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An institution in their native province, La Bottine Souriante are Quebec’s answer to Louisiana’s Beausoleil or Ireland’s The Chieftains. Taking Quebec fiddle tunes, absurdist ballads and bawdy drinking songs, the nine-piece ensemble put an infectious, modern spin on vintage Canadiana. With the right marketing, these guys could become the musical glue that holds the country together.

The name of the Quebec group means "smiling boot," with the "smile" created by the flapping sole of a well-worn boot. And in La Bottine Souriante's native province, at least, it certainly fits. Over the course of 23 years, the group's members have worn out many pairs of boots and shoes -- both their own and those of their audience -- playing a happy, highly danceable blend of French-Canadian, Cajun and Celtic sounds. Now, with an international recording deal on the Virgin Music label, La Bottine Souriante is set to begin ruining footwear the world over. "We're a party band," singer-accordionist Yves Lambert says proudly after a boisterous show in a large Toronto beer hall that had many in th...