Ottawa Bluesfest

The final day of Bluesfest 2019 is here.

As usual, Saturdays are chock-full of artists, both local and beyond, with the prime focus on some of the biggest names in hip-hop history on the main stage.

Day 8: What a day it’s going to be. Rock fans get a triple bill on the City Stage, and local indie rock collective Loon Choir will be making their long-awaited return to Bluesfest after six years.

Thursday ramps up from the last two days with a slate of acts scheduled in the Barney Danson Theatre in addition to the standard sets on the City, Videotron, and Bluesville stages.

When it rains, it pours—or in this case, even if it doesn’t pour, you’ll still have cancelled shows. But while the quantity of music may not be as high today, the quality remains worth checking out.

Now that you’ve had a chance to catch your breath after the first four days of Bluesfest, it’s time to prepare to dive headfirst into another six days of great music. Tuesday will ease you back into it, with a lighter schedule featuring one fewer venue.

Beyond The Killers, there might not seem to be as much to catch your eye. That said, if you give these bands a listen, you might discover some new favourites.

An interview with The Glorious Sons (9:30pm headliners) and roundup of the unmissable shows on Day 3 of Bluesfest.

The local highlights and unmissable shows on Day 2 of Bluesfest.

Apt613’s day planner, Spotify playlist, and an interview with CHVRCHES’s Martin Doherty.

For live music lovers, the countdown to Ottawa Bluesfest is like the countdown to Christmas, and as the days tick down, the anticipation builds.

Go play outside.

Silver Creek celebrate 10 years as a band.

British hard rockers The Cult brought their legacy of music in a short one-hour set of songs from as far back as their second album, Love (1985).

Many Bluesfest attendees on Saturday were hurt and surprised by comments made by Ian Astbury, lead singer of The Cult, a British rock group known for gothy 1980s hits like “She Sells Sanctuary”.