I’ve only heard Virginie B on recording, specifically her romance hyperpop album Astral 2000, so at her outdoor FME set, I was expecting more of a backing track popstar kind of vibe. I was ecstatic when I saw she was playing with a full band. Decked out in an outfit that could be described as medieval chic, think a pauper in rags who just got dubbed a knight, she brought out a full band: bass, drums, saxophone, synths, melodica, and herself sometimes slaying some chords on the axe—for a set of jazzy medieval hyperpop.
The set on a corner Alley in Rouyn-Noranda was ablaze, and everybody danced in the brisk, air-filled dark. Virginie B is a delight to witness live. Her positive energy and bouncy nature are infectious, and she works the crowd, bouncing between running around the stage, her synths, and the microphone. She even played a song from the Legend of Zelda video game universe. What a delight.
Photos by Jacob Zweig
