Les Dales Hawerchuk was an illustrious forward who started playing for the Winnipeg Jets in the 80s. Les Dales Hawerchuk is a powerful rock group founded in the early aughts in the Lac-Saint-Jean region whose name is a tribute to the Hall of Famer. Dale Hawerchuk is also a song that ties all that together. Here in Quebec, for over 20 years, whenever someone mentions Les Dales, all three come to mind. 

With brothers Sébastien and Sylvain Séguin on vocals and guitar, Charles Perron on bass, and Pierre Fortin on drums, the quartet quickly made a name for itself thanks to its in-your-face earworms about canonical themes such as love, cars, hockey, hunting, and relationship markers. Their music is loud as heck, their huge riffs will pummel you, and the best part is that it’s all in good fun, i.e. they will destroy your eardrums and leave you smiling. 

The quartet burst onto the scene in 2005 with its first self-titled album (which was nominated for Alternative Album of the Year at the ADISQ Gala), and established its reputation with subsequent albums, Les Dales Hawerchuk2 (2008), Le tour du chapeau (2011; nominated for Alternative Album of the Year at the ADISQ Gala and winner of Rock Album of the year at the GAMIQ Awards), and Désavantage numérique (2016; nominated for Rock Album of the Year at the ADISQ Gala). Having amassed an impressive catalogue, the band went on to play on big stages, such as on the Plains of Abraham (twice, including for Quebec City’s Fête nationale as well as openers for the Stray Cats at the FEQ) and during the Montreal Francos, along with tours in France and across Canada, including (of course) Winnipeg, the Jets’ hometown, where (also, of course) the band’s name attracted throngs of people to its shows.

And now, after eight years out of the spotlight, Les Dales are ready to make their presence felt once again. After announcing their signing to Bravo Musique and launching their latest single, Belle voiture, they’re hard at work on a fifth album, due out in the fall of 2024, produced by their own Pierre Fortin. While we’re left wondering what hockey reference the new album’s title will include, there’s one thing we can be sure of: the guys will remain true to themselves and rock out like they always have. In short, there you have it: Les Dales are back, although they never really left, and we’re all the better for it.