Valspec - Stéphane Archambault

No one expected it—not even him—Stéphane Archambault is returning to music, and it was high time. Back on stage for the first time since the end of his popular band Mes Aïeux, he embarks on a solo show featuring 12 new songs, along with a few carefully chosen covers that resonate with—or have influenced—his compositions. Stories of breakups and new beginnings, time and its surroundings, woven into a narrative arc; an update of who and where he is, told in the first person rather than the collective “we.” Influenced by the French golden era, with phrasing that warmly evokes traditional music, Archambault offers a pluralistic, generous song—both reverent and a little rough around the edges.

An exercise in vulnerability: he sheds his layers to present himself intimately and contemplatively—to connect more deeply with an audience he hopes will leave with a smile. The show offers serene reflections on aging and common pitfalls, as well as a lesson in humility from an artist returning to you—both leaping into the void and into your arms. A first solo album is expected this fall, marking a reunion filled with shared excitement.