique and Jardin d'hiver reminded us how far French song can travel. Mzaza, with Pauline Maudy, gave us that unmistakable border-crossing sound. Celine Mathis from Soul Sound took things somewhere quieter and deeper. Creative Brisbane and Class Act Creative kept the whole thing alive, on stage and off.

To every artist, volunteer and organiser of Le Festival 2026: merci. You made a francophone weekend feel like home in Meanjin.

• Songs played
• Elya - Heart of the Night
• Mzaza - L'Homme à la Moto
• Shelley Burns, Avalon Swing - Moon River
• Michel Jonasz - La boite de jazz

One country, fourteen songs, and a whole lot of personality.
We open with a Dutchman singing in French about a tiny absurdist king: Dick Annegarn's "Ubu," based on Alfred Jarry's Ubu Roi.

Then Jacques Brel, but not the Brel you know. Instead of "Ne me quitte pas" we play "Mon père disait," all coastline and North wind and the last line about London being nothing but a suburb of Brussels lost at sea. Arno takes us to Ostend with "Oostende bonsoir," the seaside town where he became close friends with Marvin Gaye while Gaye recorded "Sexual Healing" there in 1982.
 

Then a Go Belgium block: Bob Doug's "Bleu Blanc Belge," a cheeky nod to a Belgian cattle breed, and "Kiss The Grass," Roméo Elvis and Sylvie Kreusch's official anthem for Belgium's World Cup run.
 

Roméo Elvis returns with "La Belgique Afrique," a reflection on Belgium's colonial past. Lubiana's "La Blanche" sits alongside it, on growing up mixed race and never quite fitting either box. And Baloji reworks "Indépendance Cha Cha," the song that soundtracked Congo's independence negotiations in Brussels in 1960 and helped birth Congolese rumba.
 

At the end, three love letters to Brussels: Angèle's homesick "Bruxelles je t'aime," Ana Diaz's "BX," a declaration she'll never leave, and Scylla's "BX Vice," all shadowy streets and street-level poetry.

We finish in Liège with Le Dé's "Liège, Liège," torn between love and frustration for his hometown.

• Songs played
• Dick Annegarn - Ubu
• Arno - Oostende bonsoir
• Jacques Brel - Mon père disait
• Sylvie Kreusch, Romeo Elvis - Kiss the grass
• Bob Doug - Bleu blanc belge
• Baloji - Le jour d'après
• Lubiana - La Blanche
• Romeo Elvis - La Belgique Afrique
• Angèle - Bruxelles je t'aime
• Ana Diaz - BX
• Scylla - BX Vice
• Le Dé - Liège, Liège

Full tracklist:
Krim kont la Gwadloup (Crime Against Guadeloupe) — SOFT
Et Si Tu n'existais Pas (If You Didn't Exist) — Iggy Pop
La mer (The Sea) — Charles Trenet
C'est à qui le tour (Whose Turn Is It) — Mylène Farmer
Tout tout (Everything, Everything) — Miel De Montagne, Blasé
Pas Assez (Not Enough) — Gildaa
Souvenir d'été (Summer Memory) — Bulle
Sympathique (Likeable) — Emma Hamilton
crazy — Lili Alaska
Supermarket — Maxwell Farrington & Le SuperHomard
Sous le dôme épais (The Flower Duet) — Léo Delibes, Mirusia, Emma Kavanagh
Le Shit Squad — IAM
Pacino Pacino — Chilly Gonzales, Di-Meh, Jungle Jack

Twelve months of francophone discoveries, and you were with us for every one. Thank you for season one.

