Feature

Robert Plant provides the coda to Ottawa CityFolk

The sun was shining Sunday afternoon at Ottawa CityFolk, and many people started streaming in with Led Zeppelin t-shirts and memorabilia.  There was a little excitement in the air in anticipation of the night’s headline act. I arrived in time ...
Feature

CityFolk pours on to the city streets

A harvest moon was rising. It was a cool September night. CityFolk was rambling in. We were treated to a perfect night to usher in the festivities. Lucinda Williams came out in a leather jacket, black nail polish, her “Get ...
Feature

Ottawa’s CityFolk festival rambles in

Ottawa’s CityFolk festival is upon us, bringing some strong nostalgic headliners, such as Lucinda Williams and Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant among others, along with a myriad of local acts. CityFolk a few years back introduced Marvest, an idea as I ...
Feature

Ottawa Bluesfest wrap-up: K’naan waving the flag for Pussy Riot ...

The final Bluesfest weekend saw Somalian born artist K’naan take to the City Stage early evening, and it was a chaotic start; his mic was not functioning, then it was, then it wasn’t.  K’naan’s show benefits heavily from his song ...
Concert review

Ottawa Bluesfest – July 9: Bluesfest returns to it’s ...

Bluesfest “Don’t like Mondays,” so after taking that day off, Bluesfest was back Tuesday night. Lennon Stella, who some will know from the show Nashville – as the older of the darling daughters of the show’s star, Rayna James – ...
Concert review

Ottawa Bluesfest – July 5: On a country stroll

I was back to Bluesfest on July 5, and the weather was still unsettled.  As evening approached, so did a severe storm.  The festival was already looking at one cancellation: Colter Wall due to travel complications, and now additional shows ...
Concert review

Ottawa Bluesfest Opening night.. Smoking!

Crossing the Eddy bridge, approaching the festival, I saw smoke rising from the City Stage.  It was appropriate. We are under a heat advisory. It‘s early evening, yet it’s still 37 degrees with the humidity.  Wow! Photo Credit : Christophe ...
Feature

Ottawa Bluesfest Celebrates 25 Years

Festival season is in full swing in this land.  The Montreal Folk Fest just wrapped up. Sudbury’s Northern Lights Festival is just kicking off, and in my town, the 25th Ottawa Bluesfest is once again about to take flight. From ...
Feature

Just what’s it like to be at Folk Alliance anyway?

From tomorrow through Sunday, Roots Music Canada will be on site at the 2019 Folk Alliance International conference in Montreal.  This is the world’s largest conference for folk and roots music, and it features a decent number of global and ...
Feature

Ottawa Bluesfest: That’s a wrap!

I hit Bluesfest again last Tuesday among the sea of people flooding the grounds.  Winding my way through the line, I kept passing a guy in a sort of psychedelic t-shirt.  What did it say?  “When the power of love overcomes the ...