Paul Beaubrun is the bridge between Haiti and Montreal you should be listening to

How a chance encounter with Arcade Fire in Montreal turned into a cross-cultural collaboration rooted in rhythm, resistance, and home.

Anick Jasmin

Anick Jasmin

May 14, 2025- Read time: 6 min
Paul Beaubrun is the bridge between Haiti and Montreal you should be listening toPhotograph: Vladim Vilain / @vladimvilain

Night after night, in packed arenas or intimate venues, Paul Beaubrun brings the same authenticity and spirit to the stage. He’s no stranger to massive crowds, twenty thousand voices echoing back his energy, drawn in by his magnetic performances. Whether onstage with Arcade Fire, in intimate solo sets, or jamming with fellow Haitian musicians, he carries his homeland with him, each note rooted in memory, each lyric shaped by a deep connection to Haiti’s culture and soul.

Paul represents not only the vitality of Haitian music but also a bridge between generations and cultures, uniting listeners with the heartbeat of a country that continues to influence the global stage.

Photograph: @paulbeaubrun / Instagram

Carrying Haiti through sound and spirit

Member-only story

Unlock Montreal’s stories. Join The Main community.

Read this story free.

Enter your email to unlock your first article and get The Bulletin — our weekly roundup of food, art, and local culture.

  • 5 free articles per month
  • Save your favourite places & guides
  • Weekly newsletter The Bulletin
  • Stay connected to Montreal culture

Become an Insider.

Join a community that supports independent Montreal stories and celebrates the people shaping its culture.

Subscribe
  • Unlimited access to all stories
  • Exclusive features & local insights
  • Special offers and event invites
  • 10% off in our shop
  • Support local storytelling

Already a member? Sign in

Related articles

Éditions La Peuplade is publishing some of the world's most exciting French-language literature
Alexander Hackett

Éditions La Peuplade is publishing some of the world's most exciting French-language literature

For 20 years, the Montreal-based indie publisher has connected Quebec writers with international audiences and brought global voices to local readers.

Serving legends and locals, Chez Ménick is our unofficial sports hall of fame
Jeremy Cox

Serving legends and locals, Chez Ménick is our unofficial sports hall of fame

For 66 years, Dominique Perrazino's Plateau barbershop has been where hockey legends, Expos players, and neighbourhood regulars all gather to talk, connect, and get a trim.

The unlikely third spaces emerging from Montreal’s bouldering culture
AnnaClare Sung

The unlikely third spaces emerging from Montreal’s bouldering culture

How climbing gyms like Café Bloc have become neighborhood hangouts—complete with coffee, bars, and saunas—that offer a compelling alternative to traditional gym culture.

Nirvana's bringing new school energy to Chinatown with an old school tattoo shop
Elle Magni

Nirvana's bringing new school energy to Chinatown with an old school tattoo shop

Traditional styles and apprenticeships keep the faith to the craft, while monthly block parties bring hundreds to the neighbourhood.

Inside CKUT, Montreal's 38-year experiment in community radio
Madeline Lines

Inside CKUT, Montreal's 38-year experiment in community radio

90.3 FM has been the mic for the mic-less for nearly four decades, kept alive by 300 volunteers and the belief that a homemade sound can be a beautiful thing.

We started a petition to make Montreal's ugly Christmas tree an annual tradition
J.P. Karwacki

We started a petition to make Montreal's ugly Christmas tree an annual tradition

Last year, we wrote about how the city should make the Ugly Tree official. This year, we're actually trying to make it happen.