It was another scorching hot day at Bluesfest on Friday, accompanied by performances from some great Canadian storytellers.
Vivid and thought-provoking lyrics were the theme among all the artists’ sets on Day 2, each with a profound ability to transport the audience to other worlds through song.
Bilingual artist Kristine St-Pierre painted colourful pictures of time spent driving down Ontario Highway 17 with her kids on songs like “Lake Superior.”
Performing for an enthusiastic audience at the LeBreton Stage, her folk melodies combined with wistfully nostalgic lyrics started the night off on a very pleasant note.
Kristine alternated between singing in French and English, rotating between soft love ballads and bluesier songs like “It Is What It Is,” which featured catchy banjo chords.
Having received critical acclaim for her latest album Love & Vulnerability, which was released in 2024, Kristine is showing no sign of slowing down anytime soon. She told fans they could catch her playing more shows throughout the summer, and that her new Christmas album would be out in November, joking that she’s “got you covered for the whole year.”
Kristine closed out her set with a crowd favourite: an uptempo, bluegrass-inspired song called “Wild Lion Tacos.” A song about eating wild lion tacos down in Tucson, AZ, the quick banjo and guitar melodies sparked some good old foot-stomping from the audience.
In the Barney Danson Theatre, Sophie D’Orlean’s indie folk stylings transformed the room into a dreamy atmosphere.
Sophie, who is also bilingual, delivered intimate performances of songs like “From Me,” “Sans turbulences,” and the pop-oriented “Colibri.”
Her strong and affecting vocal style made the audience feel every emotion, and her personal anecdotes before each song made everyone feel like they were part of the story.
She emphasized how much music has taught her, and said she feels “grateful for music for bringing us all together.”
It seemed as though the unifying power of live music was on everyone’s minds, with Toronto artist Charlotte Day Wilson also expressing how much she loves music and getting to perform at Bluesfest.
Charlotte, who blends contemporary R&B, jazz and soul in her songs, clearly fed off the crowd’s energy as she took the RBC Stage before headliner Hozier.
Having collaborated with fellow Bluesfest performers BADBADNOTGOOD and Kaytranada, Charlotte played a variety of songs from her repertoire, including the blues-inspired “What You Need” and the piano ballad “If I Could.”
Back at the LeBreton Stage, Chicago band The Claudettes lit up the first of their two performances of the night. The Claudettes’ music puts an exciting and edgy twist on classic Americana roots with their self-described “garage-cabaret” sound.
It is easy to be immediately captivated by lead vocalist Rachel Williams, whose stage presence is reminiscent of Annie Lennox and even Joan Jett. Accompanied by Johnny Iguana on piano, Zach Verdoorn on bass, guitar and vocals, and Michael Caskey on drums, the band has carved out their own unique sound at the intersection of punk and rockabilly.
Later on, singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer rounded out the night on the LeBreton Stage. Not only a powerful lyricist and skilled musician, Sarah has dedicated her career to environmental advocacy and activism, receiving the 2025 Juno Humanitarian Award for her work.
Sarah’s musical career spans more than 25 years, and the covered tent was overflowing with people eager to catch her performance.
Songs from earlier albums like “Basement Apt.” and “Don’t Get Your Back Up” are reminiscent of Alanis Morissette or Kathleen Edwards. Sarah’s acoustic folk-pop stylings continue into her current work, with newer songs like “St. Peter’s Bay,” while some lean into a more alt-country sound, such as “Just Get Here.”
With the sun gone and a cool breeze carrying through the park, headliner Hozier was welcomed by a packed crowd at the RBC Stage. Irish folk singer Andrew Byrne (stage name Hozier) blended folk and pop with choral and orchestral elements in his main stage performance. Joined by a group of gospel singers, along with cello, violin and guitars, his songs were not only heard but felt deeply by the audience.
Hozier is known for songs like “Take Me to Church,” a folk ballad that critiques organized religion’s views on gay marriage, as well as “Jackie and Wilson” and “Cherry Wine.” He masterfully pairs ethereal instrumentation with complex lyrics that reference politics, mortality, folklore and classic literary works.
Also known for lyrics with dramatic themes, Saskatchewan band The Dead South ended the night at the River Stage. The four-piece bluegrass band leans into themes of ghosts, urban legends and Wild West lore, especially on their newest album Chains & Stakes. Songs like “Blood on the Mind” explore a hypothetical murder plot to the sound of banjo rolls and mandolin.
Day 2 of Bluesfest showed that strong songwriting remains at the heart of the festival, driving some of the day’s most memorable sets.
For the full schedule and ticket information, visit https://ottawabluesfest.ca/.
