Articles Tagged ‘Bluesfest’

SOUND SEEKERS: Bluesfest 2013 — Gossip, speculation, and Fateema Sayani’s wishlist

Sound Seekers by Fateema Sayani is published weekly at OttawaMagazine.com. Read Fateema Sayani’s culture column in Ottawa Magazine and follow her on Twitter @fateemasayani

Bluesfest returns to Lebreton Flats on July 4. Photo by Mediaplus.

The annual speculation fest seems to have started early this year with the website Ottawa Start compiling rumours about scheduled acts for Bluesfest (July 4-14, 2013) on its website in early January. It listed Belle & Sebastian as a possible addition the lineup — and recently, the band confirmed its July 6 date via its website.

Ottawa Start suggests music fans who are looking for a sneak peek at the lineup may benefit from perusing the websites of nearby festivals (ie: Montreal Jazz Festival) and looking at blanks in the touring schedule of major acts to get a hint about who might be part of Bluesfest this year.

This tends to be the method for many news outlets year after year as reporters scour the web for concert listings. Thus begins the speculation season — along with the regular sport of bitching and moaning about various aspects of the festival. This is, perhaps, one way of getting through the drag-days of winter.

In keeping with the season, we here at Ottawa Magazine used our resources of concert listings and insider info to compile this handy lil’ guide to forecasting, complaining, and concert-going.

Read the rest of this entry »

  |  February 21, 2013 at 2:13 pm

SOUND SEEKERS: Bluesfest tips as the fest winds down (AKA how to get beer faster), plus best bets and wishlist for 2013

Sound Seekers by Fateema Sayani is published weekly at OttawaMagazine.com. Read Fateema Sayani’s culture column in Ottawa Magazine and follow her on Twitter @fateemasayani

Thousands head to LeBreton Flats to dance away the day at Bluesfest. Photo by Mediaplus.

Festival season in Ottawa comes with its own rituals and memes. Long-time O-towners will be happy to know that the perennial bitch session over lawn chairs (the sitters versus the standers) and smokers (do/don’t) seems not to have dominated the discourse this year. In fact, the major complaint about Bluesfest (aside from the Nickelback bashing) seems to be about the seagulls and how to dodge them.

As the big bash heads into its final weekend, Ottawa Magazine provides a list of festival tips compiled from on-site experience and from friends’ crabby Facebook posts. Want to add to the list? Tweet us with your info at @ottawamag. We also list the best bets for the rest of the week.

And finally, scroll down for Fateema Sayani’s talent wishlist for Bluesfest 2013 (sorted by category) and weigh in with your picks on Twitter.

TIPS
“Bring a clean shirt for when the seagulls poop on you.”

“Don’t line up at the main gate; there’s always a stupid line, but if you go to the other entrances, they are much faster.”

“If you want beer and don’t mind walking, go to the beer tents next to the stages without bands playing. They are always empty.”

“Based on my experience working the beer tents, I’d say go to beer tent 3 (right in the middle on the War Museum side). There were pretty much no lines there.”

“Good free view from the road right beside the main stage.”

“Side stage creep in always works. A frontal approach is too daunting and armies flanked for a reason.”

“The right side of the main stage is the best. It has a higher elevation, better sight lines, and is not hemmed by barricades near the gold circle on left side.”

“If you’re jammed and feeling claustrophobic, tilt your head back and pretend that you’re lying in an open field — and don’t ever bud. Karma is real.”

Read the rest of this entry »

  |  July 12, 2012 at 12:00 pm

EVENT WATCH: Bluesfest goes local with the PepTides, July 8

Photography by Jonathan Hobin.

Much of the hype you’ll hear about Ottawa band The PepTides surrounds their live show — and the buzz is apt. The PepTides is a nine-piece band where everyone is dressed to the nines in a style that’s part Mad Men and part Solid Gold circa 1981. That style is played out in the music — a blend of old-time swing and kitschy synth-rock. The band’s flair for delicious contrasts is appealing, especially when they set chipper, new-fangled disco music against intriguing lyrics about the darker side of humanity. See website for individual ticket prices and festival pass options. The PepTides play the main stage at 3 p.m. on July 8. LeBreton Festival Site, 613-247-1188, www.ottawabluesfest.ca. 


  |  July 6, 2012 at 9:00 am

SOUND SEEKERS: Bluesfest = One of the best gigs in town. Plus: What’s happening away from the festival site

Sound Seekers by Fateema Sayani is published weekly at OttawaMagazine.com. Read Fateema Sayani’s culture column in Ottawa Magazine and follow her on Twitter @fateemasayani

There are perks to playing Bluesfest. If you’re a local act, it’s one of the best gigs in town because of the paycheque and the rock star treatment. More than 350 local acts applied to play the festival this year, competing for about 55 spots. In addition to the massive audience, you get $1,500, an air-conditioned trailer furnished with cube chairs and stocked with beer and food, plus a full festival pass. The grapevine tells us that there’s also a secret location on site with a huge buffet of good chow. Sure beats the road-warrior’s budget meal of PB sandwiches. With those perks in mind, Ottawa Magazine asked selected O-town scene acts to tell us who they’re hankering to see and meet as Bluesfest takes over LeBreton Flats for the next few weeks.

