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
PNE Summer Night Concerts Announce 2026 Lineup
Vancouver’s summer concert calendar is locking into place. The annual Summer Night Concerts are set to return to the Pacific National Exhibition from August 22 through September 7, bringing live music back to one of the city’s biggest seasonal events.
This year carries a bit more weight than usual. The series will debut at the brand-new Freedom Mobile Arch, a 10,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre built for large-scale performances. The venue promises better sightlines, improved sound, and a more immersive setup for fans. It’s a major shift for the fair, which spent much of last year dealing with construction that limited its footprint and contributed to a drop in attendance.
Now, with the full site back in action, organizers are aiming for a reset. The 2026 lineup leans into that idea, mixing legacy acts with newer names across genres like rock, pop, hip-hop, and electronic.
Headliners include Blue Rodeo, The Guess Who, The Beaches, Nelly, and Zedd, alongside artists like Mt. Joy, Train, and Barenaked Ladies. Special performances include Cynthia Erivo backed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, as well as appearances from Punjabi Virsa, Weird Al Yankovic, Earth, Wind & Fire, Pierce the Veil, Sarah McLachlan, and Boy George & Culture Club.
The full schedule runs nightly:
- Aug. 22: Blue Rodeo
- Aug. 23: The Guess Who
- Aug. 25: The Beaches
- Aug. 26: Nelly
- Aug. 27: Zedd
- Aug. 28: Mt. Joy
- Aug. 29: Cynthia Erivo with VSO
- Aug. 30: Punjabi Virsa
- Sept. 1: Train
- Sept. 2: Barenaked Ladies
- Sept. 3: Weird Al Yankovic
- Sept. 4: Earth, Wind & Fire
- Sept. 5: Pierce the Veil
- Sept. 6: Sarah McLachlan
- Sept. 7: Boy George & Culture Club
Tickets start at $49 plus fees and include admission to the PNE Fair. Presale began April 19, with general on-sale launching April 20 through TicketLeader.
New venue, full fairgrounds, and a lineup that leans both nostalgic and current. After a quieter year, the PNE looks ready to feel busy again.
Festivals
Phillips Backyard Festival Returns With Chance the Rapper, Father John Misty, and Modest Mouse
Victoria’s summer concert calendar just got a major boost. The Phillips Backyard Music Festival is back, and this year it’s packing everything into one tight, three-day run from July 10–12 at Phillips Brewing & Malting Co..
After spreading across multiple weekends in past years, the 2026 edition trims things down to a single stretch, but the lineup is anything but smaller. Each night is led by a Grammy-winning or nominated act, with Chance the Rapper opening Friday, Father John Misty taking Saturday, and Modest Mouse closing things out on Sunday.
Chance’s booking is a big one. The Chicago artist has never played Victoria before, so expect a rush when tickets drop. Meanwhile, both Father John Misty and Modest Mouse are making long-awaited returns, with neither having played the city in over a decade.
The supporting lineup fills out nicely across the weekend. Friday leans upbeat with Duckwrth, Sophia Stel, Nicky MacKenzie, and DACEY. Saturday brings a mix of local and global names, including Sudan Archives and Victoria favourites Jon and Roy. Sunday wraps with indie staples like Wolf Parade, alongside Angine de Poitrine, Fake Shark, and Darrian Gerard.
Organizers are promising a smoother experience this time around. The space is getting an upgrade, the raised stage is staying, and RFID wristbands are out. There’s even more still to come, with additional artists set to be announced for the returning Music BC stage.
Tickets go on sale March 25 at 10 a.m., with single-day passes at $125 and full weekend access priced at $325. If past years are any indication, waiting is a bad idea.
More information on the festival’s website.
