Local rock-grass band Alder Street is hosting their CD release party Friday, June 6, for the new album Americannibal (read story on Alder Street here). Take a look at the album art when you get a chance because the front jacket of the CD was created by well known French illustrator Olivier Bonhomme. Bonhomme often illustrates political cartoons for Le Monde, perhaps the mostly widely read newspaper in France.

In fact, Alder Street guitar player and singer-songwriter Ian Royer spent much of his youth in Montpellier, a university city in Southern France, and he speaks French fluently.

“I’m half French. I grew up in the South of France,” Royer tells me over the phone. “[Bonhomme] was a high school buddy of mine. He was actually in my first band. He’s truly talented.”

Royer says that when he does visit France, his French friends tease him about playing bluegrass music. “My friends purposefully annoy me by calling it country,” he says, laughing.

Royer plans to return this summer. To see more of Bonhomme’s artwork, find his portfolio here.

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