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Culture

Iconic Music Festival Venue In Gaspésie, Quebec Rises From The Ashes After Major Fire

Six years after the fire that devastated this iconic venue of the Petite-Vallée Song Festival in Gaspésie, construction work has finally begun on the Théâtre de la Vieille Forge.

First day of the Reconstruction Project for the Théâtre de la Vieille Forge in Petite-Vallée"

First day of the Reconstruction Project for the Théâtre de la Vieille Forge in Petite-Vallée"

Marc-Antoine Dufresne

Early Monday morning, a convoy of excavators and trucks marked the commencement of reconstruction work at the Théâtre de la Vieille Forge in the Gaspésie. The performance hall and café are notably recognized as the headquarters of the Village en Chanson de Petite-Vallée, the cultural organization and social enterprise behind one of Quebec's most prominent Francophone music festivals

Since 1983, the Petite-Vallée Song Festival has been a stage for both established and emerging artists, whether they hail from the region or from afar. Marjo, Gilles Vigneault, Michel Rivard, Daniel Lavoie, Laurence Jalbert, Karkwa, Vincent Vallières, Florent Vollant, Klô Pelgag, and Lisa LeBlanc have all graced the iconic Théâtre de la Vieille Forge's stage.


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However, everything took a drastic turn in August 2017 when it was reduced to ashes in a fire, and a temporary solution had to be found. After six long years of waiting, relief is finally here as the construction work has finally begun.

"Everyone is very happy about what's happening in Petite-Vallée today," says Marc-Antoine Dufresne, the festival's Director of Communications and Assistant to the Artistic Director, in an interview with Billboard Canada.

If the building's structure is erected by December, the inauguration of the new Théâtre de la Vieille Forge will take place much later, during the summer of 2025.

"We are facing a logistical challenge for organizing the festival next year," Marc-Antoine Dufresne adds. They have decided to maintain the festival dates during a break from construction, from July 25 to August 3, 2024. "We want to mitigate the effects of the construction on our activities," he explains.

However, this compromise will be possible because the work will be concentrated inside the new structure. "Festival-goers will be able to see the building's shell!" Marc-Antoine Dufresne enthuses.

In the meantime, the Village en Chanson de Petite-Vallée promises regular updates on the progress of the construction.

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EMPIRE's Tina Davis (left) and Girl Connected's Lola Plaku at Conversations with the Pros at Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto on March 28, 2025.
Courtesy of Girl Connected

EMPIRE's Tina Davis (left) and Girl Connected's Lola Plaku at Conversations with the Pros at Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto on March 28, 2025.

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EMPIRE President Tina Davis Gives Strategic Advice to Women in Music at Girl Connected's New Speaker Series

On Friday (March 28), the president of EMPIRE, the Bay Area-independent label and music company, came to Toronto for Conversation with the Pros offering tangible advice to the mentorship program's community. Davis also spoke to Billboard Canada about her impressive journey in the industry.

Girl Connected has launched a new series that connects the next generation of women in Canadian music with powerhouse executives for the global industry.

On Friday (March 28), Tina Davis, president of EMPIRE, sat down with Girl Connected founder and music industry veteran Lola Plaku at Toronto Metropolitan University for the first in-person Canadian edition of Conversations with the Pros (Billboard Canada was a supporting partner). The series brings in inspiring music industry figures from Girl Connected's international network to talk about their journeys and offer actionable information and advice to help the budding music professionals develop their skills and reach the next level of their careers.

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