Since forming in 2007 Winnipeg’s Chic Gamine have toured the world, been on national television as part of Ottawa’s Canada Day celebrations, performed at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, opened for the legendary Smokey Robinson and Mavis Staples, and appeared twice on NPR’s "A Prairie Home Companion". Their music has also been used on ABC’s General Hospital and The Fosters. With the release of Christmas Vol 1 the band – Andrina Turenne, Alexa Dirks, Annick Bremault, Sacha Daoud and Benoit Morier – are touring across Canada as part of the Stuart McLean Vinyl Cafe Christmas Tour. They will be in Calgary at the Jubilee Auditorium December 4^th and 5^th, Edmonton’s Jubilee December 7th, and Banff December 6th.

"There are three originals and two covers," Alexa Dirks told GayCalgary.com on the holiday recording. "We had the three written already for other Christmas shows we had done in the past. We had them already in our repetoire so we decided to record them... We have a kitar, and happened upon the demo where you hit a certain button and it plays a stock song to show you the different sounds. The demo of the kitar was "Last Christmas" by George Michael. We travel with a child and he would always be playing it over and over again. The song is always on loop in our minds from it playing over and over again so we slowed it down and did a cover."

Being a part of Vinyl Cafe made the perfect opportunity to make a Christmas record.

"We have talked about it for a very long time. We have been a band for seven years and, every time Christmas rolled around, we thought it would be nice but we didn’t have the time or the means and never really planned to tour around that time, so it didn’t make sense. We got the offer to do the Vinyl Cafe tour and thought what better time than now; if we are going to be on a Christmas tour we should have something Christmas for it. We have done Christmas shows in the past, but never put in the effort to put something together. We got the offer in August for the tour, so we decided to make a record on a few days off in a barn on Hornby Island, in the middle of summer, which was definitely – it is a bit weird. You really want to get into the spirit, but not too much because you are still trying to appreciate the time where it is still hot, especially [coming from] Winnipeg. We brought out the sleigh bells and got into it as much as we could."

The album is a teaser for a full-length release expected in 2015.

"We actually just finished recording a new full-length album. We are looking toward a spring release – we are just in the mixing process now. We are really looking forward to getting it finished. This Christmas record is so exciting, but we have our minds on this new full-length that will showcase a new sound for us. It is our first album with our new member Ben in the band, and it is showcasing a whole different side of us, and I am excited for people to hear that."
Being part of a major tour is just another step for a band that has played in places like Germany, major events in Canada, and even for the Queen of England.

"[That] was a spectacle. She was very sweet. I barely met her – we are all in a lineup, and there are certain protocols, and I was so nervous I was going to break protocol. We got a breakdown of the rules, like you don’t approach the Queen unless she has to say something to you, then you say something in response, and then she says another thing and that unlocks the next password. One of them was ‘your majesty’, then ‘your highness’, then a courtsy, then you can talk to her. I was so nervous I wouldn’t figure it out. She said she quite enjoyed our music. I wish we had gotten it on tape! She probably does a lot of those events but it was pretty crazy. There were snipers everywhere and I was concerned if I extended my hand first I’d get shot. It was nerve-wracking.

"Touring and being a musician means meeting so many unique people – from passionate venue owners to fans, to people you make friends with and other artists. Those have been my favourite experiences: all the people we have the opportunity to meet. You look on a map and realize all the places you know people, [and] the world doesn’t seem so big. We definitely don’t take it for granted because it can kick the shit out of you – being in a van for 16 hours – but it all pays off when you got a venue where people really want to hear you, and care."

For many, the stories of Dave and Morley among Stuart Maclean’s many other tales broadcast on CBC radio are a Candian institution. His annual Christmas tour is always a sell-out across the nation, which is a huge opportunity for Chic Gamine.

"[A Prairie Home Companion] is an institution for sure. It has always been a part of my CBC Canadian conciousness. Prior to this tour, we have played two shows with Vinyl café, and it was a big deal for us and our families and friends. People know about it even if they don’t listen to it. I am looking forward to hopping on a tour bus and picking Stuart’s brain, and going across Canada. Usually we don’t get to tour at this time of year. It’s a pretty dead time. To get people when they are feeling jolly is a nice thing. It is going to expose people to us that maybe wouldn’t normally know who we are, which is great. That is the fun thing about this is it is the kind of show that would sell out no matter who is on the bill. People are coming to see Stuart and they are guaranteed quality because they go every year and it is their Christmas tradition. It lets us expose people to what we do, and they will be the first people to have a copy of this new Christmas record."

On sharing the stage with a Canadian icon like Stuart Maclean Dirks says: "he is so well spoken and just a nice presence to be around. He is a very down-to-earth guy from my experience so far. He is constantly refining his craft and it is cool to be around. I am looking forward to seeing the shows, and [to] see him do his thing every night, and be a part of it in a unique way."