Day 5 of Ottawa Bluesfest 2025 was a hard-hitting, guitar-heavy affair that kicked off the second week with a jolt of adrenaline and plenty of denim and leopard print. On July 16, Def Leppard headlined a packed evening that was stacked top to bottom with big riffs, indie charm, and blistering blues under the lingering summer heat at LeBreton Flats Park.

The RBC Stage belonged to Kingston band Luscious to start the night. Fronted by Birelle LeBlanc and her powerhouse vocals, the band delivered a fresh spin on classic rock. They rolled out tracks from their brand-new single “Caution Signs,” which already sounded like something fans could blast on a highway drive with the windows down. The band had swagger, but it was LeBlanc’s voice that kept people from wandering to the beer lines too early.

Things turned up a notch with Tom Morello, who brought his brand of political fire and guitar wizardry to the main stage. Opening with “Soldier in the Army of Love,” he turned the show into a rally. The visuals behind him showed footage of protests and social movements, punctuating every solo with purpose. His son Roman joined him onstage for some of the set, even pulling off a behind-the-head solo that got the crowd howling. Morello mixed his solo material with Rage Against The Machine staples like “One Man Revolution” and “Killing in the Name,” and even threw in a gritty blues number because, as he put it, “It is the Bluesfest after all.” He closed the set with a roaring version of John Lennon’s “Power to the People.”

If Morello was the rally, Def Leppard was the party. This was the band’s first-ever appearance at Bluesfest, but the crowd looked like they’d been waiting for this since the days of cassette tapes. The British legends pulled out hit after hit: “Rocket,” “Let’s Get Rocked,” “Foolin’,” “Rock of Ages.” Singer Joe Elliott, at 65, still had the vocal strength and stage presence to command the massive crowd, thanking the fans with genuine awe. Guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell blazed through solos like it was still 1987, while Rick Allen, still defying the odds behind the drum kit, kept it all locked in.

A highlight of the night came when Tom Morello returned to the stage to join the band for their recent collaboration “Just Like 73.” Seeing Morello’s sharp-edged style collide with Def Leppard’s arena polish was a rare and glorious crossover. For longtime fans and younger rock heads alike, it was a thrill.

While the RBC Stage was packed, the River Stage carved out space for more indie-leaning sounds. Toronto’s The Sarandons got things started with melodic guitar rock.

Later, The Decemberists brought their blend of whimsical storytelling and folk-rock charm, although frontman Colin Meloy joked about trying to “compete with Def Leppard’s volume.” Technical hiccups briefly paused their set, but the crowd stuck with them through it all, especially during standouts from their latest record As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again.

Over on the LeBreton Stage, D.K. Harrell gave one of the best performances of the night. At just 27, the Louisiana bluesman has already won awards and wowed audiences around the world, and Wednesday was no different. Backed by a band with a horn section that brought serious punch, Harrell played with soul and the kind of guitar feel that can’t be taught. Songs from Talkin’ Heavy and The Right Man gave a crash course in why blues still matters.

Later on, Reignwolf lit up the same stage with a gritty, chaotic set that fused blues roots with alt-rock ferocity. Canadian frontman Jordan Cook stomped and shredded like his life depended on it. If Harrell was the slick blues technician, Reignwolf was the storm that followed, with pounding drums and thick distortion. Their latest track “The Woods” shook the tent like a thunderclap.

Day 5 shaped up as one of the strongest lineups so far this year, balancing heritage acts and rising stars. And a whole lot of guitars!

Even with the temperature still high, the crowd stayed loud, dancing, shouting, and air-guitaring their way through it all. Ottawa Bluesfest 2025 is going full throttle into the 2nd week.

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 5 below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

TOM MORELLO

D.K. HARRELL

LUSCIOUS

THE SARANDONS

THE DECEMBERISTS

REIGNWOLF

Photo Credit: Kieran Delport, unless otherwise noted