Welcome Soleil is a Francophone group who took root in East York, Toronto in 2010. The name of the group is aptly named as it speaks to the joy, humour and the sunny outlook their music inspires. Band members are Guy Smagghe (vocals, guitars, harmonica), Philippe Lafaury (mandolin, guitars, vocals), Bernard Dionne (bass, contrabass, vocals) and Paddy Morgan (percussion).

The quartet enjoys performing well loved traditional French repertoire as well as original compositions. They appeal equally to Francophone as Anglophone audiences. To some original compositions are added traditional French-Canadian pieces, and songs by Félix Leclerc, Paul Piché, Harmonium, Joe Dassin, Jim and Bertrand, Renaud, Francis Cabrel (…) that the group adapts with its own sonorities and fresh rhythms.

A breath of fresh air on the Canadian musical scene, Welcome Soleil offers a show where the sounds of guitars, mandolin, harmonica, bass and percussion blend with vocal harmonies to create a festive atmosphere.