The North American leg of Jonathan Roy’s Nice to Meet You Tour culminated in the capital this weekend, and fans crowded Ottawa’s Bronson Centre on Friday night to take in the catchy, contemplative sounds of the Montreal-born alt pop artist.
Originally from the East Coast, I am a writer and hobby photographer living in Ottawa, Ontario. I love that every live event brings something new, and embrace the opportunity to capture the unique energy that a performer brings to the stage. I credit the Maritime blood coursing through my veins for my desire to know the stories of people I meet, and for seeking my quiet time wherever the sky meets the sea. So happy to be a part of the Sound Check Entertainment family!
Recent Posts by Randi Saunders
Rising star Charlotte Cardin lights up Ottawa’s TD Place
After crisscrossing the globe, Charlotte Cardin brought her headlining 99 Nights Tour to Ottawa’s TD Place on February 6, 2024. Toronto music collective, New West, opened the show.
54•40 takes the stage at Neat Café
There’s something really special about experiencing live music in an intimate setting. It might be the vibe you feel when you gather shoulder to shoulder with other music lovers, or find yourself eye to eye with the artists on stage; the night is just richer. Add to that the opportunity to get up close and personal with the kings of Canadian rock, 54•40, who bring to the stage every ounce of passion from their 43-year history, and it becomes an even more unique moment to treasure.
That was the scene on Friday night, when renowned performers 54•40 played the second of a two-night gig at Neat Café, an unassuming structure in the tiny village of Burnstown, about 80 km west of Ottawa. Originally built as a schoolhouse in 1889, the venue now hosts a veritable list of Who’s Who in the Canadian music scene. In 2023 alone, Neat Café has booked Big Sugar, Stephen Fearing, Matthew Good, Whitehorse and Wide Mouth Mason, among others.
54-40 performs at Neat Cafe. Photo by Rob Clairmont.
But I digress from the main event: 54•40 which, coincidentally, survived a power outage, a humidex warning and a series of tornado alerts in order to rock the socks off a ready crowd in back-to-back sold-out shows. Frontman Neil Osborne and bass player Brad Merrit, who met during high school in Tsawwassen, B.C., are the two original members of the band. Drummer Matt Johnson joined the band in 1986, and Dave Genn took over lead guitar in 2003
54-40 performs at Neat Cafe. Photo by Rob Clairmont.
Despite an impressive legacy of gold and platinum albums, including three new ones this year, Osborne aroused applause when he announced that the band would play some of their favourites from back in the day. These ranged from the 1986 hit “Baby Ran,” to “Casual Viewin,” released in 2000, along with such other hits as “Ocean Pearl,” “Since When,” “Walk in Line,” “I Go Blind,” and “Lies to Me.”
As if the musical walk down memory lane wasn’t worth every cent of the ticket price, Osborne and his bandmates kept everyone engaged throughout the almost 2-hour show with humorous anecdotes and endearing stories, and by pandering to the singing crowd by flipping the stage mics outward as if it were a kitchen party.
54-40 performs at Neat Cafe. Photo by Rob Clairmont.
The crowd found its groove with “One Day,” the lyrics of which Osborne credits to his mother’s advice. When he would call her, weighted down with life’s stress, her response would always be to just wait a day and see what tomorrow would bring.
54•40 leapt into its more recent history with the 2018 track “How’s Your Day Going” which, according to Osborne, is founded on the fact that “yesterday is past and tomorrow is unknown, so ask how’s your day going because it’s the only one you got, baby.”
54-40 performs at Neat Cafe. Photo by Rob Clairmont.
Much of Osborne’s commentary reinforced his assertion that love is the underlying theme of the band’s discography. The frontman certainly revealed a passion deep from his core as the other band members cleared the way for him to take the solo lead on “One Gun,” to which the crowd responded enthusiastically during the catchy refrain.
Osborne told the crowd: “Love is the intersection of anything and everything.” He went on to say that attention–when you really see, hear, and feel someone–is his favourite definition of love. He thanked the audience for giving the band that feeling last night, before ending a 3-song encore with “Love You All.”
54-40 performs at Neat Cafe. Photo by Rob Clairmont.
