Category Archives: Ottawa Bluesfest

I don’t know what mother nature has against country music this summer but I’m starting to see a pattern here. Festival Country de Lotbinière, it rained.  Country night 1 featuring Eric Church, it rained and delayed the gates by 2 hours nearly threatening the night’s entertainment. Country Night 2, last night…it rained delaying the gates by 2 hours nearly threatening the night’s entertainment…anyone else see the pattern here? In all three cases the show was able to go on and country music fans came out in large numbers to party, country style.

Day 6 concluded with the the first hip hop show of the festival. Unlike previous years this one was tame compared to what we have seen in the past, likely thanks to relatively positive messages from headliner Logic.

Last night Ottawa’s Bluesfest was host to a living legend, Buddy Guy. At 82 years of age, he still rocks the shit out of a guitar and holds the audience in the palm of his hand.

“I don’t want anyone here tonight to walk away and say they got away with it, I want you all to go home and say those son of a bitches DID it” Brandon Flowers

Saturday, Day 3 at the Ottawa Bluesfest. The humidity had finally broke but the heat was still intense and not just from the sun. The Bluesville stage continued to be host to some outstanding artists. The Texas Horns who have been perennial guest stars of the festival for close to 20 years, were joined by The Split for a set of their own. If you love blues which is heavily driven by a horn section, The Texas Horns are a band you don’t want to miss. Kaz Kazanoff, John Mills and Al Gomez had the room full of excitement and energy that was thoroughly enjoyed by a packed house.

It’s hard to believe we’re already heading into day 3 of RBC Bluesfest. As anticipation grew in Ottawa for Eric Church’s appearance on Friday night mother nature decided to toy with music fans a little bit. Right around the time the music would normally start at the festival grounds the sky grew dark and mother nature unleashed her furry with heavy rain, lightning and strong winds. Would this be it for the night or would she let up in time for the show to go on?

Celebrating 25 years, Ottawa’s Bluesfest kicked off last night. One couldn’t have asked for a better way to start the festivities then having legendary rocking bluesman Steven Van Zandt and the Disciples of Soul headline the Bluesville stage. 

Well it’s that time of year again. It’s Christmas morning for Ottawa music festival fans as the 2019 and 25th Anniversary Edition of RBC Bluesfest gets underway in just a few hours. Here’s some picks and our tips if you’re heading down to LeBreton Flats tonight.

Alright Ottawa, time to let out a unified breathe of relief. After a few extra weeks, a couple of false leads and a whole lot of speculation, your RBC Bluesfest line-up has finally dropped.

If you’ve been out to an O-town festival or caught some live music at one of the clubs, chances are you’ve seen Steve Berndt perform. The man gets around. From swinging performances with soul sensations The Commotions, bopping beats and jumpin’ blues with The Jivewires, to smaller trio tributes to Tom Waits, Berndt and his trombone have been making the Capital groove for years.