We’ve made it through another Bluesfest! Enriched by all of the great artists we’ve gotten to see (and slightly soggier thanks to the rain), we have one more day to cap off the 2024 edition in style. After last night’s Crue-sfest, hopefully you have enough energy left for one more night!
RBC STAGE
- 6:00 pm – Training Season
- 7:30 pm – Down With Webster
- 9:30 pm – Nas
Opening the main stage is Ottawa’s own Training Season. The alternative hip hop trio started out on SoundCloud a decade ago, and has continuously evolved, incorporating more and more influences into their mix of rap and r&b, infused with jazz and soul. The result can be moody, upbeat, aggressive, or laid back, but always interesting.
Sandwiched in between the hip hop, Down With Webster will add a decidedly rock element to their rap. Emerging in late 2000s, the Toronto band had a string of platinum hits with their infectious rap-rock (with a healthy dose of pop) over their short half decade peak, and despite multiple awards and nominations, they went their separate ways to work on solo and side projects. Luckily for fans, the band made a surprise announcement that a reunion tour would take place this summer, including today’s Bluesfest show.
Closing the festival is legendary rapper Nas. Few artists can say their first album helped shape its genre, but Illmatic was such a lyrical breath of fresh air, it helped raise the bar for all other rappers. Innovative, Nas is also prolific, with 17 albums to date, he shows no signs of slowing down, and while others have built on the foundations he established, he isn’t ready to pass the torch and retire any time soon.
RIVER STAGE
- 6:30 pm – Geneviève Racette
- 8:00 pm – fanclubwallet
- 9:30 pm – Ben Howard
If you were lucky enough to catch Geneviève Racette at CityFolk last year, you know how angelic her voice is. The Montreal bilingual folk singer continues to build on her success with three more singles this year, one French and two English, with the newest “From Friends to Strangers”, adding a bit more country pop hooks to her usual folk sound.
One of Ottawa’s best kept secrets, fanclubwallet takes the middle slot on the River Stage. The latest EP, Our Bodies Paint Traffic Lines, fits perfectly as a follow-up to 2022’s You Have Got to Be Kidding Me. Still very much in the bedroom pop genre, songs like “Easy” and “Band Like That” are designed to make you dance around that bedroom singing along.
The mellow night concludes with English singer-songwriter Ben Howard. With five albums to date, most charting in the Top 5 on both sides of the Atlantic, Howard found success right from the start, with his 2011 album Every Kingdom spawning mega hits “Only Love”, “Keep Your Head Up” and “Old Pine”, which have all been certified platinum. His indie folk sound has evolved over the years, with his most recent album Is It? adding more synth elements, without sacrificing the intimacy of his songwriting.
SIRIUSXM STAGE
- 5:45 pm – Blues In The Schools Showcase
- 6:15 pm – Be In The Band Showcase
As per tradition, the final day of Bluesfest includes a pair of community showcases: Blues In The Schools and Be In The Band. Not only can you support the next generation of musicians, but you could catch the next participant to graduate to the lineup, like Mia Kelly did. Who’s next?
BARNEY DANSON THEATRE
- 6:30 pm – Le Winston Band
- 8:00 pm – JW Jones
- 9:30 pm – Bonecat
Launching the last day’s lineup in the Theatre is francophone zydeco band Le Winston Band. No, they aren’t out of the French Quarter, but rather from Montreal. Their style reunites the Cajun and French-Canadian musical cousins to create a fresh take that sounds both exotic and familiar at the same time.
Speaking of familiar, Ottawa’s JW Jones is no stranger to Bluesfest, and having him grace the stage on the final night seems like a must. His newest album, last year’s Everything Now features a who’s who of the Blues world, including Jimmie Vaughan, Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar, and the Texas Horns. Whether part of the HOROJO Trio or solo, Jones always delivers, and in a familiar venue like the Theatre, you can expect a great performance.
Closing out the Theatre this year is BONECAT, the local Blues power trio. With their third album, last year’s appropriately titled BONECAT III: Ready As Anybody Can Be, the power of 3 is in full force, with some very strong electric blues.
DJs tonight:
ACCORA VILLAGE SPIN STAGE (6:00 pm): DJ Eazy EL Dee
THE CRAZY HORSE SALOON (7:00 pm): DJ Kwame
RBC Ottawa Bluesfest runs from July 4-14 at Lebreton Flats, with passes and tickets available here.