Given the wide variety of genres and renown, you will be forgiven if you are not familiar with every single artist on the lineup. Therefore, as part of our extensive coverage, apt613 will have daily previews of the artists performing that day, so you can plan your festival visit to Lebreton Flats accordingly.
Congratulations! You’ve survived Bluesfest for another year! Sunday’s lineup might have fewer acts, but it should provide tired festivalgoers with a nice final day to coast through to transition back to ‘normal’ life.
Day 9: Sunday July 16th
RBC Stage
6:00 pm Paragon Cause
7:30 pm Alvvays
9:30 pm The Smile
In what has been a pleasant surprise of this year’s festival, the main stage again features a very cohesive lineup, this time of electronica-infused indie rock.
Now based in Ottawa, Paragon Cause has been hard at work since their debut EP in 2018. Following that up in 2019 with a full album and two EPs, another album in 2020, and yet another in 2021, the duo has also worked on a variety of projects with Berlin and A Flock of Seagulls. Their last album, Autopilot, displays the results of all that work, which has led to a very quick evolution and maturation of their exceptionally well-crafted electro-rock.
Continuing in the alt-rock vein, Toronto’s Alvvays return from crisscrossing Europe for the past six weeks. Fitting that they would be back in the country to learn that their latest album Blue Rev has been included on the Polaris Prize shortlist, making it 3-for-3 for Alvvays albums. After an almost six-year absence from an Ottawa venue (and five years between albums), the award-winners are making up for lost time with their second show here this year. It also marks their first Bluesfest appearance since 2015.
In what may be the most enigmatic headliner Bluesfest has booked in a very long time (if ever), closing out the main stage is The Smile. A side project created by Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, along with drummer Tom Skinner, the trio released a critically acclaimed album last year, and has been touring over the past year. A follow-up single, “Bending Hectic,” was released last month, hinting at more to come from the ‘supergroup’/side project. That said, if fans are hoping for a set sprinkled with familiar Radiohead songs, they will be sorely disappointed, though possibly pleasantly surprised at the trio’s excellent material in their own right. Still, the choice of having them headline Bluesfest is bound to be polarizing between music geeks (of which I am proudly one) and the average festival attendee.
River Stage (behind the Canadian War Museum)
6:30 pm Eazy Finesse
8:00 pm Avenoir
9:30 pm Koffee
With indie rock featured on the main stage, the River Stage will focus on RnB and hip hop for the night, from local to global tastes.
First up is Ottawa’s Eazy Finesse. The rapper has been steadily dropping singles since 2019, building up a strong following across the country, expanded even more recently with her 2023 feature on “Win” by the ALLCAPYOW collective, which is working to put Ottawa on the hip hop map. With a rising star like Finesse, it’s just a matter of time.
Slowing things down, next up is Toronto’s Avenoir. Supersmooth soulful RnB, his latest single “Who Do U Luv,” released last week, is noteworthy for its heartfelt vocals punctuated with a blistering guitar solo. With over 750,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, he’s grabbing attention across the RnB genre, with good reason.
Ending the night, Jamaica’s Koffee takes the hip hop into a more reggae/dancehall direction. With her very first EP Rapture earning her a Grammy for best reggae album in 2020, the youngest ever (at 19), and first woman to take home that award, the bar was set quite high right from the start. Undaunted, she followed that up with last year’s Gifted, earning her another Grammy nomination and more accolades.
SiriusXM Stage (behind Main Stage)
6:00 pm Blues In The Schools Showcase
6:30 pm Be In The Band Showcase
As usual, the SiriusXM Stage will devote the final day of the festival to highlight the great work their Blues In The Schools and Be In The Band programs do across the area. This is an opportunity for the next generation to perform in front of an audience, as well as for festivalgoers to support them in their development.
Barney Danson Theatre (inside the Canadian War Museum)
6:30 pm Steph La Rochelle
8:00 pm Megan Jerome
9:30 pm Miss Emily
A lineup of a trio of women with powerful voices will close out the Theatre, each with their own distinct style.
If Steph La Rochelle’s debut EP feels like it could be a soundtrack from a Broadway musical, that’s no coincidence, given she recently performed in the Canadian and then North American production of Dear Evan Hanson. Similar to her stage performances, her voice conveys the emotions of the songs perfectly, enthralling listeners for the start.
Next is Megan Jerome. The veteran jazz singer has embarked on a new project this year, releasing tracks from her upcoming album Love throughout the year. Backed by her Together Ensemble, she continues to produce catchy songs that blends traditional jazz with more modern pop sensibilities.
Closing out the night is Miss Emily, Kingston’s award-winning blueswoman. Her 2017 album In Between enlisted a few other Kingston music royals—the Tragically Hip’s Gord Sinclair and Rob Baker. Last year’s Defined By Love brought a bit more variety to her style of blues, from big band to soul. Whether accompanied by a single piano or a full-on scorching electric guitar, her voice soars over it all.
Thank you to all the readers that kept checking apt613.ca/bluesfest and our social media feeds for our previews and photos throughout the festival! We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!