It was Saturday morning and only a few hours away from the beginning of day three of the Ottawa Folk Festival. Rain began to pound on my windowpane. There had been lightening flashes on and off for hours and the thunder roared. Yet my hardcore festival-going friends and I were ready to take in Saturday’s great line-up. One friend joyously proclaimed that she was headed to Soakfest. If the massive hoards of people at Woodstock could brave the rain in 1969, so could we.
Although perhaps less pivotal for music than the events of 1969, the Ottawa Folk Festival has hit a great stride so far this year. Amidst the umbrellas, raincoats and muddy grass, a number of people made it out to enjoy Saturday’s line-up.
Honky-tonker Corb Lund, with a feather in his cap, kept festival goers in high spirits with this music, as the weather alternated between torrential downpour and clear skies. He belted out a number of tunes on sundry topics, including one about goth girls.
Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys didn't disappoint
Indeed the Ottawa Folk Festival is a place where music of all regional flavours converge. I stumbled upon Prince Edward Island’s Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys. I’m a former Atlantic Canadian, but this group was completely new to me. They delivered a skilled, high-energy and entertaining performance. Gordie, nick-named “crazy-legs” is a marvelous fiddler and tap dancer. He is backed by a set of nimble-fingered musicians who sing and play bass, banjo, guitar and snare drum. It was easy to see why these crowd pleasers were nominated for an East Coast Music Award and received two PEI Music Awards in 2011. We have not seen the last of them.
As the Great Lake Swimmers took to the stage, the rain let up and it grew darker and slightly colder. I really enjoy this band that sounds pretty much the same live as they do recorded, with their echo-y ethereal sound. They are on tour across North America right now promoting their fifth studio album “New Wild Everywhere”. My friends and I then broke for coffee and mini-donuts, so we unfortunately only saw a bit of this act. We were feeling a bit chilly and really needed to warm-up.
Later on, Vancouver indie-rock band Yukon Blonde delivered a stellar performance, which left the audience begging for more. The temperature seemed to rise at this point in the evening. Perhaps it was the warmth of the coffee, or maybe it was the high from the cinnamon sugar dust on the donuts. Most likely warmth was generated from the head bobbing that Yukon Blonde inspired. It had been a couple of years since they had been in Ottawa, and it was clear that they had been missed. This group from Vancouver delivered a tight show, which in my opinion was a top performance of the evening. They also happen to have a very pleasing Tumblr.
Saturday night’s line-up finished off with Great Big Sea. We’ve now been rocking to Great Big Sea’s interpretations of Newfoundland folk songs for some time now. I first saw this band in the early nineties at the Halifax Metro Centre. I had become very familiar with their songs, like “Up”, “Donkey Riding” and “Patty Murphy” to the point of memorization….some by osmosis through continuous radio play in Halifax. Great Big Sea tends to attract a decent-sized crowd and Saturday evening was no exception. They always deliver a consistent and reliable performance where everyone jumps around and sings along. There’s often a twinge of nostalgia for people coming from my part of the country.
Jill W fakes sadness about the state of the weather while taking in a show
All in all a great day of music. We were damp, but left happy. The Folk Festival continues today and Monday. Visit www.ottawafolk.com for more information.
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