• Songs played
• SOFT - Krim kont la Gwadeloup
• Iggy Pop - Et si tu n'existais pas
• Charles Trenet - La mer
• Mylène Farmer - C'est à qui le tour
• Blasé - Réveille-moi
• Gildaa - Tout pour plaire
• Bulle - Souvenir d'été
• Emma Norington - Sympathique
• Lili Alaska - crazy
• Maxwell Farrington et le Superhomard - Supermarket
• Léo Délibes, Mirusia, Emma Kavanagh - Sous le dôme épais
• IAM - Le Shit Squad

• Songs played
• Angine de Poitrine - Tohogd
• Sofiane Pamart, Riles, RIMON - How to love
• Rona Hartner, Valentin Rotary, Petre Badea, Tony Gatlif - Disparaîtra
• Delgres - Mr President
• Jean Leloup - Printemps été
• Woodkid - Run Boy Run
• Lydia Kepinksi - Vivant.e
• Coup dur - Tu dis des choses
• Diane Dufresne - J'ai rencontré l'homme de ma vie
• Maya Andrade - Les mots d'amour

S01E50: Animaux – Tales, Tunes & Creatures

This episode of Le Sound untamed the airwaves with a captivating exploration of the animal kingdom, weaving together folklore, viral internet hits, and deeply symbolic poetry. The menagerie begins with Dan Bigras, who reinterprets the classic tale of the "Trois petits cochons" (Three Little Pigs), followed by Hugues Aufray’s heartbreaking campfire classic "Stewball," a moving story about a tragic racehorse.

Insects take flight as Dick Annegarn delivers the comic yet touching tale of "Mireille," a fly that transforms a prisoner's life, while Les Négresses Vertes bring a rush of folk-punk nostalgia with their sensual 1988 breakout hit "Zobi la mouche". The episode also showcases traditional roots with Manau’s legendary Breton hip-hop anthem "Mais qui est la belette", alongside an exquisite cross-cultural collaboration where Egyptian poet Abdullah Miniawy and Swiss trumpeter Erik Truffaz exchange creative perspectives in "Peacock dreams".

The darker and more delicate sides of nature emerge through Mai Lan’s deeply symbolic "Le Loup" (The Wolf) and the electronic pop duo O'o, who mimic the haunting, unpredictable flight patterns of a blue tit in "La mésange". Meanwhile, Féloche honors the unique whistled bird-language of the Canary Islands in "Silbo". Aquatic life takes over the finale with Tomo’s viral, lo-fi TikTok phenomenon "Le poisson Steve", Isabelle Antena’s jazzy, elegant "Le Poisson des Mers du Sud", and Philippe Lafontaine’s timeless pop favorite "Cœur de loup," which ultimately gets everyone dancing.

• Songs played
• Pow Wow - Le chat
• Trois petits cochons - Dan Bigras
• Dick Annegarn - Mireille
• Hugues Auffray - Stewball
• Adbullah Miniawy, Erick Truffaz - Peacock dreams
• Manau - Mais qui est la belette
• MAI LAN - Le loup
• O'o - La mésange
• Les négresses vertes - Zobi la mouche
• Féloche - Silbo
• Isabelle Anténa - Le poisson des mers du sud
• Philippe Lafontaine - Coeur de loup

S01E49: L'amitié – Anthems of Solidarity

This episode of Le Sound dedicates its airwaves to "l'amitié" (friendship), exploring the bonds of camaraderie, street loyalty, and cross-cultural brotherhood through a vibrant range of Francophone music. The show kicks off with Pomplamoose’s fresh cover of Georges Brassens’ "Les copains d'abord," a timeless French classic that uses the metaphor of a sturdy ship to celebrate lifelong mates. Shifting to modern sounds, Bigflo & Oli team up with actor Jean Dujardin for the humorous track "Pour un pote" from the Brice de Nice 3 soundtrack.

The theme deepens as the presenters look at friendship born from struggle and shared values. Hip-hop icons NTM deliver "That's My People," a raw anthem honoring neighborhood loyalty and resistance to injustice. In a masterful cultural cross-pollination, Bernard Lavilliers joins legendary Algerian Kabyle singer Idir for a friendly 2017 rendition of "On the Road Again," a track celebrating camaraderie and the shared spirit of travelers.

