Are you ready socks? Start shuffling! You know, if they already haven’t been knocked off by RBC Bluesfest’s first set. I personally lost my favourite set of striped with Cookie Monster heads somewhere south of the Shawn Mendes show. C is for cwazy!
Though taking a one day break to clean up all that Mendes gush from LeBreton Flats, the ol’ Bluesfest Insan-o-meter ain’t going to be ticking down from its current full tilt blast of awesome sauce any time soon. It took some time, a lotta’ social media griping and at least one written request from a family of killdeer but, churn me sideways and call me Butter Boy, the fuckin’ Foo Fighters are coming tomorrow night!
Other headline acts in the fest’s second set include Dave Matthews Band, Beck, Rise Against, Rae Sremmurd, and Blue Rodeo. I wonder if they’ll play “Lost Together”. Not Blue Rodeo, I mean Rae Sremmurd because that’d be as unexpected as the Spanish Inquisition!
While the City Stage is sure to attract most of the spotlight (I mean, hell, did ya’ see those towers?!), my fave fest frolics have always been the shows where I’ve discovered something new. I call it the Side-Stage Shuffle. It’s so much easier to do than The Floss, Hype or whatever the heck the Orange Justice is. All ya’ gotta’ do is mosey on away from the main bowl, open up to something new and settle on in at the Blacksheep and Claridge Homes stages or inside the Barney Danson Theatre (bonus air conditioning included in the price of admission).
Here are 8 reasons to get shufflin’!
July 10 When to shuffle: 9:30PM Where to shuffle: Blacksheep Stage Who to shuffle to: Machine Gun Kelly
Machine Gun Kelly burst onto the music scene with a lifetime’s worth of determination in 2012 and it’s been a rocket ride straight to the top. Closing out 2017 with a certified BANG! Machine Gun Kelly has proven that he is a force to be reckoned with! His current album 'bloom' is currently gold and has sold over 6 million worldwide and ushered in a #1 hit on pop radio with the album single “Bad Things.” A collaboration with singer Camila Cabello and produced by The Futuristics (Chris Brown/Bruno Mars), “Bad Things” also owned the Billboard Hot 100 list by staying strong for 16+ weeks. The song has amassed more than 245m+ streams globally with a radio audience of 145m and is now RIAA certified platinum. From his gritty rhymes to his tenacious presence, he's become a permanent staple in the hearts of his ever so growing fan base.
July 11 When to shuffle: 7:30PM Where to shuffle: Claridge Homes Stage Who to shuffle to: Oh Wonder
Oh Wonder are an anomaly. They're a band formed by accident, a duo who didn't intend to play live but eventually spent more than a year touring the world. Classically-trained pianist and violinist Josephine was about to begin a career in law when she met Anthony, a producer and former member of a rock band, in a south London studio. He offered to produce some of her songs, but the moment they started working together, something clicked. Three months into their song-a-month challenge, they had established an international audience. By the time some of their songs had racked up tens of millions of plays, the pair finally conceded that they were a band. Fast forward to 'Ultralife', Oh Wonder's extraordinary second album and their debut proper. Plug in and get connected.
When to shuffle: 8:00PM Where to shuffle: Black Sheep Stage Who to shuffle to: Hat Fitz & Cara
Hat Fitz is a “veteran” wild man of the blues scene in Australia. Cara draws on her soul background (she’s toured Europe and the United States with singers such as Jamiroquai and the hugely popular Corinne Bailey-Rae) and, although blessed with a sensational voice, she's not content to be labelled as "just a singer." Can they get along? Damn right and a show by them is phenomenal insanity! Picture a mountain man has just stormed out of his cabin in the woods after a long winter’s nap and all he wants to do is play something wild. Already ahead of him is his washboard toting wife but she ain’t there to do laundry. She’s setting up some drums and ready with some beats and sweet and gritty ditties you’re going to be toe-tappin’ to.
July 12 When to shuffle: 6:30PM Where to shuffle: Black Sheep Stage Who to shuffle to: The Town Cryers
They’re baaaaaaack! Once a staple of O-town’s live music scene, The Town Cryers were known for their frontal guitar assaults and witty stage banter. It was raw pre-grunge indie rock, a sound the band sliced into back in the 80s long before things started smelling like teen spirit. They toured North America with major international acts like the HooDoo Gurus, Steve Earle, and The Bodeans, earning top spots on video award shows and radio stations across the continent. Going their separate ways 25 years ago, they’ve decided that the break’s over! Reunited with a long lost 18-song album and a tour that has already seen a number of sold out shows, they are coming to Bluesfest. Don’t miss a shot as seeing one of my pics for best Ottawa concert of 2017!
When to shuffle: 7:30PM Where to shuffle: Barney Danson Theatre Who to shuffle to: Bob Log III
Just look at that picture up there and tell me this one isn’t going to be interesting! Oy! Bob Log III is a one man band, he’s a slide guitar party, he’s got a helmet Daft Punk wants back! A perverse product of the Arizona desert, he’s been diligently travelling the globe since 1996, showcasing a whirlwind of dexterous limbs and digits. His endless pursuit for musical mayhem and a downright party has seen his unique talents utilised for children’s birthday parties, obscure beer barns, mammoth music festivals and everything in between. This super star sonic showman has to be seen to be believed.
July 13 When to shuffle: 7:30PM Where to shuffle: Barney Danson Theatre Who to shuffle to: Aspects & Rita Carter
Aspects and Rita Carter have been making music together for over 10 years now and have been involved in Ottawa's music scene very heavily. Aspects is a Native American and Rita's roots hail from Africa and both musicians are very passionate about their craft. Very soulful with a touch of blues and hip hop. Aspects has also worked with many legends such as the Wu Tang Clan, Bone Thugs , The Band, Ovo, G Unit and Shady Records. If Aspects 8-year old daughter Illiyah Rose stops by for a tune prepared to be blown away while already being blown away. Better grab onto something.
July 14 When to shuffle: 7:30PM Where to shuffle: Claridge Homes Stage Who to shuffle to: Mr. Sipp
Ain’t nobody gonna’ be sayin’ there’s no blues at Bluesfest when Mr. Sipp is on the stage. Born in ’76, he's become known as “The Mississippi Blues Child”. Why? Because he’s been playing the guitar since he was six! Through hard work and perseverance, Mr. Sipp has become a Delta Blues force to be reckoned with. His amazing vocals and guitar prowess, great songwriting, overall musicality and ability make for an upbeat and outlandish show.
July 15 When to shuffle: 9:00PM Where to shuffle: Claridge Homes Stage Who to shuffle to: The PepTides
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: The PepTides are a well-oiled Where’s Waldo? striped Rube Goldberg machine of colourful lightening strewn with silk, soul and funk! They’re the Warhol painting you’ve never seen hanging on the bridge of a shimmering disco starship about to enter your atmosphere in rainbow warp drive. They are stardust. They are golden. They are back in the Bluesfest universe and this time, after dazzling up the afternoon shows with pulsars and supernovas, you get ta’ see ‘em light up the night! Toss on your favourite comet and get ready to for a galaxy of groove!