Brent Fitz, Todd Kerns, Cory Churko formed the band Toque in 2012, initially as a one-off for a charity event in Winnipeg … but when these home grown Canadian guys loved the experience – and Canadian music – so much, they formed their own all-star cover band … but they cover all of their Canadian favorites, not just one artist. Probably the biggest names in music ever to start a cover band and record an album … and the crowd at the Bill Reid Amphitheatre in Surrey BC will be forever grateful.
A Funkified Trance Trip with Herbie Hancock
The sweat rolled down my back like a rainstorm on a window pane. Hot town, summer in the city alright and this heat wave was only getting hotter with a two hour jazz funk fusion trip lead by the legendary Herbie Hancock. This is how you want to close out your TD Ottawa Jazz Fest, am I right?
Canada Day on Parliament Hill 2018: Hot Hot Hot!
The temperature on Sunday was forecast to hit a high of 36C and by early afternoon the humidex reached 47C matching an all-time high set in Ottawa. That didn’t stop many proud Canadians from braving the heat to join in the celebrations on the Hill.
Alison Krauss Brings Breezy Night of Bluegrass to Jazz Fest
Photos by Renee Doiron
What an easy, breezy, beautiful night of bluegrass at the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival and well, welly, well, well, well wasn’t that a contrast from the country pop flood inside the Canadian Tire Centre the night before. On the country music spectrum, jazz fest headliner Alison Krauss is so far removed from Shania Twain you could park a couple thousand aircraft carriers between them.
Hey bluegrass fans, the sun was getting real low and Krauss complimented the pastel sunset with her angelic voice and sweet, sweet fiddle. It was the kind of music that made me want to unfurl a checkered blanket and have a picnic under a willow tree. That or nestle by a crackling fire and equally crackling old timey radio swaddled in great grandmother’s quilt. Either way, these scenes are painted in shades of sepia and Krauss is the soundtrack.
“We’re used to playing bluegrass festivals,” chirped Krauss as she introduced a backing band that included members from Union Station and The Cox Family. “Well, what a beautiful night for it.”
Alison Krauss performs during the Ottawa Jazzfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
That it was, one gorgeous evening wedged between a weekend of rain and a coming Canada Day heat wave. While the previous evening’s Chaka Khan show ensured the dancing area was all a bustle, this nights festival goers settled in for a mellower mood. You know, the kind of night where a little fiddle, a front porch and a rocking chair is all you really need.The show drew much of its 22-song set from Krauss’ recent release, Windy City, her first solo album in nearly 20 years. The album dips deeply into the well of country music classics and features 10 covers by artists like Bill Monroe, The Osborne Brothers, Glen Campbell and Willie Nelson. Roger Miller’s “River in the Rain” opened the show followed by Sidney and Suzanne Cox providing honey sweet harmonies on Nelson’s “I Never Cared For You”.
Though songs like “Broadway”, “Baby, Now That I’ve Found You” and “Ghost in This House” made for a lay back and daydream kind of set, Krauss would snap it up with some pepper on tunes “Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson” and “It’s Goodbye and So Long to You”. It was the stroll through the Oh Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack, however, that raised a few folk itchin’ to dance out of their seats to dosey-do to “Keep On The Sunny Side” and slow waltz to “Down to the River to Pray”.
Stage namesake Top Shelf Distillers has been churning out themed cocktails each night and the bluegrass star received her own bevy blend called Krauss Roads. That gin, lime juice, and grapefruit soda mix was a smooth sidekick to a bluegrass summer night that, come show’s end, left a little gospel gold twinkling alongside those first starts peeking through night’s blanket.
Krauss bid farewell with a slice of the spiritual, closing the set with “When God Dips His Love in My Heart,” the spiritual “I Got Shoes,” and “Down Here I’ve Done My Best.”
Amen!
Alison Krauss performs during the Ottawa Jazzfest. Photo: Renée Doiron
SETLIST:
River in the Rain
I Never Cared For You
Stay
Forget About It
Broadway
Baby, Now That I’ve Found You
Ghost in This House
Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson
The Lucky One
Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us
It’s Goodbye and So Long to You
Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground
Didn’t Leave Nobody but the Baby
I am Weary (Let Me Rest)
Down to the River to Pray
Keep on the Sunny Side
Gentle on My Mind
When God Dips His Pen of Love in My Heart
Walk Over God’s Heaven
Encore:
When You Say Nothing At All
A Living Prayer
It Is Well with My Soul
Escapade Music Festival Leaves Ottawa in a Trance
The Bud Light Escapade Music Festival took over Landsdowne Park in Ottawa last weekend and brought Ottawa a much needed dose of EDM with a dash of hip hop thrown in for good measure.
alt-J Lights Up the Night at RBC’s Echo Beach
As the sun set over another day in the city of Toronto, English indie rockers alt-J lit up the night at RBC’s Echo Beach.
Eric Church and more to Rock the River in Merritt BC this August
The Rockin’ River Music Fest is a B.C. family-owned and operated country music festival that takes place annually, on the BC Day long weekend, in Merritt, BC – incidentally also known as the ‘Country Music Capital of Canada’. This August 2-5 Eric Church will lead an all-star lineup which also includes Brett Eldredge, Dallas Smith, Dustin Lynch, Luke Combs and many more!
The 13th edition of Rockfest shakes the Montebello grounds.
Montebello Rockfest founder Alex Martel can confidently say he has run another successful festival this year. The 13th edition of Rockfest was held last weekend at the quaint town of Montebello, Quebec with around 200 000 people attending over the three days.
Serena Ryder headines all female Friday at Beaumont Blues & Roots
The 11th annual Beaumont Blues and Roots Festival took place in Beaumont Alberta the weekend of June 15-17. Known as “Canada’s biggest little music festival”, it is the country’s longest running all Canadian content music festival, highlighting the best in all music genres, not just blues and roots, including pop, folk, rockabilly and country music. While the festival has always included a fairly even split between male and female artists, this year is the first time they have scheduled an all female Friday, headlined by Serena Ryder.
Sam Roberts Band plays Beaumont Blues & Roots Festival
The Sam Roberts Band headlined the 11th Annual Beaumont Blues & Roots Festival Saturday with a marathon set. Known as “Canada’s biggest little music festival”, the festival has always featured a 100% Canadian line up with about 50% being female artists.
