The summer is clearly in full swing, which means the largest music festival in town is kicking off. The 2023 edition of Ottawa Bluesfest builds upon decades of success with a stellar lineup of over 100 artists from near and far performing across four stages over nine days.
Given the wide variety of genres and name recognition, you will be forgiven if you are not familiar 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 you can plan your festival visit to LeBreton Flats accordingly.
Thursday July 6
RBC Stage
6pm Brea Lawrenson
7:15pm Lindsay Ell
9pm Shania Twain
The festival kicks off with its one mainstage country night this year, with an all Canadian lineup, no less. Local artist and Bluesfest veteran Brea Lawrenson will launch the festivities with a selection from her ever-growing catalogue, which includes last year’s “Only The Whiskey.” Once you get hooked on her emotive voice, catch her performing around the area throughout the summer, including Mississippi Mills, Brockville, and Orleans.
Originally, organizers had scheduled Orville Peck to perform, but as the artist had to cancel his summer tour for health reasons, Bluesfest pulled a rabbit out of a hat in adding award-winner Lindsay Ell, who just happened to be on tour with Shania. If the name rings a bell, Lindsay not only dominates radio airwaves with her own hits and collabs with Brantley Gilbert and Cheat Codes, but in her spare time hosts Canada’s Got Talent.
Closing country night is none other than the Canadian Queen of Country herself, Shania Twain. The record-breaking singer recently launched her “Queen of Me” tour after a successful residency in Las Vegas, and will make her first stop in the capital in five years. Having paved the way for future country-pop stars, the crowd for Shania should be an interesting mix of fans from her early breakout in the ’90s to today.
River Stage (behind the Canadian War Museum)
6:30pm J.C
8:00 pm Dax
9:30 pm BBNO$
While country dominates the main stage, the River Stage brings a trio of hip-hop artists to add to the festival’s reputation of crossing genres (much to the dismay of blues traditionalists). Taking the mic first is Ottawa’s own J.C, who has quickly established himself as one to watch on the local hip-hop scene, from singing and rapping to producing. His 2021 hit “Cruella” has almost one million streams so far and just as many YouTube views, a culmination of years of evolution and experimentation that has continued since with his newest EP Variant, released last January.
Continuing the trend of artists with Ottawa roots, DAX will bring his introspective lyricism to the stage. From questioning relationships to religion, mental health or the Batman universe, every song packs a punch of honesty, delivered over a variety of backing track styles. DAX is full of surprises: his latest single “To Be A Man” has been added to a number of influential tastemaker playlists… in the country genre.
Closing out the night, Vancouver’s BBNO$ will take a decidedly less serious tone with his set of party tracks. Since going absolutely viral on TikTok in 2019 with “Lalala”, which has reached nearly one billion streams on Spotify alone, the rapper has spent the last few years capitalizing on that success with another viral hit in 2021 with “Edamame”, which has well over 300 million streams as well. Between his hits and collabs with Yung Gravy, he is easily one of the most viral artists in the past five years.
SiriusXM Stage (behind Main Stage)
6pm Mikhail Laxton
7:30pm John Németh
9pm Son Little
If country and hip hop aren’t your style, the SiriusXM Stage will host a trio of blues/roots artists that might be more to your liking. First up is Mikhail Laxton, the Australian–now-Stittsvillian who will be bringing a selection of songs from his 2021 EP Real, as well as new material from his upcoming album, due out next month. If the first singles “Dying To Let You Go” and “Mossman” are any indication, expect heartfelt songs in his set here as well as at CityFolk later this fall.
Putting a touch of blues in Bluesfest, John Németh will bring a double shot of his soulful sound, first on the SiriusXM Stage before closing out the Barney Danson Theatre later. For a sample of what to expect, his latest release, “Live From The Fallout Shelter” captures (as best as it can) the type of show the multiple Blues Music Award winner puts on.
Taking a less boisterous, more stripped-down approach to the blues, Son Little will close out the night with a set of R&B that accentuates both the rhythm and blues in that equation, especially on his latest album, 2022’s Like Neptune. With the other two stages featuring energetic parties, consider Little’s set your chill escape.
Barney Danson Theatre (inside the Canadian War Museum)
6:30pm Melissa Lamm
8pm Mimi O’Bonsawin
9:30pm John Németh
Traditionally, the Barney Danson Theatre has hosted up-and-coming local talent at Bluesfest, in addition to artists pulling double duty to close out the show. However, if opening night is any indication, this year’s lineup is less “on their way,” and more “arriving.” First up is Carleton grad Melissa Lamm, who brings her EDM-infused bright pop to the stage. Impeccable production surrounds her soft vocals to create lush, sun-drenched soundscapes, which have earned her millions of streams already.
A polar opposite to the electronic influences, up next is Mimi O’Bonsawin. The singer-songwriter melds her many roots, including Franco-Ontarian and Abenaki, to create a tapestry that is grounded solidly in traditional acoustic instruments and percussion, yet also feels fresh and forward-facing, especially on this year’s album Willow. Catch her while you can, before she spends the rest of the summer playing festivals across the country.
Keep checking apt613.ca and our social media feeds for more previews and photos throughout the festival!
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