Bluesfest

We want to offer a number of good reasons why the inclusion of French should be considered with respect to the organization itself, the choice of artists and the festival’s mandate.

La semaine dernière, les organisateurs du Bluesfest d’Ottawa ont annoncé la liste des têtes d’affiche qui feront partie du festival qui se tiendra cette année du 5 au 15 juillet sur les Plaines LeBreton. Bien que nous soyons reconnaissants de ce succès et du rayonnement qu’il permet à la ville d’Ottawa, voilà quelques années que nous observons le peu de place que ce festival accorde au français et nous souhaitons par la présente, offrir quelques bonnes raisons de considérer la francophonie tant dans l’organisation du festival, le choix des artistes que dans la mission du festival.

Expect more artists to be announced between now and July.

Some of those measures could be announced as soon as next month. Bluesfest 2018 runs from July 5–15.

As in all great performances, this one too, had passed by too quickly. It is always a treat to hear a Claude Munson solo performance, where he becomes the troubadour and the songs are in their bare-bones essence.

Legendary performers Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers closed out year number 24 of Ottawa Bluesfest with a 2-hour long show on the City Stage that drew large-scaled numbers. Earlier in the night, country star Tim Hicks played to an energetic crowd. High Waters, Claude Munson and more also performed on the final night.

Local rapper and international sensation Night Lovell took to the stage after arriving at the LeBreton stop on the 97 Bayshore.

Those that wandered into the Barney Danson Theatre during Bluesfest early Friday night were treated to something more than your average bluegrass band. Ottawa trio Old Man Grant whipped up their own brand of bluegrass brew that had flavours of country, folk, New Orleans dixieland, and a hefty heaping of foot-stomping hillbilly goodness.

A stellar line-up of evening acts on both the Claridge and City Stages Friday night were interrupted sporadically due to the threat of approaching thunderstorms.

It was a very rainy night at Bluesfest. Unfortunately, lightning cancelled a lot of shows and shortened sets by others. However, Apt613 photographers managed to shoot several performances.

Day 7 was a crazy night at Bluesfest.

The Zombies closed the Bluesville stage Tuesday night with a 75-minute set that stole the hearts of listeners and brought back an enormously endearing wave of nostalgia in a combination of mega-hits, covers, and career off-shoot material.