Given the wide variety of genres and renown, you will be forgiven if you are unfamiliar with every single artist on the lineup. Therefore, as part of our extensive coverage, Apt613 will have daily previews of the artists performing that day so that you can plan your festival visit to Lebreton Flats accordingly.
With another ideal evening of music in the books, Sunday’s lineup features the second alt-rock headliner of the festival, with notable names spread out across the stages. We have to hope Mother Nature cooperates and keeps the rain at bay!
Day 4: Sunday, July 9
RBC Stage
6pm Bran Van 3000
7:30pm Tegan and Sara
9:30pm Death Cab For Cutie
Another triple-bill of alt-rock on the main stage, this time with less edge than Friday and featuring a headliner making their long-awaited return to Bluesfest.
You’ll be forgiven if you lost track of Montreal’s Bran Van 3000 after their monster hit “Drinking in L.A.” since its global success overshadowed much of the follow-up work. But the silver anniversary of their debut Glee album (yes, it has been 25 years!) provides the band a chance to be introduced to a new generation of fans and for all fans to get reacquainted with their underappreciated oeuvre.
Marking their return to the Bluesfest stage six years after their memorable 2017 set, Tegan and Sara will continue the ‘alt-rock with a twist’ trend, infusing less DJ mixing and more pop. The twins followed up 2019’s Hey, I’m Just Like You with two full albums in 2022, Still Jealous and Crybaby. And if that wasn’t enough, they followed up their 2019 bestselling memoir High School with another graphic novel Junior High, as well as executive produced a TV series on the memoir. Plenty of new material to choose from to update their set!
Finally, if you thought six years was a long wait for Tegan and Sara, alt-rock legends Death Cab For Cutie will make their first appearance in Ottawa since playing the (at the time) Civic Centre in 2006. That long gap had not been the plan, but the infamous stage collapse in 2011 forced them to cancel their set that day. Fingers crossed the weather is a bit more amenable this time around, and we can all enjoy the Seattle band’s set, whose catalogue has kept growing since, including last year’s fantastic Asphalt Meadows. If we’re lucky, we might even get a song or two from lead singer Ben Gibbard’s other band The Postal Service.
River Stage (behind the Canadian War Museum)
6:30pm Youngtree & The Blooms
8pm Jack Barksdale
9:30pm Alan Doyle
The River Stage features various folksy artists, bringing their own country, roots, and traditional influences to their sound.
First up is St John’s Youngtree & the Blooms, bringing their eclectic alt-country mix to the stage. Following up their debut album Musical Chairs with their latest self-titled release last year, there’s a clear maturation in their sound and production while remaining grounded in the honesty that exuded from their debut.
Taking an even more stripped-down approach to folk and Americana is Texan Jack Barksdale. The teen wunderkind’s songs seem like that of a much older, experienced songwriter, and he’s still early in his career. He could very well perform at Bluesfest over the next half-century and beyond.
Closing the River Stage is folk veteran Alan Doyle. The former Great Big Sea frontman has established himself as a successful solo singer over the last decade, in addition to a slew of acting credits. As anyone who enjoyed his performance at the Dragonboat festival in 2019 will know, you can expect a ton of fun foot-stomping singalongs and the ambiance of an oversized kitchen party.
SiriusXM Stage (behind Main Stage)
6pm Taming Sari
7:30pm Dawn Tyler Watson
9pm Guy Bélanger
Showcasing more Ottawa talent in the tent, Taming Sari will kick things off with their throwback rock. Heavily influenced by 70s and 80s rock, the local band uses those inspirations to create a fresh sound that still feels familiar at its core.
Widening the geographic scope, Montreal-based blues singer Dawn Tyler Watson brings a dynamic take to the genre, leveraging her soulful voice and jazz flares into an energetic blend. Given “Alligator,” one of the standout tracks on her 2019 album Mad Love, features Ottawa’s Steve Marriner (of MonkeyJunk fame), fans could hope to see an appearance of the local bluesman.
Pushing even further east to Quebec City, Guy Bélanger will bring his legendary harmonica playing to close out the tent show. Having played with some of the greatest over the years, from Muddy Waters to Céline Dion, the award-winner has a brand new album to draw material from, in addition to his extensive catalogue.
Barney Danson Theatre (inside the Canadian War Museum)
6:30pm East Coast Experience
8pm Emmanuelle Querry
9:30pm Dawn Tyler Watson
Recent winners of the Capital Music Award’s Newcomer of the Year, the East Coast Experience will start the night in the Theatre with their mix of originals and classics that will have east-coasters nostalgic for Home, which happens to be the title of the duo’s EP.
From folk/roots to electropop, Gatineau’s Emmanuelle Querry will add a modern touch to the evening. Although armed with just one EP and a handful of singles, the bilingual singer already demonstrates an impeccable touch creating interesting arrangements and production that accentuates her soft vocals perfectly. Listeners will definitely have her hook-laden songs in their heads for days!
Dawn Tyler Watson closes out the Theatre with her second set.
Keep checking apt613.ca and our social media feeds for more previews and photos throughout the festival!
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