Music concerts in Ottawa/Gatineau

[J.OT13]

I think I counted 11 that I know, and I'm a casual fan of most. They are mostly from the 90s and 2000s.

[rocketphish]

Ottawa Jazz Festival pulling out all the stops for 40th anniversary edition

Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Mar 11, 2022 • 4 hours ago • 3 minute read

The TD Ottawa Jazz Festival is pulling out all the stops for this summer’s belated 40th-anniversary edition, unveiling on Friday an eclectic and expertly curated lineup that ranges from legends like Emmylou Harris and Wynton Marsalis on the main stage to intimate shows by esteemed artists such as saxophonist Tim Berne, bassist Meshell Ndegeocello and South Korean singer Youn Sun Nah.

The festival runs June 24-July 3, with the TD Main Stage back in its traditional home of Confederation Park, plus the OLG Stage across the street on Marion Dewar Plaza at Ottawa City Hall and additional programming at the National Arts Centre.

“Sometimes you just have to give it your all,” artistic director/program manager Petr Cancura said. “If you’re hesitating, it’s not going to happen, so we just made the decision, ‘Let’s go 100 per cent in. If we have to pivot, we’ve learned we can do it.’”

He’s referring, of course, to the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has forced cancellations, downsizing and shapeshifting of festivals for the past two years. Although restrictions are loosening, there’s still the possibility a new variant or another wave could change the landscape by summer.

If that’s the case, Cancura says they’re ready to livestream every show. “We will pivot however we need to,” he said, though he’s crossing his fingers for good weather, no lockdowns and efficient international travel for acts from beyond Canada’s borders.

For music lovers, there’s a lot to discover. Main-stage offerings include evening shows by bluegrass innovators Punch Brothers, the legendary saxman Charles Lloyd and his quartet (including Bill Frisell), gospel powerhouse Blind Boys of Alabama, country singer-songwriter Harris and her Red Dirt Boys, blues legend Buddy Guy, cocktail orchestra Pink Martini and trumpeter Marsalis with The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Some of the headliners will have critically acclaimed, under-the-radar artists in the opening slots, Cancura said. These include guitarist Cory Wong of the band Vulfpeck, keyboard master Cory Henry, formerly of Snarky Puppy, British singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae and Canada’s jazz chanteuse, Holly Cole.

There’s also a long list of adventurous acts divided between the NAC venues and the OLG late-night stage, including a band of Tuareg women called Les Filles de Illighadad, former Mellencamp bassist Ndegeocello, New Orleans party band Cha Wa, Colombian-Canadian singer Lido Pimienta and electro jazz-funkmeisters the Louis Cole Big Band.

Others to watch for in the female-friendly, diverse lineup are New Orleans’ phenom Aurora Nealand, RnB singer Lady Wray, former Ani DiFranco drummer Allison Miller and Esperanza Spalding, who will perform with the NAC Orchestra at Southam Hall.

“I think we’re really trying for an imaginative cultural gathering,” Cancura said. “It’s all sort of in the spirit of jazz, but it will nourish the soul and feed curiosity. Our idea is to get the who’s who of innovators and iconoclasts and create a community vibe. If you love music, hopefully you’re going to love everything. That’s the idea behind the way we booked this.”

Free shows are also part of the anniversary celebrations, including daytime programming between noon and 6 p.m. on the first weekend, June 24-25, at Marion Dewar Plaza, and activities in Confederation Park on June 26.

More announcements on local artists, club venues and the plan for Canada Day are expected in the coming weeks.

For up-to-date details on the schedule and to buy passes, go to ottawajazzfestival.com.

https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainm...ersary-edition

[rocketphish]

Bluesfest could be scaled back this year amid labour shortages
Music won't be affected, says executive director

Rachelle Elsiufi · CBC News
Posted: Apr 16, 2022 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: April 16

Standing on the field where Ottawa's largest music festival is set to return this summer, Benoît Brunet-Poirier knows it won't be the same as in years past.

