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It was February 2015 and my step son called me asking if there was any way I could try and get him or win him tickets to see a band called Dear Rouge at the Ritual Nightclub the following month.  The show was a win your way in promotion being put on by the folks at Live 88.5.  At the time I had not heard of Dear Rouge so I decided I’d check them out, from the first song I listened to I was instantly a fan and knew I had to interview them to get to know them and the story behind their music a bit better.

148 years ago today one of the greatest nations in the world was born, Canada.  On this special day we’d like to salute our home and native land and highlight just some of the reasons that make us proud to be Canadian!

So, the summer concert schedule is upon us and let me tell you if you LOVE live music you are going to really enjoy this summer.  I have put together a list of MUST SEE but heck, I only say they are must see because well I think they are pretty damn talented individuals as well.  I know we can’t hit them all.  But we know I am going to do my best 😉

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.

It’s no secret that the city of Ottawa is thirsting for country music lately, with two country music stations and a country heavy line-up at Ottawa Bluesfest, I can’t think of anyone better to kick off a summer of country music in Ottawa than the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan.  Living up to his title Luke proved he was more than ready, and able, to quench our thirst.

Chad Brownlee – Photo by Trish Cassling for Sound Check Entertainment

To say that 2015 has started with a bang is a major understatement.  It took the independent Sound Check over a year to hit 100,000 readers and we hit 200,000 in just the first month and a half of 2015.

Our top stories of Q1 2015 included breaking the news of Luke Bryan in Ottawa and the 2015 Ottawa Bluesfest line-up as well as our coast to coast coverage of Dallas Smith’s Tippin’ Point Tour and Chad Brownlee’s When the Lights Go Down tour not to mention our unprecedented concert coverage from New Country 94’s welcome to Ottawa party with Dallas Smith to Florida Georgia Line and ZZ Top in Kingston. All of this and only in the first 3 months of 2015.

Here’s a look at what’s ahead from April to June 2015

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***

Emma Peckford performs at the 2014 “She’s the One” competition at Ottawa Bluesfest – Photo by Hendrik Pape Sound Check Entertainment

You may remember the name Emma Peckford if you were following our coverage of last year’s “She’s The One” competition at RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest.  Emma won last summer’s competition and yesterday she celebrated the release of the official music video for her début single “Just Breathe“.

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?