If yesterday’s hip-hop infused country strayed a bit too far from your country preferences (or you simply couldn’t get in to the jam packed festival grounds), tonight’s main stage should give you the more traditional sounds you’re searching for, while the rest of the stages have a variety of rock, blues, and a bit of everything, all in one, that should satisfy the non-country music lovers all the same.
RBC STAGE
- 6:00 pm – Nicolette & The Nobodies
- 7:30 pm – Charley Crockett
- 9:30 pm – Zac Brown Band
The triple shot of country tonight starts off with Guelph’s Nicolette & The Nobodies. Rooted in old school country, the four-piece released their debut album this past spring, with a blend of upbeat honky-tonk songs like “Rodeo” mixed with heartache ballads like “Show Up”.
They’ll be a perfect table-setter for Charley Crockett. While the Texan began playing mostly blues, his blend of traditional styles started veering more towards country by his 2020 album Welcome To Hard Times. From there on, vintage country became his dominant sound, earning him multiple Americana Music Awards and nominations, though blues is still lurking within all his songs, as evidenced on his latest album, April’s $10 Cowboy.
All this traditional country will go exceptionally well with some “Chicken Fried”, which headliner Zac Brown Band will be happy to serve up. While that debut single set the bar high, going #1, and the ensuing album going five time platinum in the US, and platinum here in Canada, they churned out a string of platinum albums over the next decade and a half, with plenty more chart-topping hits. While they continue to sit squarely in the country genre, they unabashedly wear their rock influences on their sleeves, nowhere moreso than on their live covers album From The Road, which features songs by Queen, The Who, Metallica, Beastie Boys and The Beatles, among others. Their ability to leverage these influences while maintaining their country sound has earned them a substantial crossover fanbase, and success.
RIVER STAGE
- 6:30 pm – Jon Muq
- 8:00 pm – Texas King
- 9:30 pm – Matthew Good
Over on the River Stage, the evening has a much more deliberate rock slant progressing through each artist.
First is Ugangan-by-way-of-Austin singer-songwriter Jon Muq. Having just released his debut album at the end of May, it is incredibly polished for a first effort. That should not be surprising given it was produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, and the resulting retro feel that is common with his many projects frames Muq well, allowing his storytelling to come through.
Dialing up the rock a bit more, Texas King, unlike their Austin-based lead-in, are not in fact Texan, but actually are from just down the road in London, ON. The rock band started gaining traction with their 2013 self-titled EP, but it was their 2017 single “Boomerang” that earned them considerable attention, which they continue to build on with their reputation as a great live band with lots of energy. Last year’s Capsize EP adds another five songs to their catalog of strong melodic rock.
From up and comer to Canadian rock legend, closing the night will be Matthew Good. Breaking through as part of the 90s Canadian rock explosion as the Matthew Good Band, MGB would remain in high rotation on radio and Much Music through the rest of the decade with megahits including “Apparitions”, “Hello Time Bomb” and “Load Me Up”. Following the dissolution of his band in 2002, Good launched his solo career with just as much success, all while changing up his sound throughout each album cycle. More personal and intimate, his songwriting has remained the keystone to all of his projects. Now touring as ‘Matthew Good and his Band’, his set list will have plenty of hits to choose from as he makes his first appearance at Bluesfest since 2013.
SIRIUSXM STAGE
- 5:45 pm – Caroline Jones
- 6:45 pm – Blackburn Brothers
- 8:00 pm – Medicine Singers ft. Lee Ranaldo, Yonatan Gat & Zoon
The tent’s eclectic lineup kicks off with country singer Carolina Jones, who just happens to also be a member of main stage headliner Zac Brown Band, so bonus points for maximizing efficiency. Prior to joining the group, Jones had already issued multiple self-released albums before her big label debut in 2018 with Bare Feet, and the follow-up EP Chasin’ Me with the title track becoming her breakthrough hit in 2019. With another full album in 2021, she then joined Zac Brown the following year, but continued her solo endeavours with her Homesite album in 2023.
Speaking of pulling double duty, next up are the Blackburn Brothers. If you were at the festival Sunday, you might have caught Brooke Blackburn playing in the Theatre as a solo act, whereas tonight he’ll be joined by brothers Duane and Cory and the rest of the band. Award winners as solo performers, the band is greater than the sum of its parts, and the resulting electric blues is as infectious.
Try to catch your breath, because you’ll be back on your feet with the next artists. That said, be ready for… anything. Based on pow wow drums and eastern Algonquin traditions, the Medicine Singers have become as eclectic a mix as you could ever fathom. Add in an Israeli avant-garde guitarist, an experimental percussionist, an ambient new age multi-instrumentalist, and a jazz trumpeter, among others. By some miracle, all those pieces oddly fit.
BARNEY DANSON THEATRE
- 6:30 pm – Murray Kinsley & Wicked Grin
- 8:00 pm – Yarro
- 9:30 pm – Blackburn Brothers
If the rain hits (again), don’t fret. Simply enjoy some rootsy blues rock from local artist Murray Kinsley & Wicked Grin. Songs like “Take Me Down” will have you clapping along in no time, as will plenty of their new songs on their 2023 album Shame On Me.
Keeping the local trend going, soul songstress Yarro will captivate everyone with her soothing voice and mellow atmospheric beats. You could easily fall under her hypnotic spell with a single listen.
DJs tonight:
- ACCORA VILLAGE SPIN STAGE (6:00 pm): ALAMUSIC
- THE CRAZY HORSE SALOON (7:00 pm): DJMC
RBC Ottawa Bluesfest runs from July 4-14 at Lebreton Flats, with passes and tickets available here.
.gif)