"My first year of Bluesfest was 2009," recalled Brunet-Poirier, a long-time crew member. "My last year was 2019."

This year's festival is scheduled to run July 7-17 in its pre-pandemic home at LeBreton Flats Park, next to the Canadian War Museum.

But after a decade of building stages and setting up sound and light systems, Brunet-Poirier has no plans to return.

Many live events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving Brunet-Poirier and others like him out of a job. He's now found work in the construction industry, and says it's the same story for other skilled workers who've taken jobs with higher wages, in fields like IT or film and television production.

Some have even gone back to school, he said.

"[The past two years were] a very, very severe emotional roller coaster for a lot of people," said Brunet-Poirier. "Just kind of waiting for that next gig, hoping it's going to come through and then just finding out that it's cancelled again."

The music industry was one of the hardest-hit sectors hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, and even with restrictions loosened it's "not like we're just flipping a switch and we're back to business as usual," said Erin Benjamin, president of the Canadian Live Music Association.

"We're hearing the folks who would normally have an employee directory or a contractor directory [say that] upwards of 70 per cent those folks are no longer available to work. They've found other employment," Benjamin said.

The difficulties go beyond just the labour shortage, however, according to Bluesfest executive director Mark Monahan.

"We're challenged now to find the availability of trailers and tents, for instance, or portable washrooms," Monahan told CBC News.

Monahan said some of the trailers they need, for example, are being used on construction sites, so they're forced to look elsewhere. It all means Bluesfest 2022 might be simplified this year, he said.

"We may not be able to have three merch tents. Maybe there's one and it's bigger," he said. "[But] we can't cut the music. That's the essence of the festival."

The way to address the labour shortage, Benjamin said, is to get younger people interested in the industry, by going into schools and "having conversations with kids earlier so that they know that we're out there."

"[When] we think about the music industry, we think about producing records and being an artist on stage. But there are so many incredibly exciting jobs that happen behind the scenes," she said.

Despite the workforce challenges, Benjamin is optimistic it will nevertheless be a great summer for music fans.

"The fact that these folks are still planning on putting festivals on at all is a testament to their passion and determination and commitment," she said.

"So no matter what festivals are looking like, we're still going to see some incredible events this summer."

With files from Sandra Abma

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...fest-1.6421387

[rocketphish]

Bluesfest receives $9.8 million in federal funding to help it return to pre-pandemic scale

Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen
Jun 16, 2022 • 1 hour ago • 1 minute read

Ottawa Bluesfest is getting a $9.8 million injection of cash from the federal government to help it return to its pre-pandemic scale and boost the local economy.

Hon. Helene Jaczek, the minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, was to announce the funding Thursday morning during a media conference at the Canadian War Museum, near the site of Ottawa’s biggest summer music festival. This year’s edition runs July 7-17 and boasts a lineup that includes Rage Against the Machine, Alanis Morissette, Luke Bryant and more.

“Major festivals and tourist attractions in Ottawa are vital to the local economy for Ottawa residents and visitors,” the minister said in a statement. “Today’s investment will help Ottawa Bluesfest and local tourism operators bounce back from the pandemic and once again bring high profile musical talent, increased tourism revenue to local business and economic growth to our nation’s capital.”

The money is part of the government’s Major Festivals and Events Support Initiative for southern Ontario. At Bluesfest, it will go towards expanding the main-stage area and purchasing a new portable stage.

“This contribution is going to ensure the viability and growth of the festival in 2022 and beyond,” said Mark Monahan, executive and artistic director of Bluesfest, noting that the costs of operating the festival have risen significantly this year because of labour shortages, supply chain issues and the skyrocketing price of gas.

Before the pandemic, Bluesfest attracted up to 300,000 visitors each year, and contributed an estimated $220 million in spending to the city’s economy. Scaled-down versions of the event took place in 2020 and 21.

