CityFolk Festival Night 3: Leon Bridges, David Wiffen Tribute

Saturday night, the third night of Lansdowne’s CityFolk Festival, brought a wide variety of acts sure to please lovers of all variations of folk music. Musicians and concert-goers young and old showed up to the festival, sharing an experience clearly capable of transcending generations.

I arrived at CityFolk on Saturday night just in time to see Tamino. He was alone on the RavenLaw stage, but his stark vocals filled the space, captivating the audience into quiet attentiveness. Despite his young age of 21, Tamino seemed like an old soul. He spoke little between songs in favour of letting his emotive music do the talking. Strumming simple accompaniment on his guitar, Tamino sang pensive songs with calm resolution. Lyrics in songs such as Indigo Night were beautifully poetic and resonating.

I had to duck out of Tamino to catch Rhye, who started 30 minutes after Tamino on the City Stage. The seven-piece group, led by falsetto vocalist Mike Milsoh, presented a subtle yet effective sound. Despite their size, their music was understated and light. They were seductive in their serene energy. Most songs were mellow, but a few were more upbeat. One in particular showcased impressive effects that made the violin sound like wailing electric guitar. In another song, the violin and cello were made to sound like horns. Rhye was my favorite act of the night, providing a different, refreshing and lovely experience that left the audience with goosebumps. 

Next on RavenLaw was a tribute to English-Canadian folk singer-songwriter, David Wiffen. Nine performers and friends of Wiffen took the stage to cover his songs and tell stories about him, including Tom Wilson (AKA Lee Harvey Osmond), who played his own, more upbeat set following the tribute. Footage of the show was also being captured for a documentary on Wiffen. Paintings on display and visible emotion from some of the performers made it clear that there was a lot of respect and admiration for Wiffen, 77, who watched the performance from the front row. Towards the end of the tribute, CityFolk’s director Mark Monahan presented Wiffen with the Helen Verger Award for his significant contributions to folk music. Wiffen took the stage to accept the award, not having much to say other than to thank what he called the “beautiful” audience. The City of Ottawa also officially declared September 14th, 2019 as David Wiffen Day. 

Tim Baker was next on City Stage, best known as the principal singer and songwriter of the multi-award-winning band, Hey Rosetta! While the band is now on hiatus and Tim is blossoming in his solo career, he still included some covers in his set, including well-known Hey Rosetta! song Welcome, and Neil Young’s Harvest Moon. Baker’s well trained vocals were easy to listen to, and his four-piece band provided steady support for his mellow brand of indie rock. Baker finished his set with Don’t Let Me Go Yet, a touching tribute to what he called the end of the party, the end of the show, and the end of Hey Rosetta!. The emotional slow dance was a great note to end on, its vocal harmonies hitting the audience right in the feels.

Headliner Leon Bridges, 30, was a true front man in his red robe, grabbing the audience’s attention with his energetic dance moves while his band played behind him all dressed in black. Bridges opened his set with the upbeat track, If It Feels Good (Then It Must Be), moving the audience to dance along with his cheerful brand of R&B. His vocals were sexy and smooth, and his music was wonderfully varied. Influences of blues, country, funk, and oldies crooners could be heard. Especially fitting of Bridges’ lovable and romantic persona was the dedication of the track, Beyond, to the lovers in the audience. He was also called back to the stage for an encore performance under the light of a full moon. 

Hip hop group Snotty Nose Rez Kids (SNRK) brought the after party to the RavenLaw stage, providing a spirited performance that paid homage to their Indigenous roots. SNRK’s thoughtful rap verses addressed themes of oppression and resistance and emphasized their proud love for Indigenous people, culture, and land. SNRK’s serious message paired with live trap beats and high energy engagement appeared to be effective in bringing a different perspective to a new generation.

Other acts performing at CityFolk on Saturday included Eleni Mandell and Saul Williams.