With another new album being released this October, “West Coast Band,” 54•40 is nowhere near ready to hang up their dancing shoes, and that’s definitely good news for followers and fans. Visit the band on their official website www.5440.com.
Photos from the evening at Neat Cafe with 54-40.
Choir! Choir! Choir! delivers on promise: We Will Rock You!
While hip-hop sensations Pitbull and Ludacris headlined at Bluesfest in Ottawa’s Lebreton Flats, a little closer to Parliament Hill, a different crowd filled the National Arts Centre’s Southam Hall to capacity.
Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman, the talented duo behind Canadian phenomenon Choir! Choir! Choir! (C!C!C!) drew 2,000 wanna-be rock stars for two solid hours of entertainment featuring the music of British legends Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon of Queen fame.
RBC Bluesfest hits another one out of the park
Ottawa’s Lebreton Flats was the hottest place to be on Saturday night as an eclectic mix of musical talent performed across five stages on the lawns of the Canadian War Museum. Last night saw a different crowd as the mosh pit of younger, sweaty bodies from the previous two nights transitioned to a civilised expanse of lawn chairs, ported in by more mature patrons who came to see headliners Robert Plant with Alison Krauss, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, and Steven Taetz on the main stage.
Be sure to check out the previous post covering the first two nights of the festival. The review comes straight from the eyes and ears of Soundcheck’s primary writer, who criss-crossed the Bluesfest grounds in his dual role as Green Team volunteer and music reviewer. This review, on the other hand, brings you a birds-eye view of the main stage performers from the VIP Club area because, let’s face it, why would anyone stray from having your own bar, free snacks and a private loo only a few steps away from a comfy patio lounge chair? Don’t miss the photo gallery below where our roving photographer shares some incredible captures of all the action from the festival’s third night.
The series of acts on the main stage might be described as the Big Chill to the Big Thrill, with Steven Taetz, contemporary roots, jazz and pop singer/songwriter, opening to a skeleton crowd that hadn’t yet fully filled the grounds. Definitely a loss for latecomers, in my opinion, since one could easily imagine the deep, expressive voice of the Toronto-based performer holding up nicely in the company of Michael Bublé or as a musical backdrop to a James Bond movie scene.
Steven Taetz performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Ross Macdonald
Taetz has collaborated with Juno winners Jill Barber, Jenn Grant, Connie Kaldor, and Caroline Marie Brooks of Good Lovelies. Niche in some ways, while versatile in others, Taetz treated us to a musical offering from both his early albums, as well as “Late Bloom,” released earlier this year. At one point, he got a laugh from the audience as he pleaded for the crowd to be mindful of his mother-in-law, if seen to be crowd surfing across the stagefront.
Suffice to say that the vibe on the patio of the VIP Club was pretty chill. Full disclosure is needed at this point: Soundcheck photo contributor Rob Clairmont and myself were on a night off from wearing our beverage cashier volunteer hats, so anything would have been more chill than serving snaking line-ups of thirsty festival patrons (still an awesome gig if anyone is interested).
As more patrons with lawn chairs started populating the green space, the energy started to mount in anticipation of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. Not surprisingly, these seasoned entertainers made short work of getting the crowd into the groove for an outstanding night of entertainment, especially with renowned stage guests Suzie Vinnick and Daniel Lanois.
Well-loved singer/songwriters Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden, and Tom Wilson of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings brought huge energy to the stage for their performance. Together with special guests Daniel Lanois and Susie Vinnick, they were a musical powerhouse performing a smorgasbord of songs that kept the audience engaged and tapping their toes. The band congratulated Hamilton music legend Tom Wilson and three-time Juno winner for recently receiving the Order of Canada. Later in the show, he would challenge all of us to do our part in leaving the world a better place for our children and grandchildren, rather than looking to the government, corporations or religious organisations to do the work for us.
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
Daniel Lanois and members of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings share a long history and they credit him with changing their lives. Famed record producer and musician born just across the bridge in Gatineau, Quebec, Lanois has worked with some of the most iconic bands of the past few decades, including U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan. Joining the band on stage on guitar, steel guitar, and occasionally on vocals, it was interesting to watch how he used directive gestures to indicate changes in the volume dynamics through different songs.