Three other Ottawa tourism businesses will receive an additional investment, totalling about $250,000, from the Tourism Relief Fund. Haunted Walks Inc., Alicja Confections Inc., and Escape Tours and Rentals will use the funding to recover from the pandemic and develop new products and services to attract visitors.

lsaxberg@postmedia.com

https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainm...pandemic-scale

[rocketphish]

How Ottawa's local music festivals are weathering pandemic-induced economic challenges

Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen
Jun 18, 2022 • 4 hours ago • 4 minute read

A little over a month ago, the underlying anxiety of Ottawa festival organizers trying to revive their events this summer after two pandemic-rattled years threatened to turn to panic.

In addition to the headaches caused by skyrocketing gas prices and a shortage of workers, they were finding out that key suppliers had gone missing. Hearts sank when they realized one of the Ottawa-area businesses that supplied crucial infrastructure — staging and flooring systems for tents — was no longer in operation.

“It’s not super high-profile equipment but many of us need it,” explained Mark Monahan, executive and artistic director of RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. “The only other companies that would be doing this, we would have to bring them from Montreal or Toronto. It didn’t make sense.”

In a move that TD Ottawa Jazz festival director Catherine O’Grady described as “heroic,” Monahan arranged a deal with the company that acquired the assets and Bluesfest was able to purchase the gear the festivals will need. The plan is to rent it out during the summer season.

“I do have to thank Bluesfest for saving all the festivals in this city by buying up those assets, and going ahead and renting it back to us so we could have a festival,” said O’Grady. “It was nothing short of heroic — otherwise none of us would be having festivals this year.”

That’s just one example of the unexpected challenges that Ottawa festivals are facing as they prepare to rebound this summer. After two years of trying to conjure up pandemic-proof events, such as drive-in shows, smaller-scale events and online alternatives, the city’s two most popular festivals — Bluesfest and the jazz festival — are back in person in a big way, with a full slate of main-stage headliners, including international acts, and as many days of programming as ever.

Between the two festivals, Ottawa will be filled with live music, outdoors, for almost a month, a level of activity that attracts thousands of visitors, provides hundreds of jobs and generates more than $220 million in spending. The fun starts in less than a week, with the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival set to celebrate its 40th anniversary, two years late, from June 25 to July 3. Featured artists include the Punch Brothers, Kamasi Washington, the Jazz at Lincoln Centre Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Corinne Bailey Rae, Emmylou Harris and Blue Rodeo, to name a few. The main stage returns to its traditional home of Confederation Park, plus there’s a late-night stage at Marion Dewar Plaza, a string of concerts at the National Arts Centre and free daytime performances on the first weekend.

Hot on the heels of jazzfest comes RBC Bluesfest, which runs July 7-17 at LeBreton Flats Park on the grounds of the Canadian War Museum, and boasts a lineup topped by Alanis Morissette, Marshmello, Rage Against the Machine, Luke Bryant, Luke Combs and more. In all, up to 200 acts will play on five stages.

Getting to this point hasn’t been easy. Early in the planning process, Monahan feared he wouldn’t be able to find enough workers with the technical skills to run major concerts. The company that used to supply most of Bluesfest’s tech labour, Project X, had gone out of business as workers fled to other sectors when the live-music industry was put on hold during the pandemic.

“This is a huge problem for our industry,” Monahan said. “In the absence of any work, people found work elsewhere and so all of these people who would typically work in these seasonal jobs, went to work for someone else. Many of them left the business.”

He found a solution by striking a deal with the stagehands’ union, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which is sure to cost more but is a reliable source of labour. “We had no choice,” Monahan said. “We made a deal with the local union, and they were quite reasonable in concluding something that works for both of us. It will be a union shop from now on at Bluesfest.”

Another labour-related problem involves volunteers who aren’t returning to the festivals, O’Grady said, because they’re still nervous about COVID.

“We have enjoyed the benefits of lots of volunteer labour in the past, but a lot of those folks aren’t able to come out and help us this year, and I understand and that’s totally fine, but it means an expense we haven’t been used to incurring,” she said.

