The last two days of Bluesfest were filled with exciting acts and special showcases.
Saturday’s headliners attracted a similar demographic to the previous night, with 2000’s modern rock groups Papa Roach and Daughtry on the docket.
Other acts that shined on Saturday were the likes of JW-Jones and Rubber Tire Peep Show.
Canadian JW has earned praises from Billboard and garnered a JUNO nomination with his blues spirit and sound. The singer-songwriter electrified the River stage, with impressive guitar work and charming stage presence.
Jam band Rubber Tire Peep Show blend their Toronto and Halifax musical influences into one big musical collective. They draw inspirations from many different genres including country, blues and rock- with strong roots in Canadian culture.
Having opened for Canadian band Sloan and completed two cross-provincial tours, the ‘Peep Show’ is a breath of fresh air in the current musical landscape, and a joy to watch.
In the Barney Danson theatre, Kingston based band Hellhound Trail delivered modern blues with some serious grit, while certified jazz and “Blues Guy” TJ Wheeler played a bit later.
On the final day of the festival, it was a bit of a younger crowd that descended on LeBreton Flats park, eager to see Montreal electronic artist and headliner Kaytranada.
The evening started off sunny and warm, a perfect evening to sit on the top of the hill of the River stage and watch acts like Nolan Hubbard and Darren Kiely.
Hailing from Ganonoque, Ontario, Nolan’s sanguine guitar strumming and storytelling lyrics put everyone in a good mood.
His songs had elements of blues and country, some featuring the harmonica. Playing songs like “Sandbanks,” which reminisced on good times at the beach, his nostalgic sound seemed fitting for the last day.
Later on, Irishman Darren Kiely brought his folk stylings to Ottawa, with a powerful, gravelly voice that infused his folk-pop songs with hints of traditional Irish music.
In the LeBreton tent, two very special showcases took center stage. To start off the night, it was the Blues in the Schools showcase, which featured students from Corpus Christi Elementary School demonstrating the musical skills they have gained from the program.
The Grade Two students showed off their vocals and harmonica playing to a very enthusiastic and impressed crowd.
Like Blues in the Schools, the Be in the Band showcase focuses on pairing students with an artist in residence to help them produce a performance that they can play at Bluesfest.
The program focuses on kids in high school, putting them in bands with other aspiring young musicians and giving them the opportunity to be mentored by an experienced artist for three months.
A true community initiative, community centres like the Glebe Community Centre and the Michele Heights Community Centre have facilitated this program by providing spaces for the bands to practice.
There were 18 different bands participating in the showcase from different high schools across Ottawa, each with their own unique sound.
As dark clouds rolled over the once sunny sky, people ran for shelter from the incoming rain, inadvertently drawing a large (and well deserved) crowd to the showcase.
It was a true pleasure watching the culmination of hard work put in by these students, and seeing the blossoming talent on their instruments of choice.
Each band came out and performed two songs; the song choices ranged from “Careless Whisper” by George Michael to punkier tunes like “Seether” by Veruca Salt.
The hardwork, passion and time spent practicing was clear in every performance, and it definitely felt like watching young stars being born on the stage.
The rain was only temporary and the sun shone again, promising a good end to the night.
On the RBC stage, Toronto band BADBADNOTGOOD delivered a funky and catchy set ahead of Kaytranada.
The band, which is purely instrumental, is a modern fusion of psychedelic rock and jazz with elements of reggae. Drums, bongos, trumpet, guitar and keys made up the sweet and smooth cacophony of sound that the band delivered.
In between songs, the band delivered messages of positivity, encouraging the audience to embrace the “weird and wonderful” journey of their music.
As the night came to a close and subsequently so did Bluesfest, the band’s message was a good reminder; music is mutually beneficial for the artists and the audience.
Playing music for people, and being able to gather and experience that music being played is one of the most powerful ways of bringing people together.