Emotional milestones follow with Jacques Brel’s heartbreaking masterpiece "Jojo," written as a final tribute to his inseparable late friend and manager. From Quebec, Paul Piché’scampfire classic "Mon Joe" evokes the warmth of summer gatherings, while Mat Vezio provides a dreamy cover of Françoise Hardy’s "L'amitié". The episode wraps up with an R&B twist on Céline Dion's "D'amour ou d’amitié", leaving listeners with an upbeat reminder of the joy of connection.

• Songs played
• Pomplemoose - Les copains d'abord
• Georges Brassens - Les copains d'abord
• Bigflo & Oli, Jean Dujardin - Pour un pote
• Suprême NTM - That's my People
• Zélie - COPINES?
• Bon entendeur, Annie Philippe - Mes amis, mes copains
• Idir, Bernard Lavilliers - On the road again
• Mat Vézio - L'amitié
• Jacques Brel - Jojo
• Mes souliers sont rouges - Maraîcher mon ami
• Les Couch Potatoes, Corneille - D'amour et d'amitié

Le Sound, every Tuesday at 7 pm on 4ZZZ Brisbane
Also at https://www.lesound.live/ 
 

• Songs played
• Pink Martini - Où est ma tête?
• Mathieu Boogaerts - Il faut toujours écouter son corps
• Alain Souchon - Sous les jupes des filles
• Les louanges - Ne me quitte pas des yeux
• Ariane Moffatt - Mon corps
• Arno, Sofiane Pamart - Les yeux de ma mère
• Paul Piché - Ses yeux
• Camille - Que je t'aime
• Arthur Ely, Selim-a - MA GORGE PIQUE (HYPERPOÉSIE)
• Terrenoire - Ton corps de daronne
• Les cowboys fringants - Sur mon épaule
• Les Trois Accords - Dans mon corps
• Mentissa - Balance

S01E47: Free Flow – Borders & Horizons

This episode of Le Sound breaks away from strict themes to deliver a fluid, "free flow" exploration of Francophone artists operating across borders and genres. The journey opens with Montreal-born jazz vocalist Dominique Fils-Aimé and her track "Echappée belle," which subverts a traditional French idiom into a feminine anthem of escape. The soulful momentum continues with Brussels-based Belgian-Congolese artist Nsangu, whose raw, chanson-infused track "Quand on arrive" offers a potent blend of emotion and fury.

Listeners are then introduced to Chaton Laveur, an indie duo from Liège blending German krautrock pulses with melancholic shoegaze textures on their track "Contre la montre". Border-crossing sounds take center stage with the Brussels duo Sages comme des sauvages, who weave multilingual lyrics with global instruments like the Greek lute and the Brazilian cavaquinho guitar. Environmental consciousness emerges through veteran artist Charlélie Couture, who teams up with his daughter Yamé for a modern, eco-minded reimagining of his 1994 song "Chanson de la petite rivière".

The emotional landscape deepens with Margaux Simone’s retro-rock love song and Quebec legend Jean Leloup’s poetic road-trip track "Je suis parti". Viktor Lazlo brings an elegant Creole touch with a live performance of her 1987 hit "Canoë rose", paving the way for the explosive, festive punk-folk energy of Québec Redneck Bluegrass Project.

The global flow winds down with Franco-Lebanese pianist Noor. and a classical crossover feature by composer Sophie Lacaze, this time to shed light on the musical thread that links Éric Satie to Arthur H.

• Songs played
• Dominique Fils-Aimé - Echappée Belle
• Chaton-Laveur - Contre-la-montre
• Nsangu - Quand on arrive
• Charlélie Couture, Yamée Couture - Chanson de la petite rivière
• Lailakomo - Sages comme des sauvages
• Margaux Simone - Ah l'amour! Ah l'amour!
• Jean Leloup - Je suis parti II
• Viktor Lazlo - Canoë sauvage
• Quebec Redneck Bluegrass Project - Sevrage
• Noor - H24
• Erik Satie, Alexandre Tharaud - La gnossienne No.1
• Arthur H, Feist - La chanson de Satie