There’s just something magical about the cool crisp night air that makes CityFolk such a pleasant event, and last night’s show was a perfect example of that. Softcult’s blistering set of fuzzed out guitars gave way to The Beaches proving they’ve truly come into their own, and absolutely dominated the stage. The unfortunate news that guitarist Leandra Earl had been dumped the day before made for an even more emotional connection, and undoubtedly made “Blame Your Ex” all the more meaningful.
Sadly, that was not the only unfortunate news of the day, as it was announced that afternoon that Crown Lands’ Cody Bowles was ill and the band had to cancel their appearance. As of publishing, organizers had not announced a replacement artist, but have moved Charlie Edward’s set to 7:20.
Day 2: Thursday, Sept. 12
Main Stage:
7:20: Charlie Edward
8:45: Greta Van Fleet
If you caught Charlie Edward’s set at Bluesfest this summer, you know what to expect, and you’ll undoubtedly make sure not to miss seeing him again. The guitar virtuoso has been performing with some of the biggest names in the business over the years, but has finally decided to step into the spotlight himself and begin recording his own material. His debut single “Bad Looks Good” is a solid kickstarter showcasing he not only has guitar chops, but has a voice made for rock, which he put on full display at last year’s Canadian Walk of Fame induction ceremony on tributes for Prism and Max Webster.
Greta Van Fleet’s lead vocalist, Josh Kiszka. Photo: Terry Steeves.
The ‘neo-classic’ rock aura will continue with headliners Greta Van Fleet. Last in Ottawa in 2018, they were just beginning to break out, with a pair of EPs garnering the band significant attention thanks to four Top 10 hits including debut “Highway Tune”. That got them the opportunity to open for the Foo Fighters at Bluesfest that year, and the band quickly won over the massive crowd. Six years on, the three Kiszka brothers and drummer Daniel Wagner have continued to build out their repertoire which now boasts three albums, a dozen hit singles, and earned them a Grammy. The Michigan quartet has continued to refine their modern take on 70s inspired classic rock which will draw fans across many generations.
Fasken Stage:
5:30: The Tennessee Cree
6:30: Jacob River Milnes
7:40: Fred Eaglesmith
Due to the lineup change, the Fasken side stage features more artists than the main stage tonight, and while the artists can also be considered to have ‘classic’ sounds, they certainly veer much more into the festival’s namesake genre and adjacent styles.
The Tennessee Cree, local musical storyteller Kevin Schofield. Photo provided.
First up is The Tennessee Cree, Kevin Schofield. Hailing from Moose Factory, Ont., the singer-songwriter now makes Ottawa his home. Combining English and Cree in his lyrics, over americana folk guitar, the melding of the genres and languages creates an even more poignant combination of storytelling, whether you’re fluent in either or not.
Next is multidisciplinary artist Jacob River Milnes. Originally from Val Des Monts, and now based out of Montreal, the local-ish artist is no stranger to festivals, having performed at Bluesfest as part of the ‘Be In The Band’ program as well as backing up other artists. With his new single released last month, the singer/songwriter/filmmaker/producer puts his many skills to good use in crafting this classic country-infused ballad, yet another entry in an eclectic body of work.
Closing the night of contemporary takes on folk is Fred Eaglesmith. The legendary performer brings his well-honed stage show back to CityFolk, this time as a solo artist rather than his band Flying Squirrels, with whom he performed with at the then Ottawa Folk Festival in 1998 and 2001. Fitting that he’d make an appearance at the 30th anniversary with that seniority. Over 40 years into his career, the troubadour continues to release new music, with his latest being last year’s A Christmas Card album. But his songs are only part of the draw, as his stories between songs can often times be just as entertaining. Set to music or not, Eaglesmith is a consummate storyteller.
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Ottawa CityFolk takes place from Sept. 11-15, on The Great Lawn at Lansdowne Park, behind TD Place. Passes available here.
As a reminder, parking is extremely limited, so make sure to use your festival pass for free OC Transpo rides to and from the site.
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