Bluesfest

Apartment613 will have wall-to-wall coverage of the festival, with daily previews, occasional interviews, and the best photos from each set, on each stage, on each day. We’ve got you!

The 2025 Ottawa Bluesfest kicks off Day 1 with country front and centre on the main stage, but there will be plenty of funk and ska on other three stages to keep non-country fans well entertained as well.

Back for the 31st edition, Ottawa Bluesfest unveiled their diverse and exciting lineup for 2025 at midnight. Headliners span across the genres, from punk-rockers Green Day to Ireland’s Hozier to one of dance music’s finest in Kaytranada.

Saturday’s rock lineup attracted tens of thousands, and those who managed to arrive early enjoyed a memorable set from opening act JJ Wilde. Having opened for other massive rock legends, including KISS and Pearl Jam, the energetic singer added Motley Crue to her list. 

Last night marked the closing of this year’s edition and 30th anniversary of Bluesfest. Closing the final night were two juxtaposed shows- Nas, also celebrating his 30th anniversary of his debut album Illmatic, and the alternative stylings of Ben Howard on the river stage. Nas’ set was littered with hits- from “New York State of […]

The second last night of Bluesfest was a showcase in rock n roll, as hair-metal legends Motley Crue headlined the evening. Canadian JJ Wilde rocked the early crowd with an aggressive, fun set. Windsor’s The Tea Party made their annual trip to Ottawa, utilizing haunting riffs layered under in your face guitar solos. It was […]

We’ve made it through another Bluesfest! Enriched by all of the great artists we’ve gotten to see (and slightly soggier thanks to the rain), we have one more day to cap off the 2024 edition in style. After last night’s Crue-sfest, hopefully you have enough energy left for one more night! RBC STAGE 6:00 pm […]

Night eight of Bluesfest featured Tyler Childers, the Kentucky-born country star who brought his home with him along with a massive backup band. Headlining the river stage led by Afie Jurvanen was Bahamas, complete with beautiful harmonies and dueling guitars. Ottawa sensation TALK played a set to a large early crowd, even being joined by […]

After a magical Friday night, where the music and the weather cooperated (despite ominous clouds threatening to dampen the evening), to create a perfect festival experience, we’re heading into a Saturday that has a lot to live up to. And while we know TALK has unquestionably taken the crown as ‘Most Ottawa Entrance Ever’, today’s […]

Night seven of Bluesfest featured a competition between punk and country fans, as rival stages stuck to their genres giving concertgoers their pick on Thursday evening.

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 […]

Night six of Bluesfest was a muddy one but festivalgoers were prepared, as the ponchos and rain boots were out in full force for an evening headlined by the Zac Brown Band. The group had a slew of talented musicians on the roster, and interestingly enough, did numerous covers–from “Paint it Black” to “The Lion […]

Yesterday was a pretty soggy one, but the good news is tonight’s punk main stage should help release some frustration over the weather. And if punk is not your scene, there’s plenty of great artists around the other stages to make for a great night, no matter your tastes. RBC STAGE 6:00 pm – Cancer […]

Originally, Tuesday night was supposed to be the second of a two-day break for the festival. However, when the opportunity arose to bring in two huge names in country right now- that plan was scrapped, and Tuesday turned out to be one of the biggest nights of the festival so far. Jelly Roll made his […]

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 […]