Both festivals, it’s important to note, are not-for-profit organizations, each one governed by a volunteer board of directors and earning most of their revenue from ticket sales. In Bluesfest’s case, it’s also one of the last independent, large-scale music festivals in North America; most others are run for profit by corporations.

This week’s announcement of $9.8 million in federal funding for Bluesfest takes some of the financial pressure off the festival, and will cover the purchase of a new main stage. “It allows us to pick up where we left off, and emerge bigger and better and stronger than ever before,” Monahan said, describing it as the single largest contribution in the festival’s 28-year history.

Still, both festivals are hoping for last-minute surges of ticket sales to get them through a difficult stretch without raising prices.

“No one could have anticipated the level of these cost increases,” said O’Grady, estimating them at anywhere from 10-50% higher than budgeted. “And you can’t pass these increases on to the consumer because everybody is hurting. We deliberately kept our ticket prices low, but we haven’t earned income now for almost three years so we really need lots of people to come.”

lsaxberg@postmedia.com

https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainm...tival-recovery

[rocketphish]

Lineup announced: CityFolk focuses on one stage, straddles two weekends

Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen
Jun 21, 2022 • 21 minutes ago • 3 minute read

Classic rocker John Fogerty, Canadian chart-toppers The Glorious Sons and Ottawa singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards are among the artists appearing in a reconfigured edition of CityFolk that will straddle two weekends in September.

The festival, which returns Sept. 8-10 and Sept. 15-17 to the Great Lawn at Lansdowne Park, may remind people of last year’s pandemic-edition, back-to-back CityFolk and Bluesfest weekends, which both took place in September and featured evening programming on one main stage instead of full days of music on multiple stages.

“Last year was an experiment and we found that a lot of the feedback from the public was good on the fact that it was two weekends instead of five days in a row,” said Mark Monahan, executive director of CityFolk, noting that the expanded timeline also increases the options for programming.

Another tidbit gleaned last year was that attendees appreciated the smaller crowds, which were about a third of the 15,000-plus that would have filled the site each night of a pre-pandemic CityFolk. This year’s event is expected to attract up to 7,500 each night.

“Something else we learned during the pandemic is that people do appreciate a more intimate experience. Bigger isn’t always better,” Monahan said. “So we’re conscious of trying to program a tasty lineup without the expectation that we have to do 10 or 15 thousand,”

CityFolk’s opening weekend starts with an alt-country night on Sept. 8, featuring American singer-songwriter Zach Bryan headlining, along with Edwards, in one of her first major local appearances since returning to the music industry, and Los Angeles’ The White Buffalo, the songwriter known as Jake Smith who’s recognized for his contributions to the Sons of Anarchy soundtrack.

Last year’s festival also brought reinforcement of the notion that Canadian acts make great headliners. While this year is not all-Canadian, there are some notable bookings, including the Kingston-formed hitmakers The Glorious Sons headlining Sept. 9, country star Tim Hicks on Sept. 10 and the enigmatic crooner Orville Peck, who makes the jump to headliner status after appearing as a warm-up act at CityFolk in 2019.

“He’s definitely been on the rise since we had him last time,” observed Catherine Cote, the festival’s programming manager, of Peck’s growing fame. “It seemed obvious to us he was graduating to a higher level and we wanted to give him the opportunity to take that slot on our stage this year.”

Sharing the stage with Peck on Sept. 16 is the Can-rock duo Whitehorse and Tre Burt, a former San Francisco busker signed to John Prine’s Oh Boy label.

Rounding out the second-weekend lineup are the Texas-based psychedelic soul outfit Black Pumas on Sept. 15, with Matt Andersen and The Record Company, and rock legend John Fogerty on Sept. 17. The co-founder of Creedence Clearwater Revival splits the bill with Ontario singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer and South Carolina folk duo Shovels & Rope.

In other CityFolk news, the TD Bank Group has signed on to sponsor the main stage. It’s a one-year deal with an option to renew, but Monahan says any deal is good news in today’s economic climate.

