Category Archives: Blues & Jazz

Twas the night before Bluesfest and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.  The grounds are all ready, the stages are set in hopes that the music will soon be here.  The fans are nestled all snug in their beds; While visions of music and lights danced in their heads.  It all kicks off tomorrow afternoon and here are my picks for week #1!

In just over four weeks the 35^th edition of the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival will present 780 musicians in 123 concerts from June 18 – July 1. From its humble origins as a weekend of outdoor jazz 35 years ago, the Festival has evolved into one of Canada’s largest and most highly anticipated international jazz festivals.

RBC Ottawa Bluesfest organizers today announced two major additions to an ever-burgeoning line-up, which already includes such heavy weights as Keith Urban, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kanye West and more.

Fredericton Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival

The Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival has signed five new international acts to add to its 25th anniversary festival line up.  All of the groups, some of the most in demand new artists on the international festival circuit, will make their Harvest début at the 2015 edition of the Festival this September 15-20.

Dear Rouge – Black to Gold

The list of performers at this summer’s RBC Royal Bank Ottawa Bluesfest continues to grow with Vancouver’s Dear Rouge now added to the list.

So late Sunday afternoon our friends at Ottawa Bluesfest posted a teaser video, hinting at the BIGGEST headliner yet for this July’s festival.

UPDATE:
Kayne West added to the lineup (March 30).

Ticket prices: There is a wait on the website to get tickets but these are the prices we know:

Day Passes: $50 (plus service charges) except July 9 and 10 ($60 each) and July 11, 16 and 17 ($55 each)
Pick 3: $99
Tier 1: $199 Tier 2: $249 (as each Tier sells out prices will move the next Tier)

While researching for a preview piece leading up to tomorrow’s believed 2015 line-up announcement for RBC Royal Bank Ottawa Bluesfest I came across the 2015 Ottawa Bluesfest website via a Google search. Based on information we had been told leading up to today there were enough constancies to make us believe this is was the real thing.  ***Update: The information below was confirmed by an official announcement by Ottawa Bluesfest posted at the bottom of this article***

It’s another day and yet another major Ottawa festival is making a line-up announcement, and no we didn’t scoop this one in case you were wondering.  If you’re working for a living don’t worry you won’t need to send postcards from Italy or cross the rip tide to enjoy the headliners announced for the TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival today.

So with a little more investigative research it looks like the Sweet Home Alabama hit makers Lynyrd Skynyrd are heading to Canada this summer and will be joining the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest line up on July 14th.   We noticed a post on Pollstar with the news.  With the whole line up only a week away who are you hoping gets added to the line up?

2015 is a momentous year for the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival as it prepares to present the 35^th edition from June 18 – July 1, 2015.

Dynamic programming and unique international collaborations remains integral to attracting a loyal audience while continuing to draw new audiences each year.

“The magic of Jazzfest, much like jazz music itself, lies in the unexpected – an unknown artist that dazzles, a unique collaboration, an improvised jam that transcends musical definition. That magic happens because the festival is willing to experiment, to expose Ottawa audiences to unfamiliar, exciting new sounds from the world over.” – Jared Davidson, Apt613, 2014