Half Moon Run and Alan Doyle lead in first half of the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival 2019

For more than a quarter century, the month of June brings the Tim Horton’s Dragon Boat Festival to Ottawa.This year’s event takes place from June 20th through 23rd. The annual event hosts 200 teams from across North America who participate in the community, corporate, and competitive races. As the sun sets music fills the air and this summer the first half of the fest was kicked off with Half Moon Run and Alan Doyle.

Day 1

For more than a quarter century, the month of June brings the Tim Horton’s Dragon Boat Festival to Ottawa.This year’s event takes place from June 20th through 23rd. The annual event hosts 200 teams from across North America who participate in the community, corporate, and competitive races. The Festival has garnered a healthy following, drawing 75,000 attendees over the span of four days. Tourists and locals alike flock to Mooney’s Bay Park to take in the family friendly event, full of activities for participants of all ages. In tandem with the races, the on-site World’s Largest Playground is a great space for both kids and kids-at-heart to have fun; the strolling performers and activities tent add to the experience. Each evening, the Rideau Carleton Casino presents a triple set of musical artists to the stage. With the natural ampitheater-esque topography of the grounds, finding a great spot to sit on the hill and enjoy the evening is easy.

On night one, the rain relented and Ottawa’s-own indie group, Vile Bodies, launched the music portion of the festival. Local rocker Jacquie Neville hit the stage mid-evening. No stranger to performing solo since The Balconies bid adieu, it was a pleasure to see her perform with her new band. Hair flips were less prevalent, but her commanding voice and ever present jack tucked in her guitar were unequivocally present.

As the inclement weather abated, the attendance surged and the evening drew to a close with Montreal’s Half Moon Run. Having been featured at Dragon Boat Festival in 2017, fans knew this was a do-not-miss set. With their last album, Sun Leads Me On, several years out, attendees were treated to familiar favourites and some new material. If you weren’t in town for their show, take note they have an upcoming tour running July through the Fall taking them to venues across Canada, the US, and abroad.

 

More photos from Day 1

 

Day 2

It’s been a few years since I’ve been able to visit the grounds of the Dragon Boat festival, whether it was work or family obligations something always got in the way. With another stellar lineup this summer I made it a point to clear my schedule, for the most part, early so that I could take in, at least, some of the entertainment offered.

The night started out with a strong performance by London’s Basic White. Leading up to the festival I was not familiar with the band but since the festival they’ve taken a place on my regular Spotify rotation. They put on an energetic performance and their songs are easy to get stuck in your head, that’s the makings of a successful band alone.

I look forward to catching these guys again and watching their career progress in the coming years. Be sure to like them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/basicwhiteband/ to get to know these boys, they’ll be coming back to the region in August as they stop at Voodoo Rockfest in Napanee on August 10.

Jane’s party took to the stage next. This Toronto based pop-rock quartet have some star power working with them behind the scenes. Greg Keelor, of Blue Rodeo fame, produced and recorded their third album at his remote farm in Southern Ontario. Lead single “Coming on Strong” is co-produced by The Darcys and features legendary singer/songwriter Jim Cuddy on backing vocals. When you have that kind of support in the production side of things you know that this is a band worth paying attention to.

The sound was a little less rock following Basic White but it was a fair transition into the headliner’s style. They brought a tone of energy to the stage and the growing crowd loved every second of it. Check them out on Facebook to learn more: https://www.facebook.com/janesparty/

 

 

The headliner for the night needs little introduction. Alan Doyle has achieved success, first, as the front man for the massively popular Great Big Sea, as a solo act with three albums under his belt, as an actor and as an author with two best selling books to his name: “Where I Belong” and “A Newfoundlander in Canada. Always Going Somewhere, Always Coming Home”

Playing to one of the largest crowds I’ve personally seen a Ottawa Dragon Boat it didn’t take long for Doyle to get them fired up. Everyone was on their feet dancing from the opening verse of “Come Away With Me” all the way through his, and Great Big Sea’s, biggest hits. He gave the crowd a rest while he performed his poienient ballad “Somewhere in a Song” off of his latest album A Week At the Warehouse after which he told the crowd “that’s the slowest song you’ll hear from me tonight”.  He capped off his, 15 song, regular set with “1, 2, 3, 4” before returning for another 5 songs including a couple of Great Big Sea hits: “Wave Over Wave” and “Ordinary Day”.

It’s been a week and we’re still buzzing about that amazing show. Watch for Alan Dolye back in Ottawa tomorrow for Canada Day where he will perform with the Ottawa Symphony as part of the noon show on Parliament Hill. Following Canada Day Doyle will hang around Ontario until mid-July when he heads back to Newfoundland for a month. The rest of his year will find him in all corners of the country for shows here and there. For a full listing of tour dates visit http://alandoyle.ca/tour/.

More Photos from Day 2: