Ottawa Bluesfest 2024: An insider’s guide to Ottawa’s biggest music festival

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What is Bluesfest all about? 

Bluesfest is Ottawa’s biggest summer music festival, a ten-day, multi-stage extravaganza that takes place on the grounds of (and inside) the Canadian War Museum at LeBreton Flats Park, not far from Parliament Hill. This year marks its 30th anniversary. More than 300,000 people are expected to attend.

Thirty years, wow! How did Bluesfest start? 

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The first Bluesfest was conceived by Elgin Street bar operator Mark Monahan, an Ottawa native, as an ongoing fundraiser for the charity Dinners Unlimited. Monahan is still the festival’s executive and artistic director. The idea grew out of Buns, Burgers and Blues — a one-day, pay-what-you-can blues barbecue for the charity held at the ByWard Market.

Who’s playing the main stage at Bluesfest this year? 

It’s a multi-genre slate of programming. Here’s the schedule for the main stage (also known as the RBC Stage) of Ottawa Bluesfest:

Thurs July 4: Mother Mother, Orville Peck, Tokyo Police Club

Fri July 5: Nickelback, Warren Zeider, Jaclyn Kenlon

Sat July 6: 50 Cent, Killer Mike, City Fidelia

Sun July 7: Maroon 5, Carly Rae Jepsen, Tyler Shaw

Tues July 9: Jelly Roll, Shaboozey, Dax

Weds July 10: Zac Brown Band, Charley Crockett, Nicolette and the Nobodies

Thurs July 11: The Offspring, Silverstein, Cancer Bats

Fri July 12: Tyler Childers, TALK, Brittany Kennell

Sat July 13: Motley Crue, The Tea Party, J.J. Wilde

Sun July 14: NAS, Down with Webster, Training Season

How can I buy tickets?

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https://support.ottawabluesfest.ca/hc/en-us/articles/19543516081563-Ticket-Types-Information-2024

What I love about Ottawa Bluesfest:

Most people chose certain days because they’re fans of a particular act. But if you look at the big picture, a full-festival pass gives you the chance to access to multiple concerts each night, not just the main-stage headliner, which gives you the chance to encounter new artists. Bluesfest performers are chosen specifically because they put on great live shows, and the whole thing takes place, rain or shine, in a picturesque location next to the majestic Ottawa River.

No matter who’s on stage, the main appeal of Bluesfest is that it’s a party every night. Or more accurately, a bunch of parties, with different vibes and demographics at each stage. You will meet new people and discover new music.

After 30 years, it’s also a well-organized party, run by a core team of salaried staff members working out of an office at Festival House, a repurposed church on Churchill Street. At festival time, a small army of volunteers springs into action to help things run smoothly.

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Does Live Nation own Ottawa Bluesfest?

Nope. As a business entity, Ottawa Bluesfest is a non-profit, charitable organization overseen by a volunteer board of local directors.  The $6 surcharge on tickets goes to its Blues in the Schools program, a long-running initiative that brings musicians into Ottawa-area schools for two weeks every spring to teach the fundamentals of the blues. 

Does Mark Monahan own Bluesfest?

No. Monahan, a 62-year-old father of four daughters, is the executive director, artistic director and co-founder of Ottawa Bluesfest. He’s the main spokesperson for the festival, and heads a team that also runs Ottawa’s CityFolk festival and the Ontario Festival of Small Halls.

Ottawa Bluesfest is a non-profit, charitable organization overseen by a volunteer board of directors.

When did the stage collapse at Bluesfest?

In 2011, the main stage at Ottawa Bluesfest toppled after it was struck by a freak gust of wind while Cheap Trick was on stage. There were several injuries and gear was destroyed, but no loss of life.

Death Cab For Cutie, the band that was supposed to play after Cheap Trick, returned to the festival in 2023, and bassist Nick Harmer recalled the “terrifying day” in an interview before the show last summer.

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It’s not really blues, why the heck is it called Bluesfest?

If you ask the organizers, it’s about maintaining 30 years of branding and marketing consistency. The first few years of the festival were quite bluesy, in fact, but the booking expanded to include other genres throughout the 90s and 2000s, and people have been complaining ever since.

Our advice is not to wrack your brain over it — it’s a music festival that features many different types of music on several stages, including blues. Indie, punk, rap, country, rock…there is something for everyone almost every night.

Okay. So where’s the blues at Bluesfest in 2024? 

You can count on a daily dose of blues at Bluesfest’s SiriusXM stage (in the tent) every day of the festival except July 9.

Some of the most-anticipated blues-heavy acts include Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, the Blackburn Brothers and the Blues Harp Blow-Off, hosted by bluesmasters Jerry Portnoy and Ottawa’s own Steve Marriner.

Other bluesy acts to watch for include the incredible Medicine Singers featuring Lee Ranaldo, Yonatan Gat & Zoon, and two desert blues legends, Etran de L’Aïr and Bombino.

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Of course, Ottawa has a healthy blues scene, too, that will be represented by a number of acts, including LH Express, Murray Kinsley and Wicked Grin, the Tony D Band, J.W. Jones and Bonecat.

What happened to Neil Young? Wasn’t he supposed to play Bluesfest?

Sigh. Yes, Neil Young and his band, Crazy Horse, were scheduled to play the rock legend’s first show at Bluesfest this year, but it was called off the last week of June, along with the rest of the Love Earth tour. A message from the band said the “big unplanned break” was decided after their show in Detroit.

“When a couple of us got sick after Detroit’s Pine Knob, we had to stop,” said the statement, not specifying the nature of the illness.

Bluesfest reacted swiftly, announcing The Offspring as the replacement headliner for July 11 and rejigging the lineup to make it a punk-forward night, with Cancer Bats and Silverstein also on the bill.

While Neil fans are understandably disappointed, the update eliminates one of the festival’s biggest conflicts. Instead of having to choose between Neil Young and Corb Lund, we can go see Lund, the insightful and fun Alberta cowboy, without the FOMO on Neil.

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How many stages are at Bluesfest? 

There are four stages devoted to live music at Bluesfest, and two for DJs. Outdoors you’ll find the RBC Main Stage in front of the museum, the River Stage behind the museum, the Sirius XM Stage under a tent on the western end of the site, and the two DJ stages. Indoors is the 250-capacity Barney Danson theatre. 

What’s the vibe of each Bluesfest stage? 

It depends on who’s playing.

The main stage plaza is a mix of concrete and grass, but can get hot and crowded. That’s where most of the food vendors are located. 

The River stage has the best sunsets and a hill that forms a natural concert bowl.

The SiriusXM stage is the best spot if it rains. Housed in a huge tent, it’s often where you can find the blues and roots acts, too. 

The Spin stage features local DJs and offers a nice spot to relax.

The Barney Danson theatre is cozy, dark, air-conditioned and conducive to listening, and there’s a small screen in the lobby where you can watch what’s happening on stage if it’s an overflow crowd. You often need to arrive early and line up to see shows in the theatre.

Are any Ottawa bands playing at Bluesfest? 

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Yes! About two dozen of local artists made the cut this year. Playing at Bluesfest is a coveted showcase opportunity for local and regional acts, who have to apply to be selected, and often get to play in front of a much bigger name.

Highlights of that scenario in 2024 include Ottawa’s hip-hop ‘mayor’ City Fidelia on the same stage as U.S. heavyweights 50 Cent and Killer Mike; Gatineau singer-songwriter Mia Kelly playing ahead of Noah Cyrus (Miley’s country-singing sister); the Ottawa-based Rwandan Canadian singer-songwriter Empress Nyiringango warming up for North African desert bluesman Bombino; and folky Jessica Pearson and the East Wind supporting Corb Lund.

What’s the best way to get to Bluesfest?

The best way to get to Bluesfest is to ride a bicycle. The festival has a valet bike lockup run by well-trained volunteers from Bike Ottawa. The Bluesfest bike lockup is on the east side of Booth Street, open from 3:30 to 11:30 p.m. each day of the festival. It’s close to the main gate, secure and hardly ever has a line to get in or out.

OC Transpo is another good way to get to Bluesfest as the LRT’s Pimisi station is a short walk from the site and the fare is included in the price of a ticket.

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Driving is not encouraged because there’s no public parking at Bluesfest and road closures will be in effect by 5 p.m. However, if you must drive, be prepared to park somewhere in Hull or Centretown and add a few thousand steps to your daily tally.

Taxis and other hired rides will be busy, too. The taxi stand for Bluesfest is at Lett and Wellington Streets (eastbound); watch for the signage.

If I need to drive, where can I park during Bluesfest?

This year, the festival is selling passes to two lots in Gatineau, across the Ottawa River from the site. They are located at 59 Rue Wellington and 50 Rue Montcalm, and open at 4 p.m. each day. Spots are assigned first-come, first-served basis. The cost is $17.40 (including fees) when purchased through the ticket link at ottawabluesfest.ca. 

What are the road closures during Bluesfest?

From 5 p.m. to midnight throughout the festival (except the dark day on July 8), the following road closures are expected near the Bluesfest site:

• Booth Street between Wellington Street/Kichi Zībī Mīkan parkway and Albert Street
• Kichi Zībī Mīkan parkway eastbound between Parkdale Avenue and Booth Street
• Kichi Zībī Mīkan parkway westbound between Portage Bridge and Slidell Street

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Street parking restrictions are in also effect throughout the festival. Keep an eye on the signage. Major restrictions include:

• North and south side parking lanes on Kichi Zībī Mīkan parkway, between Booth Street and Vimy Place, are closed.
• North and south side parking lanes on Wellington Street, between Booth Street and Lett Street, are closed.

What’s new at Bluesfest this year? 

The most visible difference at Bluesfest 2024 will be a gap in the western skyline where the Ferris wheel used to be. Since 2017, it has framed sunsets over the Ottawa River, served as a high-profile meeting point and took festival-goers on rides offering birds-eye views of the crowds.

This year, the big wheel won’t be turning. In its place will be another bar, a Western-themed saloon that’s the result of a new sponsorship deal with Kanata’s country-music hotspot, Crazy Horse. Expect to find a broader array of beverages than the Molson products offered elsewhere on site.

Also new this year is an improved VIP area and an ultra-VIP “platinum” section.

The VIP area was reconfigured because people thought it was too crowded. Numbers will be reduced, sightlines will be improved, more washrooms will be available and there is a dedicated fast-lane entrance at the front gate. 

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As for the platinum section, a steeper price gets the same perks, but even closer to the RBC Main Stage. This exclusive area will be added to the corporate suites and will include access to a restricted pit area in front of the stage. 

Festival organizers say the changes will not cut into the space available to general-admission concertgoers in front of the stage nor will it impede the view of wheelchair users in the elevated section designated for them.

How is the security at Bluesfest?

Much more thorough than it used to be!

First of all, there are no in-and-out privileges. Once you’re in, you’re in for the night. The security protocol starts with a bag search and walk-through metal detectors at the front gate. New this year is a maximum bag size of 12″ x 12″ x 6″, although oversize diaper bags and bags specifically required for medical equipment are allowed, and multiple bags per person are allowed.

You can bring a blanket or a rain coat, as well as small collapsible lawn chairs and small handheld umbrellas.

There is a long list of things you can’t bring, including flags, weapons and outside alcohol, available on the Bluesfest website. If you bring something that’s not allowed, there is a bag check (for a fee) outside the gates.

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On site, security is visible but not overbearing. Uniformed Ottawa police officers are also on site. 

What happens if there is extreme weather during Bluesfest?

If it’s just rain, the show will go on. But if there’s lightning, the show might be delayed or cancelled. To stay on top of conditions, the festival subscribes to a weather service targeted to the site’s exact location, and will make announcements (on social media, through the app and on the big screens on site) in the case of inclement conditions. Take note that shelter is available inside the museum and at the tented SiriusXM stage.

Are lawn chairs allowed at Bluesfest?

Yes. Small, collapsible chairs are permitted, and handy to have, but don’t expect to set up camp directly in front of the main stage. The chair section is at the back of the main-stage concert bowl. If you don’t bring a chair, there are spots to sit at the Spin stage, on the grass at the River stage or on the bleachers at the SiriusXM stage. You can also take a break in the air-conditioning of the museum.

Is the Canadian War Museum open during Bluesfest?

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Yes. Shows take place in the museum’s Barney Danson Theatre, and the museum’s lobby and restaurant are open to festival-goers. You can also pay admission and check out the exhibitions during the festival. Museum hours are 9-5 p.m. on festival days.

Can I bring the kids to Bluesfest?

Children nine and older need a ticket to go to Bluesfest. Those under nine can accompany a ticket-buying parent into the general admission areas, but they will need a ticket for VIP areas.  Keep in mind that not all acts are suitable for children, and hearing protection is strongly advised.

Are there food vendors at Bluesfest?

Yes. About 20 food vendors are set up inside the front gate at the east end of the site, with a few additional options in the area of the Sirius XM stage (the tent) on the west end of the site. Expect the usual mix of festival food you can eat standing up, including Indian, Thai, poutine, tacos, pizza, burgers, sweets, beverages and more.  

Is there a smoking area at Bluesfest?

Yes. Although you’re not supposed to smoke at the stage areas (security will be monitoring), you can light up cigarettes or cannabis in the smoking zone at Bluesfest, located at the southern edge of the main concert bowl, on the Kichi Zībī Mīkan parkway.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing? Let me know in the comment section.

lsaxberg@postmedia.com

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