Unfortunate Breaking News For Viree Blues Boreale’s 23rd Edition

    We just learned a few hours ago that Pat Loiselle had been admitted in hospital with a major back problem in relation with the sciatic nerve which confines him to bed.   After considering a seated performance and any and every other option, we had to realize that his health limited his walking, standing and many simple moves all which caused him severe pain.   So we wish him a prompt recovery and hope to meet him again soon!

    Despite this unfortunate situation out of any party’s control, Viree Blues Boreale’s team did not like the idea of cancelling this show (that would have been a first in 23 editions) and leave you, our so appreciated patrons, without a first class performance.   Viree Blues Boreale together with the team and the musicians who were to perform with Pat Loiselle adapted really fast to offer a top performance to the Outaouais patrons to replace the programmed performance.   Bet that you  won’t be disappointed!

To replace Pat Loiselle, Viree Blues Boreale is featuring a show with Roots from Here... Angelique Francis and the Ben Racine Band.


   A native from our region, Angelique Francis, an all new sensation on the Canadian Blues Scene is a young extremely talented musician, much more talented than expected for her age group.   At only 18, this young multi-talented artist, multi-styles, multi-instrumentalist, singer-composer-performer has already performed,  in her meteoric rise, despite her young age, on Canada’s and the U.S.’ most famous stages.   She’s earned many awards in addition to being entrusted with composing the theme for the American T.V. show The Gayle King Show, an Oprah production.

    Performing since age 7, she never ceased impressing with her stage presence, her musical ability, her compositions and, for sure her marvellous, powerful, deep and highly textured voice.   Declared one of the top 6 rising stars by The Toronto Blues Society (Maple Blues Awards) she will be here for you with another top performer from here, Ben Racine and the so famous Ben Racine Band.   Angelique Francis with The Ben Racine Band on the 23rd edition of Viree Blues Boreale, Wednesday, February 17 2016, around 8h00 p.m., at the famous and easy found venue, Bar Le Petit Chicago, 50 Promenade du Portage, in the Old-Hull sector.   Tickets are right now on sale at: www.vireeblues.ca (Tickets for the Pat Loiselle performance will for sure still be thoroughly valid) and will also be available at the door, still for only 20$.   You can also take advantage of our interesting, practical and pleasant diner and show package and enjoy the delectable charcoal grilled dishes of Galo Piri Piri Restaurant (www.galopiripiri.com), just 2 doors from Le Petit Chicago, which will also reserve your assigned places at the show.   Reservations can be made at: (819)771-7474.   In the meantime, you can find further information on our featured guests at:   www.angeliquefrancis.net and at: www.benracineband.com .  You should also visit our site which will provide you with links to all our guests’ sites and lots of other interesting information at: www.vireeblues.ca .   For inquiries, please do contact Alexandre Petit at: info@vireeblues.ca .   Also make sure to take part in the facebook event for this show at: www.facebook.com/events/421941968004350/   and be sure to also like us on our facebook page at:  www.facebook.com/vireeblues .

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                           One of Viree Blues Boreale’s Pioneers

                           In the Limelight on Our 23rd Edition

Think you know our next guest?   He performed with most of the Greats on the Canadian and International Blues networks and has been on nearly half the editions of Viree Blues Boreale!   He is all of America’s «Roots Music», a true Bluegrass, Country-Swing, Lousianna Swamp Blues and Zydeco fan.   He passionately brings here for us some seldom heard music inspired by his models, Bill Monroe (the father of bluegrass), Hank Williams (the first white bluesman), Slim Harpo, Jimmy Reed and Merle Travis.   A self-taught renown multi-instrumentalist, he plays various types of guitars, mandolins and banjos on top of playing the harmonica pretty well and having a voice with a remarkable tone.   And he’s coming to present us his second album released last November, SONNY BOY GUMBO’S BLUES.

    Born in Montreal, little Pat Loiselle was charmed by the mystic sounds of the Blues guitar, when he heard the legendary Lucille, in the hands of the Master, Mr. B.B King and by the spellbinding sound of the harmonica of Little Walter.   Since 25 years now, he’s been appearing a a lot on the whole Canadian Blues network.   The list of stars Pat Loiselle performed with is almost endless.   He’s regularly performed with the King of Boogie-Woogie, Kenny `Bluesboss` Wayne, the legendary Jazz and Gospel singer, Janice Harrington, the also legendary Stephen Barry, also with one of Viree Blues Boreale’s 23rd edition’s launch party guests, Micheal Jerome Browne who, by the way has been nominated for a Juno Award, also with Kevin Mark, with Mike Goudreau who will perform on Viree Blues this coming May, Jack de Keyser, Robert David, Jordan Officer, Barath Rajakumar who was also a guest at the 23rd edition’s launch party, with Too Blues, JD Slim, Jo Hell and Craig Miller.   Pat can also be heard playing on albums of Kevin Mark, J.D. Slim, Craig Morisson, Robert David, No Barbers Required as well as Grouyan Gumbo (Cajun).   His legendary versatility brought Pat Loiselle to regularly reach back to his roots to open up to new styles; this also brought him to get involved with pretty different new bands like The Woodshredders, Phil and the Enablers as well as Hot Swing Sauce, No Barbers Required or as Grouyan Gumbo.   His Band, the Pat Loiselle Blues Combo is very impressive;  witness, the opening shows they’ve been chosen for by majors like Robert 'Junior' Lockwood, Magic Slim, Junior Watson, Dutch Mason, to name only those!  The Delta Blues, the Slide Gospel, Cajun Two-Step, Travis-Picking Instrumentals, these are some of the styles that Pat Loiselle can choose to perform on his shows.   As a multi-instrumentalist either on guitar, harmonica, mandoline, Dobro (Lap) or banjo, he will be performing with, on guitar, Martin Hury, who was on Viree Blues Boreale last April to launch his first album, with Mike “Hoodooman”  Reilly on bass and with the Ben Racine Band’s drummer, Nicky Estor.

    It won’t just be a return to the roots of the Mississippi area Blues but rather a cruise on that River.   Blues from the roots, Vintage Blues and, through Bluegrass, a show that will bring you on a trip through multiple emotions and thrills: Pat Loiselle at the 23rd edition of Viree Blues Boreale, Wednesday, February 17 2016, around 8h00 p.m., at the famous and easy found venue, Bar Le Petit Chicago, 50 Promenade du Portage, in the Old-Hull sector.   Tickets are right now on sale at: www.vireeblues.ca and will also be available at the door, still for only 20$.   You can also take advantage of our interesting, practical and pleasant diner and show package and enjoy the delectable charcoal grilled dishes of Galo Piri Piri Restaurant (www.galopiripiri.com), just 2 doors from Le Petit Chicago, which will also reserve your assigned places at the show.   Reservations can be made at: (819)771-7474.   In the meantime, you can find further information on our featured guest at: www.patloiselle.com.   You should also visit our site which will provide you with links to all our guests’ sites and lots of other interesting information at: www.vireeblues.ca.   For inquiries, please do contact Alexandre Petit at: info@vireeblues.ca.   Also make sure to take part in the facebook event for this show at: www.facebook.com/events/421941968004350/ and be sure to also like us on our facebook page at: www.facebook.com/vireeblues.