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Usually Sundays at Bluesfest tend to be a bit more laid back, but between the kitchen party and the Shania dance party, this Sunday night is going to be a raucous one. That said, odds are pretty slim that a mosh pit as big as the ones during Turnstile breaks out tonight.
The Shed (Sparks St)
3:30 pm – Tiny Horse
Kingston’s Tiny Horse drops by Sparks Street to perform a free set of their indie pop. Full of singalong choruses and catchy hooks, their well-crafted songs are bound to draw in passersby and convert them into instant fans.
RBC Stage
6:00 pm – Buck Twenty
7:30 pm – Alan Doyle
9:30 pm – Shania Twain
First up is the southern Ontario country duo Buck Twenty. Ever since their breakout single “All I Can Do” in 2020, they’ve been on a quick path to stardom, and last year’s EP From A to B pushed them even further with hit “Do It For A Living”. Their fan-friendly country sound has them squarely in the fast lane to success.
A national treasure, Alan Doyle has continued his career post-Great Big Sea, or careers in his case, as he not only writes, records and performs, but he also acts on the big screen, and now on the theatre stage as well.
Having headlined only two years ago, it might be surprising to see Shania Twain back at the festival, but then again, when you’re an icon like her, with so many hits, it’s a guaranteed good time. Having dominated the 90s with her multi-platinum albums, there’s no doubt the entire main bowl will be singing every single word along with her.
River Stage
6:15 pm – Leverage for Mountains
7:45 pm – The Paper Kites
9:15 pm – Wild Rivers
Sunday night on the River Stage is dedicated to harmonies. Starting with a trio from across the aforementioned river, A Leverage for Mountains have been perfecting their live performances playing all over the area, with their 2022 EP Love out of the Dark showing marked growth in their sound.
Next is Melbourne’s The Paper Kites making their return to Bluesfest since playing in 2016. They soon after played a gig at Mavericks that left fans in awe with their a capella harmonies, only lit up by fans’ phone lights. Without a doubt, anyone who was there will be front and centre to watch the indie folk group finally returning to Ottawa.
Finally, Wild Rivers will fittingly grace the stage, capping off the harmonies with their own indie folk–flavoured ones. It won’t be the first time they’ve shared a stage with The Paper Kites, as one of their first major tours was opening for them in 2018. With a pair of albums released in 2024, Never Better and Better Now, they’ll have plenty of new material to pick from.
LeBreton Stage
5:45 pm – Jessie Simmons
7:00 pm – Darrell Nulisch
8:15 pm – Big Freedia
The tent has an interesting sandwich lineup, with French Caribbean pop and New Orleans bounce bookending a traditional bluesman.
First, local Jessie Simmons will bring her blend of Haitian influenced Afro-Caribbean sound and creole on tracks like “Ou Pa Ta Fè’m Sa” in addition to French and English songs. What doesn’t waver is her soulful voice and sultry beats.
Almost as if organizers wanted to make the blues stand out even more, next is Darrell Nulisch, making his return to the festival. Accompanying his soulful blues voice, he’s also an exceptional harmonica player, which pairs perfectly in his jam sessions with his backing band.
After the blues interlude, we replace afropop with bounce and southern hip hop with Big Freedia. Making her first Ottawa appearance, the entire tent will be bouncing to her hits, including collaborations with Lizzo, Lil Wayne and Macy Grey.
Barney Danson Theatre
6:30 pm – Alanna J Brown
8:00 pm – Edwin Raphael
9:30 pm – Darrell Nulisch
The Theatre features Ottawa transplant Alanna J Brown up first, and the venue should be a perfect match for her angelic voice. While her 2020 EP Said I Was Shy shows off the growth of her songwriting, her voice remains just as sweet as her debut album.
Continuing the singer-songwriter trend, Montreal’s Edwin Raphael is up next, and his mix of instrumentals interspersed with his songs showcases his masterful guitar playing on lush tracks like “Elephant Crossing”.
Tonight, it’s the Spin Stage that is swapping out DJs, with DJ DoubleDown taking over, while DJ Kwame stays on the tables at The Crazy Horse Saloon for one more night.
Keep checking APT613 for our daily previews to get you ready for your excursion to the festival, and then again afterwards for our daily photos to either jog your memories – or instigate FOMO.
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