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
All Things Go NYC Announce 2026 Lineup with Zara Larsson, Brandi Carlile, MUNA, Lola Young, Carly Rae Jepsen, and More
All Things Go Festival is heading back to Forest Hills Stadium this fall with one of its biggest New York lineups yet.
The festival announced the full roster for its third New York edition today, with headliners including Zara Larsson, Brandi Carlile, MUNA, Lola Young, and Carly Rae Jepsen. Larsson’s appearance marks her first-ever headline festival set.
Set across three days on Sept. 25, 26, and 27, the festival continues its tradition of mixing major pop acts with rising artists and internet favorites. The 2026 lineup features names like The Beaches, Rebecca Black, Cara Delevingne, CMAT, Jensen McRae, Hemlocke Springs, and Sienna Spiro. Comedian and musician Meg Stalter joins the lineup as one of the festival’s more unexpected additions.
Returning artist Lola Young teased her comeback in a statement, saying, “All Things Go, we have unfinished business. I feel blessed and ready to take it to the next level. Thank you for having me back.”
MUNA, longtime festival favorites, shared their excitement about returning to New York for a headlining slot, calling All Things Go “one of our favorite festivals to play” and joking, “let’s go, lesbians!”
Over the last few years, All Things Go has built a reputation for its fan-focused atmosphere and strong sense of inclusivity. Fans online have affectionately nicknamed the festival “Gay-chella,” “All Things Gay,” and “Lesbopalooza,” reflecting the event’s large LGBTQ+ fanbase and welcoming community vibe.
Tickets go on sale with a fan presale beginning Wednesday, May 20 at 10 a.m. ET, followed by the public onsale Thursday, May 21. Single-day tickets start at $99, with three-day passes starting at $225. More information here.
The New York announcement follows a busy stretch for the festival brand. Earlier this month, All Things Go unveiled the 2026 Washington, D.C. lineup at Merriweather Post Pavilion featuring artists like Hayley Williams, Mitski, and Brandi Carlile. Meanwhile, the Toronto edition is set for June 6 and 7 at RBC Amphitheatre with headliners including Lorde, Kesha, Wet Leg, and The Beaches.
Friday September 25
Zara Larsson
Lola Young
Rebecca Black
Cara Delevingne
Blue DeTiger
Chloe Qisha
Gates 2PM
Saturday September 26
Brandi Carlile
Sienna Spiro
CMAT
Jensen McRae
Meg Stalter
Natali Jinju
Gates 2PM
Sunday September 27
MUNA
Carly Rae Jepsen
The Beaches
Hemlocke Springs
Grace Ives
Cherry Bomb
Gates 2PM
Festivals
All Things Go Toronto 2026 Reveals Daily Schedule Ahead of June Festival Weekend
All Things Go Toronto 2026 has officially shared the daily schedule for its 2026 edition, giving fans a closer look at how the weekend at RBC Amphitheatre will unfold on June 6 and 7.
The festival, which expanded into Toronto in 2025 after building a strong following in the United States, is bringing a lineup packed with indie pop, alternative, and rising Canadian talent. Doors for both days open at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday’s lineup is headlined by Kesha, who closes out the night with a set running from 9:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Before that, hometown favourites The Beaches will take over the stage from 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. The day will also feature performances from Rachel Chinouriri, Holly Humberstone, Sofia Camara, and Bella Kay.
Sunday shifts into a more indie-rock-heavy close with Lorde headlining from 9:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The lead-up includes a stacked evening featuring Wet Leg and Del Water Gap. Earlier in the day, fans can catch sets from Jade LeMac, MOMMA, and Flower Face.
The schedule reveal arrives after months of anticipation surrounding the festival’s Toronto return. Lorde’s appearance comes during a major stretch for the singer following renewed live activity and growing excitement around her next era, while Kesha continues her recent comeback run that has leaned into a more independent and celebratory direction onstage.
With set times now locked in, fans can officially start planning their festival weekend, whether that means camping out for barricade spots, bouncing between artists, or preparing for what could easily become one of Toronto’s biggest music weekends of the summer.
Find more information on the All Things Go Toronto website.