Daniel Lanois performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
Finally, as the stage lights lit up the night sky and slightly cooler temperatures pushed out the heat, the moment arrived for the perhaps unlikely but certainly beloved duo of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss to command the main stage. By then, the patio lounge seating in the VIP Club was all but moot as it was standing room only. Those who were curious whether English-born 74-year-old Plant of Led Zeppelin fame still had what it takes to whip audiences into a rapturous frenzy would not be disappointed. Plant is a legend in his own right and will always be. Adding sugar to spice, the collaboration with bluegrass-country singer and fiddler, Alison Krauss, baked their shared fame to succulent perfection.
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
Plant took the lead on engaging the crowd, while a more demure Krauss stood poised with hands clasped when not shining onstage with her trademark angelic vocals or virtuoso fiddling. Even without a palpable onstage chemistry, the pairing of musical mastery was more than enough to keep the crowd energised and phone cameras alit like beacons of light on a dark sea of fans. The 90-minute setlist sprinkled a few classic Led Zeppelin arrangements among tracks from the duo’s two collaborative studio albums, “Raising Sand,” (2007) and “Raise the Roof” (2021). The outstanding pairing of harmony with all-star backing musicians is the likely reason that “Raising Sand” sold more than a million copies and won six Grammy Awards and “Raise the Roof” pocketed three Grammy nominations.
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
Noticeably nostalgic as the performance wound down, Plant revealed that the Ottawa performance would close out their year-long Raise the Roof tour, which included stops in the U.S. and Europe. Plant gave a heartfelt shout-out to their talented band, with special thanks to “the voice of the nightingale and his lifesaver,” Alison Krauss. After an encore song, the Everly Brothers cover “Gone, Gone, Gone,” Plant jokingly asked the crowd to stay looking interested as the entire band gathered, turned their backs to the crowd, and snapped a selfie to send to their kids. Seeing the band members as a parent first, professional second brought a real human dimension to the larger-than-life musical talents and definitely reverberated with the crowd. Hitting all the right notes, my guess is that this night will go down in Bluesfest history as one of the all-time favourites of Ottawa and outlying area fans.
More Photos from Day 3 Including Gabrielle Shonk, Matthew Chaffey, BLAKDENIM, and Sugaray Rayford.
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BlakDenim performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Gabrielle Shonk performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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BlakDenim performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Sugaray Rayford performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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BlakDenim performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Matthew Chaffey performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Robert Plant and Alison Krauss perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Sugaray Rayford performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Steven Taetz performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Ross Macdonald
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BlakDenim performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Gabrielle Shonk performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Robert Plant and Alison Krauss perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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Gabrielle Shonk performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
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BlakDenim performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
Flipping out at Cirque du Soleil’s CORTEO in Ottawa
Corteo invites its audience into a world of wonder. The story unfolds in the imagination of Mauro, a clown who conjures a joyous celebration somewhere between heaven and earth to mark his funeral in the company of celestial angels and zestful carnival entertainers.
Live in Ottawa! The man who danced with the lady in red
Celebrated Irish singer-songwriter Chris de Burgh regaled fans with stories and song at Ottawa’s TD Place on April 19. The Nation’s capital was the midway point on his Canadian Legend of Robin Hood and Other Hits Tour.
Matt Andersen dishes up some home-cooked soul with a side of joy
Fans feasted on a musical smorgasbord of gospel, blues, country, soul and rock as part of Matt Andersen’s Big Bottle of Joy Tour, with special guests Hello Darlins, at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on April 16.
July Talk electrifies Ottawa crowd
The six members of Toronto’s alternative rock band, July Talk, brought their Remember Never Before Tour to Ottawa’s National Arts Centre on April 10. Rock duo Crown Lands opened the show.
The Sheepdogs transcend expectations in Ottawa
The iconic Canadian rockers who boast four Juno awards, and once graced the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine, wrapped up their extensive “Outta Sight” tour this weekend at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre. A palpable buzz of excitement was in the air for ticket holders to The Sheepdogs’ final performance of this tour.
