FINALLY the rain let up enough for everyone to enjoy a great night of music, and despite the muddy ground (which honestly, is surprisingly not bad given the amount of rain we’ve had), the mosh pits were in full force last night. Much less moshing expected tonight, so enjoy some mellower recovery time before tomorrow’s rocker of a show.
RBC STAGE
- 6:00 pm – Brittany Kennell
- 7:30 pm – TALK
- 9:30 pm – Tyler Childers
Tonight’s main stage lineup is slightly more varied than the last few themed nights, with a local star sandwiched between country artists, but no matter who’s on stage, you can anticipate great performances.
First is Montreal’s Brittany Kennell, who has been racking up an ongoing list of firsts for a female country singer from Quebec, including appearing on The Voice, and performing at the Grand Ole Opry. Her newest album Pink Collar released last April, follows on the success of her debut, 2021’s I Ain’t a Saint, and continues to showcase her authentic country songwriting with catchy hooks and relatable lyrics.
Next, making his long-awaited debut on a hometown festival lineup, TALK takes to the Bluesfest stage. If you were one of the few who managed to attend his homecoming show last April, you know this is one you won’t want to miss. Check out our recent chat with TALK to find out just how much Bluesfest means to him.
Ending the night is Tyler Childers, one of the new superstars of traditional country. His folk/Americana-infused country songs harken back to a time with less production, and more focus on authenticity, and he delivers it in spades. After a few releases, he finally broke through with his 2017 album Purgatory, his first of five straight albums to crack the top ten on the US country album chart. His much-anticipated follow-up, 2019’s Country Squire elevated him even more, with a Grammy nomination (his first of seven), and his rise just keeps on going, as 2023’s “In Your Love” became his first crossover hit.
RIVER STAGE
- 6:30 pm – summersets
- 8:00 pm – Oddeline
- 9:30 pm – Bahamas
If you need time to recover from yesterday’s punk onslaught, the River Stage has a triple dose of mellow music to help you bounce back.
Summersets may not be a familiar name, but local music fans will certainly recognize its members: Kalle Mattson and Andrew Sowka. As a duo, their album small town story is a delicate masterwork of storytelling, the stripped-down arrangements highlighting the duo’s harmonies and interplay.
Another local artist, Oddeline is similarly mellow, but with a pinch of 60s folk style thrown in, the result is a perfect backdrop for her dreamy vocals. She has since followed up her 2021 EP Fated to Drown with a pair of new singles this year: “Mercury Ascendant” and “Little Bull” which showcase her excellent production skills.
Slightly further out than our two local artists, Toronto’s Bahamas closes out the evening with his award-winning indie folk. Since emerging on the scene in 2009, he has churned out a string of hit albums and charting singles, earning him Junos as well as inclusion on prestigious tastemaker playlists. His latest album, last year’s Bootcut, takes a detour down a country backroad, showing all the influences recording in Nashville can possibly imbue. No fake twang, just Bahamas dabbling in a slightly different genre, without losing his core.
SIRIUSXM STAGE
- 5:45 pm – Empress Nyiringango
- 6:45 pm – Jerry Portnoy
- 8:15 pm – Bombino
The SiriusXM Stage truly embodies the idea of ‘everything under the tent’ again tonight, starting off with Rwandan-Canadian Empress Nyiringango. With a unique blend of African influences and collaborators, and singing in Kinyarwanda, paired with Swahili, French, and English, every song brings a new ingredient to the recipe, and yet it all fits.
Next up is blues harmonica legend Jerry Portnoy. Initially part of Muddy Waters’ band, and later on Eric Clapton’s All-Star Blues Band, his solo albums have featured his gravelly voice in counterpoint to his signature harmonica. Whether playing originals or classic covers, the authenticity shine through regardless.
Swaying back to African artists, Bombino makes his return to Bluesfest. Last here in 2022, the Nigerian has since released his latest album, Sahel, which continues the evolution he began with 2018’s Deran. More intricate and layered, Bombino has developed more depth with each album.
BARNEY DANSON THEATRE
- 6:30 pm – Wild Remedy
- 8:00 pm – Raphael Weinroth-Browne
- 9:30 pm – Annie Raines & Paul Rishell
In the theatre, more eclectic artists fill out the lineup, starting with local folk trio Wild Remedy. After releasing singles over the past year, including a cover of Noah Kahan’s “She Calls Me Back”, the group released their debut EP, Songs from Home, last month, which includes two brand new songs.
Next is local prolific cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne. Enumerating all his projects would take as long as his set, but to gain an appreciation for the artist and his process, you can check out our chat with him from this past spring. Between his solo project, his trio Musk Ox, duos The Visit, Kamancello, Glass Armour, and the numerous contributions he’s made to other artists’ projects, he now has appeared on over 150 albums and counting.
From progressive, avant garde cello, we move back to more traditional country blues, with Annie Raines & Paul Rishell. With Raines’ harmonica, and Rishell’s guitar, the duo has developed impeccable chemistry over the past three decades, which has earned them numerous awards and accolades.
DJs tonight:
ACCORA VILLAGE SPIN STAGE (6:00 pm): DJ Eazy EL Dee
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.
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