Given the wide variety of genres and renown, you will be forgiven if you are not familiar with every single artist on the Bluesfest lineup. Therefore, as part of our extensive coverage, Apt613 will have daily previews of the artists performing that day, so you can plan your festival visit to LeBreton Flats accordingly.
With an opening day in the middle of a heat wave, Mother Nature certainly put the ‘”hot” in “hot country night” yesterday. Shifting gears, Day 2’s main stage is all about rock, while the other stages have an eclectic mix of artists.
Day 2: Friday July 7
RBC Stage
6pm PUP
7:30pm Billy Talent
9:30pm Weezer
One of the most common genres to get highlighted on the main stage of this year’s Bluesfest is alt-rock, starting with tonight’s triple bill. Reminiscent of 2019’s trio of The Dirty Nil, The Offspring, and Alexisonfire, rock fans are in for quite a night.
First up is Toronto punk band PUP. Building on the Juno winning success of 2019’s Morbid Stuff, their 2022 album The Unravelling of PUPtheband displayed an evolution in their sound, while remaining perfectly grounded in pure punk energy. Get there early, and get ready for a mosh pit.
Next up is Canadian rock royalty Billy Talent. As one of the first major acts to play an Ottawa venue post-pandemic, their TD Place show last year felt cathartic for both the band and the crowd. More moshing is inevitable.
Closing out the main stage, alt-rock veterans Weezer will make their first return to town since 2013’s Bluesfest. The workaholics have released a steady stream of material since then, surprising fans with different concepts at every turn, from their ’80s covers album (the Teal album) to their Van Halen inspired Van Weezer to their 4-part SZNZ opus last year (one album released in each season). While moshing is much less likely, singalongs to hits “Beverly Hills” and “Buddy Holly” are guaranteed.
And for fans of both Billy Talent and Weezer, one can only hope that Rivers Cuomo might make an appearance during Billy Talent’s set to perform their collaboration “End of Me” together—an ultra-rare occurrence given their hectic touring schedules.
River Stage (behind the Canadian War Museum)
6:30 pm Melo Griffith
8:00 pm Tank and The Bangas
9:30 pm Thundercat
The River Stage sees much more continuity from last night, as R&B and hip hop remain front and centre.
First up is Ottawa’s Melo Griffith and his alt-rap and indie R&B sounds. His 2020 release Ctfo gained traction off the standout track “Cheers,” which led to a string of singles last year, highlighted by his Dream State EP. A great fit to kick off the evening’s lineup.
Continuing on the R&B vibe, Tank and The Bangas take over for a set infused with funk and soul. If their 2017 CityFolk performance is any indication, festival-goers will be hard-pressed not to dance along to their infectious grooves. Armed with a pair of albums, another pair of EPs, and a handful of singles since then, they’ll have plenty of new material to add to their set.
Finally, taking the R&B vibe into a much more experimental direction will be Thundercat. The Grammy winner will grace an Ottawa stage for the first time, bringing viral hit “Them Changes” and the catchy hooks and progressive take on R&B from his It Is What It Is album that earned him critical and fan acclaim. Given his many collaborations (Gorillaz, Tame Impala, etc.) his set could meander across a wide swath of his catalogue—and genres.
SiriusXM Stage (behind Main Stage)
6pm Digging Roots
7:30pm Southern Avenue
9pm Jupiter & Okwess
Similarly, the SiriusXM Stage will mostly stick to blues/roots artists again tonight, with each of the three artists bringing their own flavour to the mix, given their diverse origins.
Leading off is Digging Roots, the Indigenous duo, supported by a collective of collaborators, that fuse blues and soul with their Anishinabe and Onkwehonwe roots. While they’ve been performing together for almost two decades, and have earned national awards throughout, last year’s Zhawenim gained significant traction, thanks to hit single “Skoden” which was included on notable “top songs of 2022” lists.
Emerging from the blues epicentre of Memphis, Southern Avenue may not have decades of experience under their belt, but you wouldn’t be able to tell from their sound. They balance the depth of the music tradition of their hometown with a contemporary sound, thanks in large part to Tierinii Jackson’s vocals infusing a heavy dose of soul into the mix.
Hailing from a slightly less-known music hotbed than Memphis, Jupiter & Okwess will bring a much funkier take to the stage thanks to a mix of influences, including Jupiter’s Congolese heritage. The band’s blend of Afro-pop, funk and rock will captivate audiences and have everyone moving.
Barney Danson Theatre (inside the Canadian War Museum)
6:30 pm Emily Jean Flack
8:00 pm The Jesse Greene Band
9:30 pm Southern Avenue
Leading off tonight will be London, Ontario’s contemporary folk songstress Emily Jean Flack. Fusing Celtic influences with modern production, the result is delicately balanced, with touches of Tori Amos and The Corrs, which should be perfectly suited to the confines of the Barney Danson Theatre.
After the subtleties from Flack, the Jesse Greene Band will crank the intensity all the way up with their powerhouse blues. The local trio will provide a heavy dose of classic blues covers and jams, accentuated by Greene’s soulful voice and emotive guitar, a perfect opener to Southern Avenue’s second set.
Keep checking apt613.ca and our social media feeds for more previews and photos throughout the festival!
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