September 2024. The White River Herald in Randolph, Vermont, featured Claire and her musical partners Lysandre Chartrand, Anne-Julie Fortin-Benoit, and Brad Hurley in an article by Darren Marcy about their appearance at the 2024 New World Festival.

“The unofficial end of summer continued with the 32nd New World Festival filling the streets of Randolph on Sunday during the long Labor Day weekend.

People come from all directions for a day of music, dancing, arts, and fun.

One of those bands, Hiraezh, a group out of Montreal that performs traditional songs from Quebec by way of Brittany, France, expanded their usual threesome into a quartet.

The four-member group features singers Claire Boucher, Lysandre Chartrand, and Anne-Julie Fortin-Benoit, along with guitarist Brad Hurley who accompanies them primarily on keyboard and 12-string guitar. Three of the four band members have long associations with the New World Festival.

Fortin-Benoit only recently joined the group as they wanted to add a third singing voice to grow their sound. It was her first time at the New World Festival.

Hurley said he was first at the festival 24 years ago, along with several additional appearances through the years.

Chartrand came to the festival first as a young child with her father, who was a dancer and alongside her brother, a musician. She doesn’t remember for sure how old she was, but believes she may have been around 6 years old for her first NWF appearance. Chartrand was last in Randolph at 15, and she was full of joy Sunday at her return as part of Hiraezh.

Boucher has been to the festival on and off through the years. Boucher hails from the Brittany region of France, one of the seven Celtic nations, and recognized the similarities between her Brittany roots music and the Quebecois traditional music as one of the guiding forces of Hiraezh’s sound.”

August 2024. The Rutland Herald, in Rutland, Vermont, interviewed Claire Boucher and Lysandre Chartrand for their upcoming performance at the 2024 New World Festival in Randolph, Vermont.

Spring 2024. The Beltaine 2024 edition of Celtic Beat magazine included this review of Claire’s performance with the group Laouen at the 2023 Maine Celtic Celebration:

Breton Music and Dance alive and well in 2023

Maine Celtic Celebration

It was a joy to listen to and partake in several Breton events at the 2023 Maine Celtic Celebration.

The first being a wonderful Breton dance workshop led by Claire Boucher who taught and provided song for the dances.  These were gentle and easier traditional dances from Brittany such as Andro, Hanter dro etc.  What made this workshop special is that Claire sang many of the dance tunes in Breton (occasionally accompanied by Brad Hurley on guitar).  Her singing was so passionate and dynamic you couldn’t help but want to get into the rhythm of the dance.  Claire is indeed an excellent Breton dance instructor who makes learning and participating in Breton dance both inviting and fun.  I look forward to participating in more of her workshops in the future.

Later in the day I attended a concert presented by the Breton band Laouen (the Breton word for joy and happy).  The band Laouen is made up of Claire Boucher, Brad Hurley, Samantha Moffatt, Clément Demers and what an impressive band they are! This concert was thoroughly engaging.  For the Breton souls (like myself) there were superb renditions of dance tunes such as Andros, Hanter dros and a gorgeous rendition of ‘Gavotte de Montagnes’ with instrumental accompaniment including hammered dulcimer interspersed with Claire’s spirited singing in the Breton language and a moving Breton love song which Claire sang so beautifully adding an almost poetic touch to the language.  There was also a slower more contemplative instrumental Breton Air lending a quieter moment to the set.  Aside from tunes and songs from Brittany Laouen also performed a breathtaking rendition of O’Carolan’s ‘Planxty Irwin’ and later in the set a magnificent rendition of the18th century Scottish tune ‘Rowan Tree’.  Indeed, a nod to several Celtic nations!

The set wrapped with a rousing rendition of ‘Tri Martolod’, an arrangement full of gusto and spirit.  Listening to this band you can’t help but feel what the beautiful Breton word ‘Laouen’ was meant to be: Happy!

Joanne Gagnon-Ketchen

The December 1 2015 issue of Culture et Celtie published an extensive review and interview with Claire. 1er décembre 2015 sortie d’un article publié dans la revue Culture et Celtie en Bretagne.

A few excerpts/quelques extraits:

“Qui aurait pensé que du Massachusetts, renaîtrait un florilège du répertoire breton ? Claire ressuscite, avec brio, de très beaux morceaux traditionnels où les textes sont sublimés par de somptueuses mélodies.”

“Dans cet album, les arrangements sont menés avec délicatesse. Pas besoin de rajouter pléthore d’instruments. La mécanique fonctionne très bien avec des associations authentiques comme celle de la voix/guitare, voix/flûte ou de la voix/Scottish smallpipes. Il ne faudrait pas omettre de mentionner les très beaux chants a capella : « C’est trois pigeons ramiers » ou « L’autre jour m’y promenant » qui sont, sensiblement, restés fidèles aux interprétations originales. Claire est accompagnée de musiciens américains qui partagent, pour la plupart, diverses racines celtiques.”

The September 2015 issue (pages 12-13) of Bro Nevez, from the International Committee for the Defense of the Breton Language, has a review of Claire’s CD. A few excerpts:

“Not only has Claire learned from some masters of Breton song tradition – and she could certainly be called a master of song herself – but she has drawn the songs on this CD from a variety of sources. Half of them are from the Dastum archives – a fine testament to the role Dastum has always tried to play in enabling singers and musicians to use their collection to create new performances.”

“From the interesting sources Claire has chosen for her song, it is clear that she has a solid knowledge of Breton tradition – already evident in her performance.”

“Having known Albert Trevidic I think he would have appreciated Claire’s rendering of “Ar c’hazh koad” about the demise of a squirrel who ends up in the stew pot. The plucking of jew’s harp and bass fiddle in accompaniment add a nice touch.”