Zoo Legacy. L-R: Dom Goss, Mark Milloy, Nick Pouponneau, Sam Goss. Photo by Matt Barnes from Westside Studios.

Zoo Legacy
The Ottawa band melds rap and rock with nods to British pop. They play the Claridge Stage on July 10. Lead guitarist Dom Goss recommends:

—Metric: I just downloaded their Synthetica album and really liked it. I can’t wait to see them perform some of the new songs live. Main Stage: July 15.
—A$AP Rocky: I love that he’s bringing a fresh sound to hip hop. I had his single “Goldie” on repeat when it first came out. He’s playing on the same day as us so I’m pretty stoked about that. Main Stage: July 10.

Read the rest of this entry »

  |  July 5, 2012 at 2:22 pm

WEEKENDER: Bluesfest kicks off, Aziz Ansari comes to Ottawa, Osgoode gets medieval, and six other awesome events

RBC ROYAL BANK OTTAWA BLUESFEST
Ottawa’s most hyped annual music festival is finally here. For 12 days, 180 performers will rock six stages at LeBreton Flats, plus two offsite locations. Notable acts include Snoop Dogg, Norah Jones, John Mellencamp, The Sheepdogs, Lauryn Hill, Alice Cooper, Beirut, A$AP Rocky, LMFAO, and The Weeknd. You can also enjoy comedy presented by Just for Laughs. Wednesday, July 4, to Sunday, July 15. Day passes from $40, full festival pass $375, youth $199. LeBreton Flats, Vimy Place Pr., www.ottawabluesfest.ca.

MUSIC AND BEYOND
This classical music festival aims to showcase the cream of Ottawa’s musical crop, alongside other Canadian and international performers. The diversity and drama of classical music is at the forefront, with 80 different concerts over 12 days. Don’t miss Ben Heppner, one of the world’s finest drama tenors, who closes the fest on Sunday evening. Wednesday, July 4, to Sunday, July 15. Full pass $100, students $60. Single performances $10 — $40. National Arts Centre, 53 Elgin St., Mayfair Theatre, 1074 Bank St., and six other locations, www.musicandbeyond.ca.

The NAC Orchestra performs the score from Lord of the Rings.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS
Experience Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring like never before. The NAC Orchestra and a 130-voice chorus will be performing the award-winning score live while the film is shown on a big screen. Come in costume (finally a use for those elf ears!), grab a drink at the “Middle Earth tavern” set up in the lobby and take in this epic story. Thursday, July 5, to Saturday, July 7, at 7 p.m. $26-$115. Southam Hall, National Arts Centre, 53 Elgin St., www.nac-cna.ca.

Mosaika lights up Parliament Hill. Photo credit NCC/CCN.

MOSAIKA (FREE!)
The historic façade of the Parliament Buildings is the backdrop to a spectacular 30-minute visual and sound experience that highlights Canada’s physical, historical, and cultural landscapes. The current show is called “Mosaika: Canada through the eyes of its people.” Bring a picnic blanket or lawn chair, and see what Canadians from across the country have to say about our culture and heritage. Every night beginning Friday, July 6, until Monday, Sept. 3 (start time varies by month). Parliament Hill, www.mosaika-sl.ca.

Read the rest of this entry »

  |  July 4, 2012 at 12:00 pm

STORE PROFILE: Fabgear brings hip duds to Bluesfest

Shop Talk is written by OM senior editor Dayanti Karunaratne and Sarah Fischer, OM account executive and fashion maven.

It's all about funky menswear at Fabgear. Photo by David Kawai.

Most savvy shoppers know about Fabgear, the funky menswear shop in Hintonburg that specializes in rockabilly and Hawaiian shirts, western wear, and other duds for dapper dudes. But here’s something you may not know: Uncle Bob, the store’s owner, sets up a booth at Bluesfest every year.

He says the aim of the booth is to raise the profile of the store — and I’m sure that’s true, but something tells me Bob also enjoys the rockin’ good vibes that the festival provides.

The booth will offer the usual Fabgear line-up, including clothing from Sons of Anarchy and the popular English Laundry shirts. They’ll also sell straw hats, so you can bring a little Coachella style to Lebreton Flats.

Another little-known fact: Bob is also behind the Bluesfest merch. He talks of a sound-sensitive T-shirt that lights up at peak decibels. Look for it in the crowds. Wear it as you fight for front row. Let the flashing record guide you to peak sound intensity.

Check out the booth between shows, and visit Fabgear for a dose of funk. Bob’s on summer hours now, so best to call before you go.

The Look: Funky and fresh. Authentic — every item has a story, just ask Bob.

Perfect for: Men who don’t mind standing out in a crowd, and the women who love them.

USP: Oh the stories Bob has in his back pocket! Stop by and hang out, he might just share a few. Or check out his blog for a glimpse of his charmed life.

Fabgear, 613-725-1964, 1112 Wellington St. W., www.fabgear.ca

Get the scoop on over 435 local stores in the 2011/2012 Ottawa Magazine Shopping Guide. Access the Guide online or get your copy at Britton’s magazine store and other newsstand locations.

 

  |  July 3, 2012 at 3:46 pm

Food + Wine
Shopping
Homes + Gardens
Society