It all started for Rene Boisvert in 1970 in Grosmont Hall near Baptiste Lake when he performed with his father, Joe Boisvert and the Old Tyme Band, driven by participation of his closest family and friends.
Before long, Rene had the musical bug that would carry him for the next 43 years of performing for audiences across Canada.
Boisvert and the Blazers will be performing at the Magnificent River Rats Festival in Athabasca on the Canada Day weekend, and the band leader is looking forward to returning to his home town and loyal crowd.
Dates are still being firmed up, but the Blazers will be blazing up the riverfront stage come Canada Day weekend.
The band mixes it up with rhythm, blues, rock and roll and new country driven by Rene Boisvert (from Athabasca) on guitar and vocals, Randy Forsberg on bass and vocals and Randyís son Cody Forsberg on drums and percussion (both from Edmonton), and Charlie Deshane (from Edmonton, originally from Syracuse, NY) on guitar and vocals.
ìFor the (Magnificent River Rats) Festival, weíre going to stack the deck a little bit and bring along Gary Bowman, (from the Edmonton area) on piano.î
He said he was asked to play at the festival around seven years ago but was living in White Rock, B.C. at the time and was unable to make it out.
ìIím really glad. I want to thank Ida and Bob Edwards, and Rod Foster for inviting us, because they were really excited about it,î said Boisvert.
Boisvert began performing professionally in front of audiences when he was eight or nine.
Beginning with a performance in Grosmont Hall near Baptiste Lake in 1970, he took the stage with his father Joe Boisvert and the Old Tyme Band from 1970 to 1978 as a drummer and bass player.
ìWeíre really looking forward to it,î said Boisvert of the festival.
ìWeíve got lots of stuff going on this summer, and that Athabasca River Rats is definitely one of the highlights of the summer, for sure.î
