(below) Mallory Giles from Politique
Ken Workman and the Union on the Black
Sheep stage (below)
As I write this, I am getting ready to head out for the final day of Bluesfest. I would have been at Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest for each of the 12 days and nights, but I made a quick side-trip to Halifax last weekend to see Paul McCartney. ( Quite possibly one of the only concerts that could sway me from my beloved Bluesfest). So, despite my 3 day sojourn to see a Beatle, I all but set up camp at Bluesfest, and the smile never left my face. From stage to stage we bopped, me and my music-crazed husband Rob, catching some of the finest live acts out there today. This year, the theme for Bluesfest was 'Summer Vacation', and I met so many people on the grounds of LeBreton Flats who took the advice. My non-scientific poll concluded that a large percentage of Bluesfest-goers did not go to work this week. They booked it off months ago, when the full schedule came out. Music lovers of all age groups: youngsters, teens, 20-somethings, thousands in their 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's. Toddlers with faces painted, rarin' and ready to see Kiss. Older generations with beer in hand taking in Jeff Beck, Spencer Davis and the Yardbirds. Rockin' out to the Stone Temple Pilots and spending a magical evening in Ottawa's biggest backyard to sing along with Blue Rodeo and their impeccable harmonies. Bluesfest is also about broadening musical horizons, catching acts that ring no bells when you read their names on the schedule, but enjoying every moment on the smaller stages; the Black Sheep Stage, the Hard Rock stage, host to blistering blues and gospel and reggae. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Oumou Sangare, Toots & the Maytals, just to name a few. And for locals bands, there is no better gig than Bluesfest. Here, they get the stage, the lighting, the video screens, the same respect as the 'big name acts' and rightfully so. Bands like Good2Go, MonkeyJunk, Politique, Ken Workman and the Union, these were performances that signalled great things ahead. The opportunity to play for rabid music loving crowds will never be under-estimated. Last night, while jockeying for position at the Drive By Truckers show, I ran into an old acquaintance of mine named Rick. I first met Rick in 1985, he had sold me a pair of tickets for a Bruce Springsteen 'Born in the USA' concert in Syracuse. We talked about the hundreds of concerts we have seen over the years, the miles we have travelled, the money we have spent, all to feed our passion for live music. I asked him if he was enjoying Bluesfest this year. He said, 'Its the best thing about Ottawa'. I couldn't agree more. To the brain-child behind Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest, Mark Monahan, thank you for another spectacular festival. Kudos to the Black Sheep's Paul Symes, AJ Sauve, Joe Reilly, and the countless volunteers who make it happen. Only 360-something days until next Bluesfest....... 