Staff report

Homer Council on the Arts presents the music, dance and poetry of the Montreal trio Bon Débarras at 7 p.m. March 14 at the Mariner Theatre.

Montreal trio Bon Débarras. (Photo provided)

The group is known for its “entirely original repertoire steeped in poetry and rhythmic sounds, with unambiguous Quebec flavors,” according to a press release from HCOA.

The group consists of Dominic Desrochers, who plays multiple instruments and is a step dancer who uses his body as a percussion instrument; Jean-Francois Dumas, who also is a multi-instrumentalist and international traveler inspired by music from around the world; and Véronique Plasse, the newest member of the group who plays viola and violin and brings to the trio a rich knowledge of Quebec’s traditional music.

“On guitar, banjo, violin and harmonica, the group carries an identity, a style and energy-filled zest for life quite unique and beautifully served by the versatility of the musicians as well as their daring jigging and vivid body percussion,” according to the HCOA release. “Bon Débarras’ energy taps into the rhythms of today and ventures boldly on the multi-faceted road to tomorrow’s dreams in an atmosphere that transcends boundaries and ages.”

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 for general admission, $25 for HCOA members, and $10 for youth. Tickets are available at the HCOA office, 355 W. Pioneer Ave., online at https://homerart.org/event/bon-debarras/ and at the door.

The group also will perform at noon March 15 at Homer Senior Citizens Center.

The name Bon Débarras means “good riddance” in French, and aptly describes the group’s musical aspirations, according to the release.

“We get rid of sorrow and sadness when we play our music,” says Desrochers in the release.

The name also has a second meaning: “a place where you can put your old stuff that you don’t want to get rid of … like an attic. These things can become treasures,” according to the release.

The program is supported in part by Creative West, the National Endowment for the Arts, and a Harper Arts Touring Fund grant, funded by the Rasmusson Foundation and administered by the Alaska State Council on the Arts.

For more information, call HCOA at 907-235-4288.