“Sponsorship has been a challenge this year particularly given the ups and downs we’ve seen,” he said. “A lot of these deals are done at least a year ahead of time, and that was very difficult to do a year ago because of where we were.”

Although virtual and scaled-down events were planned last year, no one really knew if they would happen because of lockdowns and other restrictions. This year, however, organizers feel a “fair amount” of confidence that events will unfold as planned.

“All of these things (we planned) were under such duress, it was right down to the last minute in terms of whether we could plow ahead or not,” Monahan said. “To have a somewhat normal CityFolk is going to be amazing if we can pull it off.”

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Tuesday in a one-day presale that runs until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. Regular sales begin at 10 a.m. Thursday.

lsaxberg@postmedia.com

https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainm...s-two-weekends

[rocketphish]

Jazzfest plans to close Confederation Park on Canada Day as precaution against 'freedom' protesters
The festival's executive director says she has been assured by Ottawa police that they will not allow Jazzfest to be disrupted by protests.

Jacquie Miller, Ottawa Citizen
Jun 22, 2022 • 2 hours ago • 4 minute read

Ottawa Jazz Festival plans to close Confederation Park on Canada Day as a precaution against “freedom movement” protesters.

Free concerts will still be held at Jazzfest’s secondary stage at city hall’s Marion Dewar Plaza, across the street from Confederation Park. That site is smaller and easier to control, Jazzfest executive director Catherine O’Grady says.

Traditionally Jazzfest offers free concerts on July 1 at both locations, with people roaming between them and having picnics at Confederation Park.

This year, though, gates at Confederation Park will be closed on Canada Day, O’Grady said Wednesday. The festival has rented the park from June 24 to July 3, so it can control who uses it.

“Why take a chance of any errant behaviour that could erupt there?” she said.

“We have hundreds of thousands of dollars of expensive equipment (in Confederation Park). We don’t want to take a chance, so we are just locking down Confederation Park completely.”

At the same time, O’Grady encouraged people not to be afraid to come downtown to enjoy the free music on Canada Day.

A few days ago, festival organizers released a statement saying they “will not be bullied or threatened by outsiders that may want to interrupt the first great music event of the season.”

O’Grady said that was prompted by emails from worried Jazzfest patrons who lived in Centretown and had lived through the trucker “convoy” occupation of downtown Ottawa last winter.

Some fans were worried about attending Jazzfest events on June 30 and Canada Day, when anti-vaccine mandate events are planned for downtown, she said.

However, O’Grady said she was reassured by the Ottawa Police Service at a meeting Wednesday that there would be a significant police presence downtown and officers would not allow the festival to be disrupted.

“They reassured us that they are going to keep everybody safe and under control. They’ve had reassurances from the convoy people … that they want be peaceful, they want to behave, they just want to exercise their right to protest and have a peaceful demonstration.

“I hope people trust the police to protect them and they don’t let (protests) spoil our fun.”

On Canada Day, a “freedoming” picnic and concert is planned on the Supreme Court lawn in the morning, followed by an afternoon march down Wellington Street to city hall to hear speeches. The events are advertised as family-friendly.

The free Jazzfest concerts are scheduled for Marion Dewar plaza at city hall that afternoon and evening.

One of the main organizers of “freedom” events on Canada Day, Veterans 4 Freedom, declined an interview Wednesday. The organization’s policy is not to speak to mainstream or government-funded media “due to your recent history of not reporting the actual news and trying to frame a narrative,” spokesperson Andrew MacGillivray said.

Canada Marches, organizer of the June 30 event at the National War Memorial, did not respond to a request for an interview.

The key figure behind that event is James Topp, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran who has walked across Canada to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

In videos posted on social media, Topp said the National War Memorial event would be peaceful and constructive and that he was not travelling to Ottawa to yell and scream, shout insults or disrupt traffic. Topp said people carrying a “Fu** Trudeau” banner or upside down Canadian flag would not be welcome. (Both were visible during the trucker convoy occupation.)

