The Singer
““Star in waiting Andrea Menard…” ”
Andrea’s New Album
Anskoonamakew lii Shansoon
The Giveaway Album
Over the past year, Andrea worked with Michif Language Keepers to create 13 simple “giveaway” songs, dedicated to preserving the Michif language for the Métis people.
This album, called Askoonamakew lii Shansoon (Giveaway Songs) is for you. Go get your FREE downloads.
Andrea’s Metis Cultural Symphony Concert
The Symphony Pops Concert
Debut with the Regina Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Gordon Gerrard
RSO Photo credits: Chris Graham Photography
Andrea returned to Regina with musical director Robert Walsh as part of the Regina Symphony Orchestra’s 2020-2021 reimagined concert season. The original concert was supposed to take place on November 26-28th at the Holy Rosary Cathedral, but was cancelled due to covid restrictions. Instead, the RSO teamed up with SaskTel Max to record the concert for widespread streaming.
Always highlighting her Métis culture and her people’s resilience, this concert is a musical feast of love, sovereignty, and Métis culture that will entertain and uplift, but also educate audiences on colonization and healing together.
Click the button below to watch Andrea Menard’s Pops concert
Andrea is pleased to acknowledge the support of the RSO, SaskTel Max, Canada Council of the Arts, and First Peoples Cultural Council.
Andrea’s Theatrical Cabaret
Rubaboo
World Premiere
RUBABOO
— A Metis Cabaret —
Written by Andrea Menard
Music by Andrea Menard and Robert Walsh
Directed by Alanis King
World Premiere - The Grand Theatre/ Arts Club Theatre Company
Rubaboo, which means soup in the Michif language, is a theatrical feast!
Accompanied by an acoustic band including longtime collaborator and guitarist, Robert Walsh, Andrea describes Rubaboo as “a musical feast of my Métis culture that includes a bit of storytelling, a bit of ceremony, a bit of magic, and a lot of music! Can’t have a Métis rubaboo without all the flavours!"
Upcoming Tickets:
TBA
Music Bio
Andrea Menard is a powerhouse Metis performer who bridges cultural and language boundaries by speaking from her heart. Her voice is lyrical, raw, and reminiscent of the jazz and blues singers of the 1940's, yet captures the depth, humour and wisdom of her ancestors. With long-time collaborator, Robert Walsh, Andrea creates music that is relevant to her Indigenous community and inspiring to all the tribes of humanity.
Andrea has recorded five critically acclaimed albums, Lift, Sparkle, Simple Steps, and The Velvet Devil, including her latest Michif language release, Anskoonamakew lii Shansoon. She was recently named “Metis Artist of the Year” at the 2023 Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards and nominated for “Spiritual Artist of the Year” at the 2023 Western Canadian Music Awards. Andrea’s written and starred in two made-for-television programs: The Velvet Devil, (CBC) which was adapted from her hit one-woman musical stage play; and Sparkle, which aired on APTN for six consecutive holiday seasons. She debuted two symphony shows with the Regina Symphony Orchestra and spearheaded a positive music initiative called “The Music Messengers.” Andrea has shared the stage with Tom Jackson, Aaron Pritchett, Murray McLaughlin, Colin James, Robbie Robertson, the Rankins, Susan Aglukark, Derek Miller, Tanya Tagaq, and even sang Big Yellow Taxi in front of Joni Mitchell.
Always highlighting her Métis culture and her people’s resilience, Andrea uses her voice to empower the Indigenous and Feminine voice. Her new theatrical cabaret, called Rubaboo, which is the Michif word for “leftovers stew,” is a musical feast that invites audiences to discover their role in reconciliation. Andrea released a single, “Silent No More,” that was written as a companion piece for her TEDx talk to end the cycle of violence against Indigenous women and girls. “Where is God in This Place” is Andrea’s single meant to raise awareness about Canada’s traumatic history of Indian Residential Schools. On July 20, 2013 in Batoche, Saskatchewan, Andrea released the single, “Return of the Bell of Batoche” to commemorate the "Return of the Bell" ceremony that finally saw the bell of Batoche come home to the Metis People after 135 years of forced exile.
Andrea’s Albums
““The album also delivers what every good songwriter should strive for - a sense of time and place.” ”
Music Videos
Where is God in This Place is a song to bring healing to Survivors of the Canadian government-sanctioned Indian Residential Schools that were in effect for more than 124 years. The 150,000 Indigenous children who were taken from their homes and families and abused in residential schools will be on a healing journey till the day they leave this earth. Andrea was given permission by eight of her Survivor friends and relatives, to share their story in this song. This song is for them.
Silent No More was written by Andrea Menard and Robert Walsh. The song was born during the creation of Andrea's TEDx talk about ending the silence around violence against women. As a way to honour the women in her community, the video shows strong, beautiful Indigenous women reclaiming their voice, their sacredness, and their sovereignty. Silent No More is an invitation to all people to join the conversation about ending violence once and for all.
River of Nations is a song of reconciliation written by Alex Cuba, Heather Rankin and Andrea Menard. The song was recorded aboard an icebreaker ship on a journey from coast to coast to coast called the Canada C3 Expedition. Their leg travelled down the St. Lawrence River. The writers included multiple languages: English, French, Mohawk, and Spanish, to reflect the diverse nature of this journey and this country. This is their legacy of hope for a united Canada.
Return of the Bell of Batoche, written by Andrea Menard & Robert Walsh for the Return of the Bell Commemoration Ceremony in Batoche, SK.
““Menard is all about channeling hope at a time when many of us may need it most. At the same time, her lessons are served up with their own beautiful balance of positivity to enticing, hook-laden music well performed.” ”
More Music Videos
I Love My Life, written by Andrea Menard & Robert Walsh. Available on Andrea's LIFT album.
Sit By My Fire, written by D.Bedard /A.Menard /T.Bynoe /R.Kanatakta. Performed by Cheri Maracle, Digging Roots, Troy Bynoe, Andrea Menard, Plex, Leemai, David R. Maracle, Morningstar River, Tamara Podemski. A group of Indigenous singers and songwriters came together to write a contemporary theme song rooted in traditional knowledge. Directed by Michael Corbiere.
Evergreen, written by Andrea Menard & Robert Walsh. Available on Andrea's 3rd album, Sparkle. Produced by Big Soul Productions, Directed by Tony Hrynchuk.
““If you haven’t heard of her, prepare to hear a lot about her from anyone who is lucky enough to see her in action… Her warm, burnished alto at times recalls Linda Ronstadt or Patsy Cline and she can sing an a cappella tune with an instrumental purity that keeps the audience riveted and utterly silent. But she can also belt and wail a bluesy tune with roof-raising power”
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Get Digital downloads
The Music Messenger
Watch the story behind the making of Andrea Menard's cd, LIFT. Lift is Andrea's attempt to bring a positive message to the world.
Watch the Birth of the Music Messengers. This is Andrea's awakening to her responsibility as a music messenger of hope and well-being. Be a part of the Positive Music movement.