Émile Bilodeau is a burst of contagious sincerity, finding ways to win over crowds relentlessly for the past 10 years. It is with great joy that he brings to life on stage the folk-rock gems from his new album Au bar des espoirs, performing as a duo with his loyal keyboardist Nathan Vanheuverzwijn. In a bar-cabaret atmosphere, the sharp-witted singer-songwriter presents a show filled with humor, social awareness, and catchy melodies. Au bar des espoirs is driven by the idea that the line between hope and its opposite can be thin: love in chaos; an unhappy bartender who doesn’t want to quit his job, risking becoming like the customers he enjoys judging; Émile wondering what he might do if, by misfortune, he lost his hearing. All of this is told with his characteristic lively chatter, with the simple and necessary goal of keeping hope and smiles alive.