Topp, in a posting on the group’s website, said he was inspired by the trucker convoy last winter, but his march was “not the freedom convoy.”

His protest is independent and has these goals, according to information on the website: an end to COVID-19 vaccines as a job requirement in both public and private sectors or for travel and an end to vaccine passports; reinstatement of workers who lost their jobs due to vaccine mandates and restitution for their lost income; a ban on lockdowns; and healing the divisions caused by the mandates.

O’Grady said she was concerned about how the June 30 Canada Marches event at the National War Memorial might affect Jazzfest.

Some fans are hesitant to go downtown in the midst of “freedom” events, and, if there are crowds, it may be difficult to get to festival venues, she said.

Some patrons have asked for ticket refunds for June 30, which the festival is unable to provide, she said.

The ceremony at the War Memorial is scheduled for late afternoon. Concerts are being held at the nearby National Arts Centre at that time, and O’Grady says she’s concerned about noise bleed.

“Let’s hope there’s some joy and celebration that everyone can share. Neighbours connecting again, families connecting again, that’s certainly what we’re all about, and we do it through music.”

jmiller@postmedia.com

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...dom-protesters

[rocketphish]

First in-person festival since 2019 is like 'redemption' for Bluesfest director Mark Monahan
Sales have been going strong for this year’s festival, the first since 2019.

Aedan Helmer, Ottawa Citizen
Jul 07, 2022 • 2 hours ago • 5 minute read

It will feel “a bit like redemption” for Mark Monahan and the Bluesfest team as the first notes of the long-awaited 2022 festival sound across the grassy expanse of Lebreton Flats.

After the final notes faded from a killer 2019 festival, featuring The Killers and Snoop Dogg among a star-studded lineup, Monahan said he barely took a breath before setting about planning the 2020 edition.

“2019 was a really big year for us, and we exited that festival already actively planning for the next one,” Monahan said with his RBC Ottawa Bluesfest set to return live and in-person on Thursday for the first time since that summer.

“We knew within a month of that festival ending that we had Rage Against the Machine, we likely had Alanis Morissette, so things were really coming together well for 2020,” Monahan said. “And we all know what happened.”

Bluesfest had teased some of the headliners it had booked for the festival in December 2019 and tickets went on sale. COVID was already making headlines by February, when the full 2020 lineup was announced.

“The first inkling we had of any issue was with Blues in the Schools, and we always do a big wrap-up near the end of February,” Monahan recalled. “And I remember the schools and the artists getting nervous about whether we would actually get to do a final presentation.”

COVID-19 had made landfall in Canada and in Ottawa by that time, and, Monahan recalled, “A lot of people were getting sick. It quickly became apparent within a month or so that we wouldn’t be able to do the festival we had hoped.”

There was so much uncertainty in the air, Monahan said, he at one point thought the festival may not survive.

“Our first inclination was: OK, are we done? As a festival, as an organization? Could we survive?” Monahan said.

“The first problem we had was what was the legal situation with the contracts we had signed … we had already paid millions of dollars. And, under normal circumstances, you can’t just say, ‘The deal’s off.’

“And we also had not yet finalized our insurance policy, so we were essentially uninsured for a festival cancellation,” Monahan said. “But it became clear the whole industry was in the same situation, and it became very apparent that nobody wanted to put anybody out of business.

“This (pandemic) was force majeure, it was something beyond anyone’s control. And that allowed us to postpone, re-book or cancel any of the acts without any obligation.”

Many of those acts signed on again, however, once the 2022 edition started to take shape. Organizers and artists tried to recreate as much of a “carbon copy of that 2020 festival” as scheduling would allow.

Rage Against the Machine and Alanis Morissette are among the biggest names on the main stage, along with Marshmello, Alexisonfire, Ja Rule, TLC and The National.

“It will feel a bit like redemption in many ways,” Monahan said, as the Bluesfest organization decided early in that spring of 2020 to would keep its full-time staff employed throughout the pandemic — festival or not.

