Category Archives: Concert Reviews

The intense heat finally let go of it’s grip on Ottawa this past Sunday as day 4 of the 2023 edition of RBC Bluefest continued to draw large crowds to Lebreton Flats.

Saturday night at The King Of Clubs in Columbus, Ohio was a night of fantastic tribute bands! The all-ages show featured headliner The Iron Maidens who I had not yet seen but came highly recommended and they certainly did not disappoint!

The Iron Maidens perform at The King Of Clubs in Columbus, Ohio on 7/8/23

Since 2001, these ladies have thrilled fans as the “worlds only female tribute to Iron Maiden.” The current line-up consists of Kirsten Rosenberg (“Bruce Chickinson”) – lead vocals, Linda McDonald (“Nikki McBurrain”) – drums, backing vocals ,Wanda Ortiz (“Steph Harris”) – bass, backing vocals, Nikki Stringfield (“Davina Murray”) – guitars, backing vocals and Courtney Cox (“Adriana Smith”) – guitars, backing vocals.

The Iron Maidens perform at The King Of Clubs in Columbus, Ohio on 7/8/23

Definitely check out The Iron Maidens when they roll into town – tour dates to the end of the year are below. Check out their website HERE in case dates are added (and support the band by buying lots of merch).

The night’s entertainment also featured a high energy set by Penntera from Carlisle, PA. These guys are a tribute band to, you guessed it, Pantera.

Plus, Central Ohio’s Hybrid Nation opened the night and whipped up the crowd with a combination of original rock songs and Ronnie James Dio/Black Sabbath covers.

Check out the following slideshow images by O’Rock Photos of all the bands:

The Iron Maidens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Penntera

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hybrid Nation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

RobertPlant1_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

BlackieandtheRodeoKings9_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

SugarayRayford2_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

Sugaray Rayford performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

BlackieandtheRodeoKings3_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

BlackieandtheRodeoKings7_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

MartthewChaffey1_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

Matthew Chaffey performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

BlackieandtheRodeoKings2_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

BlackDenim1_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

BlakDenim performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

BlackieandtheRodeoKings4_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

GabrielleShonk3_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

Gabrielle Shonk performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

GabrielleShonk1_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

Gabrielle Shonk performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

BlackieandtheRodeoKings6_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

BlackDenim2_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

BlakDenim performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

GabrielleShonk2_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

Gabrielle Shonk performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

SugarayRayford1_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

Sugaray Rayford performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

BlackDenim4_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

BlakDenim performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

BlackieandtheRodeoKings10_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

StevenTaetz1_RossMacDonald_RBCBluesfest

Steven Taetz performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Ross Macdonald

RobertPlant4_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

BlackieandtheRodeoKings5_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

BlackDenim3_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

BlakDenim performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

BlackieandtheRodeoKings8_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings perform at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

BlackDenim5_ReneeDoiron_RBCBluesfest

BlakDenim performs at the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo: Renée Doiron

Summary of the event: Yellowcard hit the stage at the rooftop at pier 17 on July 7, 2023 Ocean Avenue 20th Anniversary. The rooftop was not only full of crowd but also an amazing lineup of band coming to the rooftop.

Sunshine and hot temperatures welcomed fans to LeBreton Flatts in Ottawa as RBC Bluesfest kicked off it’s 2023 edition with large crowds for an opening night of country featuring Lindsay Ell and Shania Twain and a night of pure rock and roll featuring Billy Talent and Weezer.

As I walked into the packed venue, the air was buzzing with anticipation, eager to witness one of the greatest bands of the 80s take the Budweiser Stage. Tears for Fears, known for their chart-topping hits and emotionally charged anthems, proved why they continue to be revered as one of the best bands of their era.

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.

Rapping sensation A Boogie wit da Hoodie landed in Ottawa on Friday night on the last stop on the Canadian leg of his Me vs. Myself tour.

Although Amanda has popped up on the Ottawa festival circuit a couple of times over the year the current “25 & Counting: The Heavy Lifting Tour” is her first official tour in about 2 decades.