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 you can plan your festival visit to Lebreton Flats accordingly.
What is it with Death Cab For Cutie appearances at Bluesfest and catastrophic weather events?? Thankfully this year passed without affecting the festival too badly, other than damp ground. It certainly didn’t dampen the spirits of festivalgoers Thursday, which bodes well for the weekend.
Day 7: Friday, July 14
RBC Stage
6pm Amanda Jordan
7:30pm FLETCHER
9:30pm Charlotte Cardin
Friday and Saturday’s main stage is pop-centric, though in various flavours each night. Friday’s trio of women certainly put their spin on it.
First up is Smith Falls’ own Amanda Jordan. Still working on her debut album, the country-pop singer has already gained a significant following from her single “I Choose You,” featured on The Bachelor and her own acting career. Based on her string of singles, that album is already very much anticipated.
Next up is Fletcher, who skyrocketed to stardom with her viral single “Undrunk” in 2019, which currently has over 165 million streams. While some artists might find it difficult to follow up that kind of success, she caught lightning in a bottle again with her 2020 single “Bitter,” which has almost matched that number. Her first full-length album, Girl Of My Dreams, is loaded with hook-laden pop songs, but if you look past the glossy production, Fletcher’s lyricism is well worth diving into.
Montrealer Charlotte Cardin has come a long way in a short time, from appearing on La Voix in 2013 to a number 1 album with 2021’s Phoenix and a slew of Juno awards. She’s followed that up with singles from her upcoming 99 Nights album, including “Jim Carrey,” released TODAY, so tonight’s performance also serves as a launch of sorts. Pop with touches of jazz, especially when performing acoustic, her latest takes her in a more electro-pop direction, which she seems to master effortlessly.
River Stage (behind the Canadian War Museum)
6:30pm Pony Girl
8pm Allison Russell
9:30pm Fleet Foxes
Capital Music Award–winners Pony Girl kick the night off with their eclectic mix of art pop, dreamy atmospherics, and rock elements to create a blend all their own. With a new album due this fall, their lead singles have set the stage (and the anticipation) for another award winner.
Next up is Montreal’s Allison Russell. While she may have only released her debut solo album in 2021, the veteran folk singer’s extensive career spans decades, having founded Po’ Girl (with six albums) and Birds of Chicago (with five albums), as well as collaborations with a multitude of folk and Americana stars. Russell will have no shortage of material to draw from for her set.
Finally, much like fellow Washington state band Death Cab For Cutie, Fleet Foxes will make their long-awaited debut at Bluesfest. Breaking through during the surge of indie-folk in the mid-00s, they’ve remained true to their sound over the years, with their latest album, 2021’s Shore, a product of a band that continues to evolve, but knows who they are at their core.
Find a good spot on the hill, settle in, and let this trio of artists carry you into different yet pleasant musical journeys.
SiriusXM Stage (behind Main Stage)
6pm Sussex
7:30pm Sauce Boss
9pm Rich Aucoin
An eclectic mix in the tent Friday night, each artist more unique than the next. Be ready for surprises.
Leading off is Sussex—and no, the name is not based on a local landmark. The New Brunswick musicians combine a foundation of roots soaked in blues and spice it up with jazz horns, among many other influences, which fade in and out from song to song.
Next is the Sauce Boss, who takes a unique take on blues. While his style incorporates many different ingredients, it’s nothing compared to his gumbo, which he cooks throughout his performance. With song titles including “I’m Cookin’,” “All That Meat and No Potatoes,” and “The Gumbo Song,” he’ll work up fans’ appetites, both for his swampy guitar riffs and his cooking.
Halifax’s Rich Aucoin closes the tent, and given his broad range of genres throughout his career, the only sure thing is that it will be energetic. Given that his most recent venture, Synthetic—A Synth Odyssey, has focused primarily on vintage synthesizers, the first volume of which garnered him his first Juno nomination, the set is likely going to be heavy on synths, which have underpinned most of his work over the years, including his underappreciated 2019 album, Release. Whatever the setlist, one guarantee is that it will be a genuine party, as are all Rich Aucoin shows.
Barney Danson Theatre (inside the Canadian War Museum)
6:30pm Neha Sin
8pm Michelle Treacy
9:30pm Sauce Boss
Leading off tonight will be Ottawa’s Neha Sin and her contemporary folk. With delicate vocals set to sweet arrangements, her sound will be perfectly framed within the Theatre.
Taking a more exuberant approach, next up is another local: Michelle Treacy. Breaking out in 2016 with “Armageddon,” the pop songstress has followed up that early success with a string of singles, plus EPs in 2018 and 2021. Her latest single, “Easy Money,” continues where her 2019 single “Emotional” left off, taking her pop sensibilities and adapting them over a funky RnB beat to create another new take by the ever-evolving artist.
Keep checking apt613.ca and our social media feeds for more previews and photos throughout the festival!
.gif)
