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Blogging Bluesfest 2013: The Musettes

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These girls are good. While this is their first time playing Bluesfest, The Musettes won the 2010 Galaxie Rising Stars Award and secured a spot playing at the Ottawa Folk Festival that same year. Their sound is akin to another all female folk band, The Good Lovelies. The trio has a unique style, as all three girls have distinct songwriting capabilities, and take turns singing lead vocals and frequently trade instruments on stage. All three can work the ukelele, mandolin and guitar which makes for a fun mix.

We caught up with Meaghan LaGrandeur of Musettes over Canada Day weekend.

How would you describe your sound?

Our sound would best be described as a blend of folk and popular music. We write about adventure, history and love. The music itself is an acoustic blend of three part vocal harmony accompanied by an eclectic mix of instrumentation, including piano, fiddle, guitar, percussion and ukulele. On stage we stomp, jump and clap our hands, and take turns singing lead and swapping instruments so no song is ever the same. We would busk often during high school so that has been a way for us to develop our sound and high energy performance.

How long have you been playing music, and how has your sound evolved in that time?

We all met in the music program at Canterbury High School so we have been making music together in different forms for over eight years, but as a band we have been playing together for almost five years.

What are you hoping to get out of your Bluesfest performance? Fans, adoration, festival experience etc.

We have been longtime volunteers at the festival where we would often sing for other volunteers during our shifts. It is very exciting for us to perform at a festival that is so close to our hearts.  We are hoping to reach out to new audience members and to see as many concerts as possible. We are also looking forward to jamming and meeting other artists as well!

Are there any other bands on the bill you are excited to see?

Bahamas, Passion Pit, Great Big Sea, The Dixie Chicks, Serena Ryder

Silly bonus question: In Ottawa, you would like to see more of…

Recently busking licensing has been put into effect in the Byward Market and Sparks Street Mall. We would like to see the associated fees and the sign up process eliminated entirely. These places were once a safe haven for budding artists to perform and gain confidence, but the Byward Market is now the most expensive place to busk in Canada, making it inaccessible to young people. We worry for the future of the city’s music scene because these policies are effectively destroying a supportive environment for new Ottawa talent to grow and flourish.  We owe so much of our success to the people of Ottawa and their kindness to us in the streets. We want future generations of local musicians to be able to have easy access to this like we did, so perhaps they too can gain confidence and make their way into Bluesfest.

 

Here are The Musettes playing the 4in1 Music Sessions in 2012.


The Musettes play Friday, July 5 at 12pm at the Rideau Centre. 


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