Festivals
Ottawa Bluesfest 2025 – July 10 Recap & Photos
Ottawa Bluesfest returned to LeBreton Flats Park on Thursday for the first of nine stacked nights, and the opening evening set the tone with a lively mix of country, ska, funk, and some actual blues.
First up on the RBC Stage was Rosewood Ave, a country duo from Timmins made up of high school sweethearts turned married couple. They leaned into their roots with a sweet, sincere set full of heartfelt originals and a lively cover of Shania Twain’s “(If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here!” Their excitement about being on the big stage was clear and charming. Last summer, they said they visited Bluesfest as fans and dreamed of playing here.
Following them, The Red Clay Strays brought a rawer Southern edge to the stage. The Alabama band has picked up steam lately thanks to a viral hit and some word-of-mouth buzz around their high-energy live shows. They didn’t disappoint. Their sound is a gritty mix of blues, southern rock, and outlaw country. They also popped back up later in the night when frontman Brandon Coleman joined Lainey Wilson for a duet on Johnny Cash’s “God’s Gonna Cut You Down.”
Lainey Wilson was the day’s marquee name, and her set closed out the RBC Stage in style. She drew a massive crowd, many in cowboy hatsm and played a solid, crowd-pleasing set of radio-ready hits. Dressed in bell bottoms and her signature hat, Wilson connected with the crowd through stories and shout-outs to her small-town Louisiana roots. Highlights included “Country’s Cool Again,” and a stripped-down “Watermelon Moonshine.” She continued the tradition of crowning a young fan “Cowgirl of the Night,” handing over her cowboy hat to a young girl.
While the main stage leaned heavily country, things got groovier over on the other stages.
Ottawa-via-London singer DB Cohen kicked things off at the River Stage with a tight, funky blues set. His band (complete with a horn section!) kept the mood upbeat despite the early evening heat. Songs like “Dinner Party” and “Manchild” (no relation to the Sabrina Carpenter one, as Cohen joked) were a hit with the crowd.
Over at the LeBreton Stage, The Cat Empire delivered more horns and grooves. With a refined blend of funk, jazz, and world music, they had the tent bouncing through their evening slot. It was the kind of set that made you forget you were in Ottawa and feel like you’d wandered into a festival in another hemisphere.
The LeBreton tent also hosted the incredible Chambers DesLauriers. That’s powerhouse vocalist Annika Chambers paired with guitar virtuoso Paul DesLauriers. Their chemistry was undeniable, and the set was rooted in gospel-soaked blues, with Chambers belting out lines like she was preaching to the choir. “The Blues Got a Hold on Me” was a particular standout, with DesLauriers laying down smoky guitar lines underneath her soaring vocals.
Overall, Bluesfest’s opening day showed the fest still knows how to blend genres, big names, and local flavour. Whether you were line dancing on the lawn or skanking in the tent, there was something worth seeing at every turn. A promising start to one of Canada’s best summer festivals!
Stay tuned for more coverage of the festival in the coming days. In the meantime, head to Ottawa Bluesfest’s website for more info on the rest of the festival.
Check out our favourite photos of Day 1 below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
THE RED CLAY STRAYS
CAT EMPIRE
ROSEWOOD AVE
DB COHEN
CHAMBERS DESLAURIER
All Photo Credit: Kieran Delport, unless otherwise noted
Festivals
WATERBOMB Festival Is Coming to Toronto in 2027
Toronto is getting a taste of one of South Korea’s biggest summer music festivals. WATERBOMB, the popular event known for its mix of K-pop performances, hip-hop, EDM and massive water fights, has announced plans to make its Canadian debut in 2027.
Organizers revealed the news through a newly launched Toronto Instagram account, sharing the message: “TORONTO, IT’S TIME.” The announcement has already generated plenty of excitement among Canadian K-pop fans, with the account attracting thousands of followers before any performers or event details have been confirmed.
Interested fans are being encouraged to sign up for the festival’s newsletter to receive early updates and information about tickets. The Toronto website is already live, featuring photos and promotional footage from previous editions of the festival.
For anyone unfamiliar with WATERBOMB, this is far from a traditional music festival. First launched in Seoul in 2015, the event combines live performances with large-scale water battles, giving audiences water guns to use while powerful cannons spray the crowd. Its programming spans K-pop, hip-hop and electronic dance music, making the festival as much about the atmosphere and audience participation as the performers on stage.
