The Canadian group Vishten has been taking its joyous Acadian music and dance performances to audiences throughout North America and Europe for seven years.

Onstage, twin sisters Pastelle and Emmanuelle LeBlanc join fiddler Pascal Miousse and touring guitarist Elmer Deagle, contributing piano, accordion, bodhran and Irish flute to the high-spirited sets.

"It's a pretty lively show," said Pastelle LeBlanc, speaking from her Prince Edward Island home in Canada.

"There's a lot of dancing involved and percussion done with the feet. Some people say it's like a house party or something, where you could just feel impromptu energy in the tunes that we play."

Offering a stirring blend of Irish, Scottish and Acadian (of French descent) music, the band members dance and play on wooden "blocs" that double as percussion instruments.

Their sound and presentation won eastern Canada's equivalent of the Grammy in 2002 for Best Musical Showcase.

With the release of its second CD, "11:11" (which will be available at the group's Folk Festival shows), Vishten has U.S. and European tours planned over the next few months.

Richmond audiences will hear songs in French, with explanations as the group goes along. As for the music and rhythm of the step-dancing sisters and their colleagues, they make for an easily understood universal language.

Vishten performs tonight from 7:45-8:30 p.m.  Check the schedule for more times and locations.

-- Hays Davis