“We said, ‘If this costs us, so be it.’ But we can’t afford to lose our greatest asset, which is our people, and, if we had any hope of coming out of this pandemic, we would need to retain those people. It feels like redemption that we were able to keep everyone on, and it looks like we’re going to have a successful event here in 2022.”

Ticket sales are going strong this year, Monahan said, and organizers found creative ways to stay afloat through turbulent times.

“We were all thinking at that time there was no way we wouldn’t be back by July 2021,” Monahan said. “We started looking at what we could do within the parameters of this pandemic … people like the National Arts Centre were very quick out of the gate with virtual concerts, and we all started to take very seriously what we could accomplish virtually.”

Though the 2020 edition was cancelled, Bluesfest teamed with the NAC to present a summer series of “Drive-In” concerts, with a limited number of vehicles tuning into the show on-site while the rest followed along online.

While that was a success with more than a million views, Monahan said, there’s nothing quite like the real thing.

“The market has come back, but one of the challenges now is that there are so many concerts and tours in this year — because it’s the first full year that people really could tour — that there’s a lot more competition for everyone’s entertainment dollar,” Monahan said. “Artists want to get out on the road, and people want to go see concerts, but there’s only so much disposable income you can spend.”

COVID-19 hasn’t gone away, of course, and Monahan said organizers have expanded the festival grounds to include part of the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway, removed fencing from some areas and opened other areas to improve ease of access.

“Some people have chosen not to come, which is fine, but we are an outdoor festival,” Monahan said. “Our take on it is that people have been essentially living with this (pandemic) for two years, and they need to take the precautions they are comfortable with.”


BLUESFEST NOTES

• RBC Ottawa Bluesfest runs until July 17 after opening Thursday night with Alessia Cara and Sarah McLachlan on the main stage, followed by headliners Tash Sultana and Jack Johnson on Friday, country star Luke Combs on Saturday and a sweet homecoming for Alanis Morissette on Sunday.
Article content
• The festival will take a day off Monday before returning with Marshmello on July 12, Alexisonfire on July 13 and Luke Bryan on July 14.
• The festival’s final weekend features Friday’s much-anticipated headliners Rage Against the Machine on July 15, with Ja Rule and TLC on July 16 and indie rockers The National closing out festivities on July 17.
• Full festival passes, single-day tickets and “Pick 3” passes are available, along with festival policies and information at OttawaBluesfest.ca.
• There is limited parking onsite at the Canadian War Museum and offsite parking available for $15, with more information on the Bluesfest website. Festivalgoers are encouraged to use public transit to access the site, and there are no in/out privileges.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/first...r-mark-monahan

[OTSkyline]

I wonder what attendance is looking like this year. I don't know of any friends or colleagues attending unfortunately (line-up didn't speak to any of them).

Also wonder how efficient & effective the Confed line will be to get people to and from the event.

[stolenottawa]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

I wonder what attendance is looking like this year. I don't know of any friends or colleagues attending unfortunately (line-up didn't speak to any of them).

Also wonder how efficient & effective the Confed line will be to get people to and from the event.

I had no issues with the confed line, but I also left around 10.

Wasn't one of the busier nights that I've seen.

[SL123]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

I wonder what attendance is looking like this year. I don't know of any friends or colleagues attending unfortunately (line-up didn't speak to any of them).

Also wonder how efficient & effective the Confed line will be to get people to and from the event.

"Bluesfest draws crowd of around 20,000 on idyllic opening night"
https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainm...-opening-night

[zzptichka]

Yesterday was sold out and it says on the website festival capacity is 30000.

[harls]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

Also wonder how efficient & effective the Confed line will be to get people to and from the event.

A lot of people I know drove to City Centre and walked as an option.

[harls]

Apparently a lot of people contracted Covid during RATM at Bluesfest, according to this here reddit thread.

[YOWflier]

I know 4 friends that went and they all got it. C’est la vie unfortunately… this is what living with ‘rona looks like.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by FlyYOW

I know 4 friends that went and they all got it. C’est la vie unfortunately… this is what living with ‘rona looks like.