WATERBOMB has grown into an international event, with previous editions taking place in cities including Busan, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok. Its Korean lineups have featured major names such as TWICE’s Nayeon & Jihyo, aespa’s Karina, Jeon Somi, J.Y. Park and 2NE1. None of these artists have been announced for Toronto, but fans are already making their wish lists.
Names appearing in the Toronto announcement’s comments include ATEEZ, MONSTA X and Wonho. Whether organizers will let fans vote on their preferred performers remains to be seen. The Seoul edition has introduced an artist wishlist that allows attendees to vote for acts they would like to see, and its 2027 edition is scheduled for July 24 and 25.
There are a few details prospective attendees should know before making summer plans. WATERBOMB has confirmed Toronto as a 2027 destination, but the exact dates, venue, lineup and ticket prices have yet to be revealed. The festival’s Toronto website indicates that the event will be 19+, with government-issued photo identification required for entry.
The organizers are advising attendees to dress comfortably and prepare to get soaked. Personal water guns will be permitted if they meet festival safety guidelines, and planned amenities include changing areas, lockers, food vendors and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The event is expected to proceed rain or shine, though severe weather could affect programming.
There is some reason for fans to approach the announcement with cautious optimism. WATERBOMB had previously outlined plans to expand into North America with events in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Those dates were postponed due to operational difficulties. Las Vegas, originally scheduled for September 2026, has since been moved to June 2027, while a new date for Los Angeles has not been announced.
Toronto is now part of the festival’s North American plans, though the success of the expansion will depend on organizers delivering the promised events.
For now, Canadian fans will have to wait for more information. If the Toronto edition brings the same combination of major K-pop acts, summer weather and water-filled chaos that made the festival popular in South Korea, it could be a very different kind of festival experience for the city.
WATERBOMB Toronto 2027: What We Know
- When: 2027, exact dates to be announced
- Where: Toronto, venue to be announced
- Age requirement: 19+
- Music: K-pop, hip-hop and EDM
- Lineup: Not yet announced
- Tickets: Prices and sale dates to be announced
- More information: Head to WATERBOMB Toronto website or sign up for the official newsletter.
Festivals
Coachella 2027 Announces Lineup With Dua Lipa, Tame Impala and SZA Headlining
Coachella has revealed its 2027 lineup, with Dua Lipa, Tame Impala and SZA set to headline the festival across two weekends next April. The announcement brings together a mix of pop heavyweights, electronic music favourites, indie acts and returning festival regulars for the annual event at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.
Each headliner will close out a different night. Dua Lipa will take the main stage Friday, April 9, marking her first full performance at Coachella. Her only previous appearance at the festival was as a guest during Martin Garrix’s set in 2017, before the release of her debut album.
Saturday belongs to Tame Impala, who will return for their second Coachella headlining appearance after topping the bill in 2019. The Australian project, led by Kevin Parker, previously performed at the festival in 2011, 2013 and 2015.
SZA will close out Sunday night, rounding out a headline trio that brings three very different sounds to the top of the poster.
The lineup has plenty of other big names competing for attention. Madonna is among the festival’s most prominent bookings, appearing in the dance tent rather than as a headliner. Phoebe Bridgers, Weezer, Robyn, Zara Larsson, Steve Lacy, Peggy Gou, Kehlani, Tiësto, Kygo, Don Toliver, Dom Dolla, Four Tet and The Neighbourhood are among the other notable acts.
There are plenty of additional names worth checking out, including Måneskin, Jisoo, Caroline Polachek, Remi Wolf, Tove Lo, MUNA, Underworld, Chase & Status, Victoria Monét, Leon Bridges, Magdalena Bay, Freddie Gibbs, The Avalanches, Social Distortion, American Football and The Damned. Pinegrove will make an appearance after spending much of the past few years on hiatus.
One of the more unexpected bookings comes from Daddy Yankee, who has been given a special “In the Desert” billing. The festival will have another attraction away from the main stages, too. Following last year’s Radiohead installation, the bunker will feature a Justice exhibit titled Blinded By The Lights.
Coachella 2027 will run April 9-11 and April 16-18, with the same lineup performing across both weekends. The festival will once again partner with YouTube for its livestream, marking the 15th year of the partnership. Viewers will be able to watch selected performances from both weekends online.
Tickets go on sale Friday, November 13, at 12 p.m. PT. General admission passes for both weekends are listed at Tier 2 pricing, starting at $779, with a three-day shuttle pass included. VIP passes start at $1,399 for Weekend 1 and $1,349 for Weekend 2.
For tickets, camping options, hotel packages and additional festival information, visit the official Coachella website.