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Ottawa Citizen
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Bluesfest Day 1: Lainey Wilson rounds up the cowgirls
Article content In all, Lainey's performance, her first at Bluesfest, was a refreshing change from the bro-country-dominated industry, and a good introduction to an artist worthy of following in the footsteps of legends like Dolly Parton and Faith Hill. Article content Article content Earlier in the evening, the smorgasbord of music ranged from the passionate country-soul of Red Clay Strays on the main stage to the vast instrumentation and enormous danceability of the Aussie party band Melbourne Ska Orchestra, who were slotted on the River stage in a slot that overlapped with another Australian party band, the Cat Empire, on the LeBreton stage. Article content Article content It was a tough decision, but I opted to say at the stage that had a spectacular view of the sunset over the Ottawa River, instead of the mud floor and tent walls of the LeBreton stage area. I should note, however, the sound is excellent at both the River and LeBreton stage. Article content Article content Back on the main stage, the first act was Rosewood Avenue, a likeable country-flavoured band formed by a pair of former high-school sweethearts who grew up in Timmins. They shared a story about a visit to Ottawa last summer, when they mused how great it would be if they played the big stage, casting the gig as a dream come true. Article content The duo was bubbly and upbeat as they performed a selection of their own tunes and covers, including a romp through a hit(If You're Not in It For Love) by Shania Twain, once a fellow Timmins resident, they were quick to point out. Article content Meanwhile, Ottawa-based recording artist and bandleader D.B. Cohen had the honour of kicking off the humid summer evening on the River stage with his gang of Ottawa merrymakers, complete with a brash brass section. The sun blazing in his face, the U.K. native had a determined air as he demonstrated his strong vocals and sure hand on guitar, not to mention a high level of professionalism on songs that straddled the realm between ska, rock and blues. Article content Article content But for some real blues, you had to check out the LeBreton stage, where a surprise discovery was the powerhouse vocalist, Annika Chambers. She performed with her husband, a guitarist who's no stranger to Bluesfest – Cornwall native Paul DesLauriers – and they were astounding. Article content Chambers, a winner of multiple Blues Music Awards, captivated the festival's core population of blues fans with her gospel-drenched vocals, turning in a rendition of The Blues Got a Hold on Me that sent the old nugget sailing into the stratosphere, as DesLaurier unleashed his sultry licks. Article content
Ottawa Citizen
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Bluesfest a 'very big deal' for local bands. Here's how they get the gig
Article content The British-born musician known as D.B. Cohen used to daydream about playing Bluesfest when he saw how the festival took over the entire city for days at a time. Article content 'I've seen the big crowds and thought what a wonderful experience to be able to play it,' said Cohen, who's been a resident of the Ottawa area for almost a decade. 'It's the marquis event of Ottawa, and I remember going there the first time thinking, 'Wouldn't it be nice to be up there,' and kind of daydream about it. Article content Article content 'Eight or nine years later, lo and behold, here we are,' he added, pointing to his slot at this year's edition of Ottawa's biggest summer music festival, which runs July 10-20 on the grounds of LeBreton Flats Park. Article content Article content The singer-songwriter-guitarist brings his ska-blues band, the Revelers, to the festival's River stage on opening night as part of a bill with folk-rock catalyst Father John Misty and Australia's Melbourne Ska Orchestra, led by Nicky Bomba, former drummer of the John Butler Trio. Article content 'I follow all of those as a fan, and to see them doing sell-out tours around America and Canada, you think 'OK, this is this is the benchmark,' ' Cohen said. 'It's a step up in the game, and I think the bands are reacting to that as well.' Article content His Ottawa band members have plenty of Bluesfest experience, but it's a first for the 45-year-old bandleader. 'It's a very big deal,' he said. 'It's the biggest show I've played since I came to Canada. My 10-year-old daughter will be in attendance.' Article content Article content Article content Article content Cohen is one of about a dozen acts based in Ottawa-Gatineau selected to play Bluesfest in 2025. Others include soulful singer-songwriter Claude Munson, bilingual chanteuse Kristine St-Pierre, pop-punk rockers We Were Sharks, bluesman J.W.-Jones, funksters Funk Yo Self and the harmonious West Quebec faves, Leverage For Mountains. Article content The number represents a decline in local representation that began in 2018, when organizers decided to cast a wider net. Instead of drawing acts within a 100-km zone of Parliament Hill, they changed the parameters to encourage indie bands from a broader region, ranging from Ottawa to Montreal to Toronto, and as far north as Sault. Ste Marie and Maniwaki, Que. Article content