Yep. I went the last night and out of six people that I was with, 3 got it, including my wife. Somehow I still managed to dodge it, fingers crossed.

[harls]

Originally Posted by phil235

Yep. I went the last night and out of six people that I was with, 3 got it, including my wife. Somehow I still managed to dodge it, fingers crossed.

Hopefully you don't get it, sir!

[phil235]

Originally Posted by harls

Hopefully you don't get it, sir!

Thanks! So far, so good.

Actually feeling a bit superhuman at this point (in a slightly pudgy, middle-aged way).

[rocketphish]

Festival of Small Halls returns to intimate venues in small towns with 'biggest and best' lineup
The festival runs over three weekends in October and features performances from the likes of the Angelique Francis Quartet, Ashley MacIsaac, Suzie Vinnick, Jim Bryson, Ron Sexsmith and Royal Wood.

Aedan Helmer, Ottawa Citizen
Aug 31, 2022 • 7 minutes ago • 2 minute read

The Festival of Small Halls will return this fall with its “biggest and best lineup” of performers set in small, intimate venues across Eastern Ontario.

The festival runs over three weekends in October and features performances from the likes of the Angelique Francis Quartet, Ashley MacIsaac, Suzie Vinnick, Jim Bryson, Ron Sexsmith and Royal Wood.

The festival will also feature East Coast folk stalwarts The Barra MacNeils and The Irish Descendants and rising stars like Kellie Loder, a finalist on the most recent season of Canada’s Got Talent.

“This is the most high-profile ‘small halls’ lineup we’ve ever had,” said executive director Mark Monahan. “We feel confident that this will provide a one-of-a-kind experience for the many music fans in these communities. We’re proud to offer a rare opportunity for folks from smaller towns to catch a wide variety of high-caliber acts without having to travel to an urban setting. One of the great things about a Small Halls show is seeing an outstanding act in a unique and intimate community environment.”

The festival’s opening weekend kicks off on Oct. 6 with Royal Wood at the Wilton Community Hall, with other performances scheduled in small venues in Mississippi Mills, Burritt’s Rapids, Maberly and Morrisburg.

The second weekend, from Oct. 14 to 16 will see Ashley MacIsaac perform in three different halls from Prescott to Almonte to Athens, and will also feature the area debut for Halifax songsmith Willie Stratton.

Fan favourites Elliott Brood and Jeremy Fisher will join formidable forces for two shows in Brockville and Westmeath over the festival’s final weekend from Oct. 21 to 23.

The finale will feature shows from Ron Sexsmith in McDonald’s Corners and Spencerville; The Irish Descendants in Seeley’s Bay, Winchester and Balderson; and Jim Bryson in Combermere and Lanark Highlands, among many other festival highlights.

The festival will also feature the increasingly-popular Chef’s Table event, with a farm-to-table menu complemented by the musical stylings of Nova Scotia sister duo Cassie & Maggie on Oct. 22. The sisters were awarded best traditional album (The Willow Collection) at the 2017 Canadian Folk Music Awards and were nominated for a Juno Award the following year.

Tickets are available at ontariosmallhalls.com, along with festival details and a full schedule of performers.

ahelmer@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/helmera

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/festi...nd-best-lineup

[rocketphish]

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band coming to the capital Nov. 18

Megan Gillis, Ottawa Citizen
Published Feb 14, 2023 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 1 minute read

Ottawa is among a string of new North American dates announced Tuesday for Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band’s 2023 international tour.

The Boss and his band will be at the Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m.

To buy tickets, you must first register for TicketMaster’s Verified Fan program (online pre-registration) before 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 19. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Feb. 22.

The tour started Feb. 1 in Tampa, Florida with Springsteen and The E Street Band’s first North American show in seven years.

The Canadian leg starts in Vancouver Nov. 3 and also includes stops at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena Nov. 14 and 16 and Montreal’s Bell Centre Nov. 20.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...capital-nov-18