MRC Blues Band

MRC Blues Band returns to le Cabaret du Saint-Cyrille with a show that the group says swings more and with a repertoire that is a bit more funky.

MRC Blues Band dates back to 1989. The name has a certain meaning but not too original according to Charles Lahaie (tenor sax) because it comes from the fact that they practiced, and still do today, in the basement of the MRC (regional municipal committee) of Saint-François-du-Lac. There have been a few changes in MRC Blues Band since 1989 but today the group is composed of 8 mermbers: Guillaume Beaulac (vocals and guitar), Michel Lahaie (bass), Pierre Tousignant, (trumpet), Charles Lahaie (tenor sax), Richard Dolan (alto sax), Marco Lefebvre (piano and musical director), Pierre Charland on drums and Geneviève Bourque (chorals). They are a group that spans many generations with the youngest at 25 years and the oldest at 65.

MRC Blues Band do about 15 shows a year, especially in summer; notably they were at the Molson Indy Grand Prix (Champ car) in Montreal last summer. MRC Blues Band also wants to return to the studio in 2005 to record their second album which will contain at least four orginals along with remakes from other artists.

The group is enthused with the idea of playing again at le Cabaret du St-Cyrille: "It's always fun to play there because you are close to your public. It always rings well there." says bassman Michel Lahaie. "We have strenghtened our brass section" says trumpeter Pierre Tousignant.