Enthusiasm ran high as the Francophone country music community from Québec and Canada gathered on Oct. 26, 2023, for the 10th annual edition of the Gala Country, held this year at Club Soda in Montréal. Hosted by country singer Guylaine Tanguay, the gala presented 14 Willie Awards to artists and projects that stood out over the past year, and offered a variety of musical performances.
Sandrine Hébert
SiriusXM offered a $1,500 cash prize to Véronique Labbé, who won the Album of the Year – Classic Country Award, and a $1,500 cash prize to Francis Degrandpré, who won in the Album of the Year – Contemporary Country category – as well as winning the $2,000 cash prize for the Song of the Year Award. Degrandpré also won the Songwriter of the Year Willie Award, confirming him as the “winningest” artist of the Gala. Sandrine Hébert walked away with two trophies, one for the Breakthrough Artist of the Year and the Public Choice Award while the band Lendemain de veille also won two trophies, in the Duo or Band of the Year and Live Show of the Year categories.
As for the performances that punctuated the evening, gala host Guylaine Tanguay paid tribute to Willie Lamothe with “Elle va revenir, mon amour,” the very first French song to reach Nashville’s hallowed Grand Ole Opry, in 1974. Laurence St-Martin and Véronique Labbé then performed a medley from the album Honky Tonk Bar. Another tribute was paid to Renée Martel by Paul Daraîche and Cindy Bédard, who moved the audience with “Contre Vents et marées.” New country sensation Phil Lauzon performed his song “Because of Yours.” For the closing number of this 10th edition of the Gala Country, the Grande Ourse collective – Andie Therio, Brittany Kennell, Fred Dionne, Guillaume Lafond, Phil G. Smith, Vince Lemire, and Francis Degrandpré – gathered onstage to perform some of their original compositions, as well as songs from their respective repertoires.
Complete List of Winners
Songwriter of the Year
Francis Degrandpré
Song of the Year
“Bang Bang”
Performer: Francis Degrandpré
Songwriter: Vince Lemire
Album of the Year- Classic Country
Véronique Labbé – Honky Tonk Bar
Album of the Year – Contemporary Country
Francis Degrandpré – Soir de quai
Album of the Year – Other Languages
Phil Lauzon – Phil Lauzon
Duo or Group of the Year
Lendemain de veille
Female Artist of the Year
Annie Blanchard
Male Artist of the Year
Matt Lang
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Sandrine Hébert
Live Show of the Year
Lendemain de veille
Promoter of the Year
LASSO Montréal
Radio Show of the Year
Cormier Hot Franco, hosted by Stéphane Cormier
TV Show of the Year
Aller-retour Country, hosted by Karo Laurendeau
Public Choice Award
Sandrine Hébert