As usual, we’ll have you covered throughout the festival with daily previews to get you geared up for that day’s lineup at Lansdowne, and then a slew of pictures the next day to help you relive the experience – or give you a bad case of FOMO. Fair warning.
Day 2: Thursday, September 14
And we’re off! With the opening day wrapped up, Day 2 of CityFolk brings twice as many artists with full lineups at both stages. With a bit more folk than yesterday’s schedule and loaded with intensity, don’t be fooled into thinking it might lack the energy of kickoff night.
TD Stage:
6:00pm: Ruby Waters
7:20pm: Gov’t Mule
8:55pm: Arkells
Usually, the main stage opener is an ‘up-and-coming’ artist, but Ruby Waters is already establishing herself on the Canadian scene with a Juno nomination under her belt. In her short four years since emerging with a viral debut single, the singer-songwriter has churned out three EPs and a handful of singles including “Open Arms” and “Flash Flood,” which have garnered regular radio airplay and millions of streams. Later this fall, her blend of folk-infused indie pop and rock will fit perfectly as the opener for City and Colour on their European tour.
The meat in a Canadian sandwich, Gov’t Mule will make their Ottawa debut, which seems incredibly overdue. Carrying on the jam band tradition of The Band and the Grateful Dead, the American band adds their own southern rock flavour to the mix. And given that the project was initially an offshoot of the Allman Brothers Band, that flavour is as genuine as you can get. The biggest issue they’ll face is sticking to their set time given the length of their songs, many of which top six minutes long.
Local favourites the Arkells will close out the evening. If you haven’t kept up with Max Kerman and friends over the past few years, you have a lot to catch up on. After their 2018 release of Rally Cry spawned even more chart toppers, the Hamiltonians spent their downtime during the pandemic writing and releasing an album a year, each tinged with the prevailing mood of the time. First came Campfire Chords, acoustic renditions of earlier hits and other gems which were recorded during isolation and came with an optional songbook for those who were spending their own isolation learning to play guitar. Next came Blink Once in 2021, a return to their signature sound, with hits “Years In The Making” signalling their re-emergence, followed by last year’s aptly named Blink Twice which turned that re-emergence into a full-fledged bursting out. Fittingly, the album features many of their friends, including Tegan & Sara, Cold War Kids, Lights, Coeur de Pirate, and many others — marking a return to social collaboration.
While that exuberance comes through in spades, it also brings forth an evolving sound for the Arkells, making full use of the vast talents in the band. Case in point is “Nowhere To Go,” a group effort that includes Jake Clemons and The Lumineers’ Wesley Schultz to produce a masterpiece reminiscent of an E Street Band classic, complete with a sax solo. You won’t want to miss this joyous celebration of live music shared with a rapt crowd.
Courtside Stage:
5:30pm: Claire Coupland
6:30pm: RedFox
7:30pm: The Tallest Man on Earth
With a new venue layout, here are a few tips for fans heading to the smaller stage. First, it’s under a tent, so no weather worries here. Second, there are rows of folding chairs, which was admittedly less than ideal for NOBRO’s punk performance yesterday, but will be ideal for some of the more low-key artists today. If the entrance is getting crowded, simply go to the left around to the other side, which tends to be less crowded. You’re welcome.
Starting off early with a 5:30 set, B.C.’s Claire Coupland should fit perfectly in the confines of the Courtside Stage. With a delicate balance of intimate vocals over a mix of influences, from jazz to folk, her latest release and first full length album New Light exemplifies her growth as an artist as well as the tapestry of complex arrangements that allows her voice to shine.
Continuing the trend of multifaceted artists blending genres into an airy soundscape, next up is Montreal’s RedFox. Winners of the Canadian Folk Music Award for New/Emerging Artists in 2023, their debut album takes a great leap forward by blending the many instruments and genres each member brings to the table into a much lusher sound. The added depth further highlights Daphnée Vandal’s vocals and talent on the violin, as both soar over the sonic landscape.
Closing the folk triple-header is Swedish troubadour The Tallest Man On Earth (aka Kristian Matsson). Emerging in the mid 2000s with the wave of indie-folk that brought us Bon Iver and The Lumineers, Matsson has been churning out albums every few years, all well anchored in his lyrical storytelling delivered in his distinctive voice. His latest, April’s Henry St., dabbles in even more influences, including bluegrass on “Major League,” which contrasts nicely with the album opener “Bless You” that suggests tinges of Manchester Orchestra or The National.
All in all, Thursday night in the tent should be a chill night of well-crafted modern folk, so get your seat early and set up camp.
Keep checking apt613.ca and our social media feeds for more previews and photos throughout the festival!
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