Week one of the 2012 Ottawa Bluesfest is already over. It’s crazy how time flies when you’re having fun! My highlights for the festival’s first week were definitely MSTRKRFT, the Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars, Marcia Ball and A Tribe Called Red!
Week two kicks off on a high note with performances by rising Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky, past Fugees member Lauryn Hill and West-Coast rap veteran Snoop Dogg who are all scheduled to play this Tuesday, July 10 starting at 7:00 pm. Also this Tuesday is the notable Deltron 3030, a side project by DJ Kid Koala, rapper Del the Funky Homosapien and producer Dan the Automator. Opening for Deltron 3030 on the Electro Stage is Chali 2na, from the now-defunct alternative rap group Jurassic 5.
A$AP Rocky
For Wednesday, July 11, highlights include L.A. punk-rock band Bad Religion, Outkast-member Antwan André Patton aka Big Boi and local-group Sound of Lions who play the Main Stage, the Claridge Stage and the Casino Lac-Leamy respectively.
Sound of Lions. Photo by Ben Welland.
Then on Thursday, July 12, festival-goers will be treated to the sounds of Sam Roberts Band, newcomers and 2012 JUNO-sweepers the Sheepdogs, American folk-rock singer-songwriter John Mellencamp and up-and-coming Russian trance DJ and producer Arty.
The Sheepdogs
To kick off the weekend nicely, Bluesfest organizers have scheduled an array of acts including the usual Blue Rodeo, Canadian rock group Our Lady Peace, indie rock group Hey Rosetta! and the internationally-acclaimed Montreal DJ A-Trak.
For Saturday, July 14, festival-goers can expect performances by American DJ, producer, and songwriter Diplo, rapper Tyga, hybrid-group Beirut, Ottawa’s The Souljazz Orchestra and electronic-music producer Skrillex just to name a few.
Skrillex
On Sunday, July 15, the final day of the festival, Bluesfest organizers save the best for last with shows by Somali-Canadian poet and rapper K’Naan, Toronto-based R&B sensation The Weeknd, DJ Felix Cartal and Canadian-favorite Metric.
The Weeknd
Enjoy the second week of Bluesfest and stay tuned for more reviews coming soon!
