On Monday, November 20th, Mehdi Cayenne, with his bilingual mix of punk, pop and folk sounds and acclaimed singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Damien Robitaille, will bring their contagious energy and catchy music to Adelaide Hall as part of the Toronto Coup de Coeur Francophone, the 24th edition of this Canada-wide event for the Centre francophone.

With a broad palette that blends gentle and abrasive sounds Mehdi Cayenne has been able – over the course of his last three albums, Luminata in 2011, Na Na Boo Boo in 2013 and Aube in 2015 – to develop his eclectic, minimalist and evocative approach.

He offers a varied catalogue, mixing post-punk, world, pop, folk-rock and funk influences. His songs combine something very animal-like with a certain poetic gentleness, evoking a musical culture that spans all genres and eras.

He has opened for artists both varied and notable (Claude Dubois, Louis-Jean Cormier, Saul Williams, Socalled, Alex Nevsky, Klô Pelgag) and has lit up stages here and afar through his talent and rare contact with the audience.

In the spring, Damien Robitaille launched Univers parallèles, a lively album in which pop meets soul, gospel, disco and the sounds of the ’70s. It’s festive and rhythmical, with vocal harmonies that pair nicely with the voice of the singer-songwriter.

This lovely mix is also present on stage – wonderful voices, seasoned musicians and an artist for whom the stage is one huge playground. Between groove and contemplation, Robitaille displays a wide palette on this album produced by his accomplice Carl Bastien.

By turns candid, funny, disarming and touching, the artist, at the top of his form, dives into the heart of his parallel universes, which depict human complexity, because with Damien Robitaille, one reality often lies hidden behind another.

About the Coup de Coeur Francophone: A one-of-a-kind event, the Coup de Cœur Francophone is known and respected throughout Canada. It began its voyage in 1987, sailing along the current of Canadian Francophone music.

31 years later, this unique and daring project is staying the course more steadily than ever. This year, the event presents 75 shows in French in 45 Canadian cities from coast to coast, as well as over 115 shows in 19 venues in Montreal.

For the fourth year in a row, the Coup de Cœur Francophone was nominated in the “event of the year” category (recipient of a Félix in 2001, 2007 and 2014) and for the third year in a row in the “web promotion team” category.

Tickets: $25 or $30 at the door