Photo courtesy andresfib on Flickr.
Some of you might be thinking, hey, how can you call this the second part of the SUMMER music preview when, past 48 hours notwithstanding, it’s been cool and rainy nearly every day for the past six weeks? To which I answer: because we already called the first part a summer music preview. You do not want to be wrathfully smote by the blogging gods for switching something like that.
Also, the weather this Sunday was positively Venus-like, and before my front porch burst into flames I was having a wonderful brunch out there, so I’m calling it: officially summer. Which means festivals! Lots and lots of festivals. Including Bluesfest, which starts today! To steal a joke from the recent season of The Office, if the city decided to just combine all its summer festivals (last count: 315) into one Jim Halpert-enraging MegaFest, I would not be against it.
That being said, drinking lukewarm beer while giving off the pleasant aroma of eau de SPF 50 isn’t your only option in July and August. Music fans in the capital have plenty of choices, both indoors and out – and to find out what they might be, read on!
July 6-18: If you didn’t already know Bluesfest was coming to town, well, I guess it doesn’t matter since you’re probably not reading this post anyway. Yes, we already previewed the heck out of the annual two-week party in April; but since then, the lineup has ballooned to include just about every Canadian who’s ever picked up an instrument. New additions to the 2010 bill include Stars, Sarah Harmer, Dan Mangan, Hannah Georgas, and Wintersleep.
July 7: Science has proven that being named Sleepy LaBeef automatically guarantees you induction into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, regardless of your skills on the ol’ guitar. The 6’7, 75-year-old LaBeef hits the Elmdale Tavern this Wednesday.
July 10: The Wilderness of Manitoba and Whale Tooth take the stage at the Black Sheep Inn. You know, outside of a music stage, you’d probably never find a whale’s tooth anywhere near the Manitoba wilderness. I find that slightly amusing.
July 20: Was it really seven years ago that I spent the summer playing the Be Good Tanyas’ Chinatown long into the hazy Saskatchewan evening? Wow. Frazey Ford’s voice is sultrier than a whole double-layered sultriness cake with extra-sultry icing – which is why it’s particularly exciting that she’s playing a solo show (in support of her debut solo album Obadiah) at the Black Sheep.
July 23: More good stuff from Wakefield to tide you over between festivals: Kelp Records’ Chris Page teams up with Edmonton’s Mark Davis for a show that’s being recorded for Canada Live on CBC Radio.
July 24- Aug. 7: It’s the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, which features a number of excellent musicians whom I know nothing about as I have about as much high culture in me as linoleum. But I have gleaned that nine-tenths of Ottawans love Chamberfest (admission: I didn’t know if it was actually called that until I added the above hyperlink) more than their own grandmothers, so you might as well go check out one of their extremely reasonably-priced concerts.
July 30: – What’s with lead singers going it alone? First Frazey Ford, now Bloc Party’s Kele, who plays Capital Music Hall at the end of July. That’s probably the first time members of the Bloc Party and the Be Good Tanyas have been named in the same sentence.
Aug. 13-15: So, hopefully you’re not tired of wearing brightly coloured wristbands and drinking beer out of plastic cups, because yes, it’s yet another festival! And much like its bluesier cousin, this year’s Ottawa Folk Festival (family-friendly slogan: I Get OFF) isn’t willing to stay within its self-inflicted borders. You’re as likely to hear Carolyn Mark croon her way through another whiskey-laced tale of heartbreak as you are to be transported to the early ’90s by the nostalgic beats of hip-hop icons Arrested Development. Other acts of note: Calexico, Rock Plaza Central, The Hidden Cameras, Tagaq, and Jim Bryson backed by the guys from The Weakerthans.
Aug. 23: So why has The Monitor, the 2010 album from existentialist Glen Rock, New Jersey punks Titus Andronicus, received “universal acclaim” from the folks who compile reviews at Metacritic? Find out when the band tears up the stage at Mavericks in late August.
Aug. 26-28: It’s three days of shows at Mavericks (again) courtesy of i(heart)music, Ottawa’s constant chronicler of the Canadian indie scene. Bands on tap include Parlovr, Giant Hand, Love Machine (new album – woot!) and Amos the Transparent.
Aug. 28: The Hilotrons play what feels like their first show in ages up in Wakefield. A new album in the works, maybe?
So, what else, y’all? It’s 30 degrees in here, plus whatever heat is radiating from my laptop, so I’m going to turn this post one over to the always-informed denizens of the Apt613 community and go indulge in an ice pack. Take it away, blogoverse!
