VIREE BLUES BOREALE - LEWIS DAVE v. KING MELROSE - APR. 22

A duel to the finish
at the 9th edition of Virée Blues Boréale

It’s a challenge to the finish that these two first-place winners in the Blues upcomers category at Tremblant Blues International Festival will fight at Virée Blues Boréale. After outshining more than 42 other groups in that competition, these two young pianists decided on another challenge to determine who is the very best up coming Blues pianist.

In the right corner, 23 years old, born in Drummondville and living in Joliette [QC], with one album launched in 2008, Louis-David “Lewis Dave” Leclerc. Multi-talented musician, he began his career at age 6, with his mother starting his piano training. He kept on performing with a few choirs, a symphony orchestra and many Rock, Blues and Jazz groups while completing a DEC in drumming, a diploma from Joliette’s CEGEP in 2007, where he earned some scholarships. Then, at 15, he discovers his real passion: the Blues! Inspired by the styles of Little Richard, CCR, Ray Charles, B.B.King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Dr.John, Kenny ”Blue Boss” Wayne and Brian Setzer, Lewis Dave naturally comes back to the piano when he decides, in 2006, to set up his own group, of which he was the singer-pianist. Lewis Dave performs some hits of the ‘50s and ‘60s, where the Boogie Woogie style Blues piano takes to center stage, a bit in the style of Jerry Lee Lewis. With an original and energetic show, the group started touring the Province’s bars, halls and festivals and built a reputation on Quebec’s Blues scene. They are planning a new album for 2010.

In the left corner, also in his 20s and from Joliette, Sébastien Côté, a.k.a. King Melrose. Rather discreet with regard to his achievements, King Melrose wants to stand out performing his Blues Rock ‘50s style, his ‘60s and ‘70s style soul and his Blues of the whole century. With experiences and inspiration kind of similar to his opponent’s, his revisited versions of the great classics as well as his compositions brought him to perform over a hundred times on various Quebec stages during 2008 only. He is described as highly talented, very energetic by the critics who also praise his spirited performances.

Each of them, displaying his own style, will be accompanied for this challenge by “the Referees”, namely Marc-Olivier Pilon on Guitar, Philippe Rodrigue on Bass and Alexandre De Sève on Drums. Another name for this trio is “On The Rock” as in “Lewis On The Rock”. Their uncommon scenic presence will sure bring you a memorable moment at this rendez-vous for the first show of these two new 2008 ambassadors of the Blues, King Melrose and Lewis Dave On The Rock at Virée Blues Boréale, on Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at 8h00 p.m. at Addiction, 117 Promenade du Portage, in the Old Hull sector.

For information or interviews, please contact Alexandre Petit at: vireeblues@gmail.com.

You will find more info at: www.lewisdave.net and www.myspace.com/kingmelrose.

You should also visit our own site, which always provides you with links to all our guests sites and lots of other interesting information at: www.myspace.com/vireeblues.


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