Sherbrooke’s Festival des traditions had record attendance this year

The 21st edition of Sherbrooke’s Festival des traditions du monde (FTMS), held over the weekend was a marked success, with attendance surpassing previous years.

Festival president Louis-andré Neault was pleased with the sellout crowd. "The Festival has once again enticed festivalgoers form all continents thanks to our unique world village which unequivocally signifies our identity,” he said. “The FTMS has become a must-see event for Sherbrooke residents and even those from beyond the Estrie region, a mustsee event for the end of the summer. The attendance and the positive feedback from both spectators and artists show that our event is well anchored in the cultural landscape."

The quality of programming played a significant role in the attendance of the Festival, said Festival Executive Director Malika Bajjaje "Artists have definitely crossed the oceans to play FTMS. Whether it's La Dame Blanche, who made the trip from France, Kalàscima from Italy, or Jambinai from South Korea, spectators were able to discover excellent international artists. Our programming has been improving year after year and I am proud to have hosted such renowned artists as Marco Calliari, Bandidas, which brings together Bïa and Mamselle Ruiz, and the Toronto group Enter the Haggis."

For the first time, FTMS also hosted a Canada-morocco musical residency, a project propelled by Marchande d’idées interculturelles( Intercultural Ideas Merchant) that clearly reflected the collaboration between the two Red Tail Spirit Aboriginal Groups of Canada and Daraa Tribes of Morocco and was a real success. Festival-goers were able to appreciate the fruit of their collaboration during the closing show.