Braden Foulkes
The Bluesfest locals series will introduce you to the talented music makers from the Ottawa area performing at this year’s RBC Bluesfest. Come on out early to Bluesfest and discover some great new music!
Braden Foulkes
Thursday, July 14
6:30pm to 7:30pm
River Stage
Bio
Raised on rock n’ roll in the capital of Canada, Braden has been playing and recording music for a decade now. Taking inspiration from rock greats such as Neil Young, Tom Petty, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and more modern artists like Jack White, St Vincent, Kathleen Edwards, Matt Mays, and the Tragically Hip, his music is often a mixed bag of heavy hitting rock songs to soft country blues ballads. Throughout the beginning of the pandemic he recorded his second album “A Little Hell” from home with skilled musicians from all over Ontario pitching in remotely, which was released in June 2021 to much success, gaining radio airplay on local stations such as Rebel 101.7 and Live 88.5. A Little Hell is a concept album that reflects the times we are living in, with the first side being heavy musically and lyrically, and the second side coming out of that darkness and being more positive, light and hopeful. His band’s live performances are full of high energy rock songs from his repertoire that always leaves the audience wanting more.
The Talent
Braden Foulkes – Vocals, Guitar
Bron Diedrich – Drums
Brendan Hoffe – Bass
Adam Traversy – Organ, Piano
Q&A
What was your reaction to the news you’d be a part of Bluesfest and who was the first person you told?
I was in my apartment at the time with my girlfriend Sammie and my good friend/roommate Alex who is also a musician and collaborator. I got the email and was in shock for about 10 seconds until I started jumping for joy telling Sammie first then running to Al’s room to tell him. Not sure if I’ve ever been as excited as I was at that moment.
Please describe your sound.
My sound varies all the time. I like to think of myself as the same type of musician as Jack White or Neil Young. I love to rock and play heavy distorted guitars and growl into the microphone, but I also love to write laid back countryish songs, or Beatlesy pop tunes. I’ll never pin myself down to one sound.
How did you get started on your musical journey?
I got started by listening to my Dad’s ACDC, Ramones, Nirvana and Beatles CDs. Then I started playing his guitars while I was heavily into punk rock music, which I think made guitar a lot easier to learn. By early high school I had friends who were playing in bands in Stittsville and I just thought I had to do that. As much as I tried I couldn’t join their bands because I wasn’t a great musician but for some reason my pals Brendan and Bron decided to jam with me in my basement until we had some covers and a few originals down. I very slowly learned how to sing, but writing came fairly easy to me from the start. A mighty trio called the Rambles who played their first ever gig at the Rainbow Bistro. I’ll always be very proud of that!
What can music fans expect from your show? Will you be playing any new music at Bluesfest and/or releasing new music ahead of your performance?
If anyone likes any of the aforementioned bands, I think they’ll enjoy our show. We’re playing on the river stage opening for Wide Mouth Mason and the Tea Party, so you can be sure we’ll be playing our rock n roll numbers, along with some mellower tunes sprinkled in. We do have a couple new unrecorded tunes that will be on the next album that we’re really excited to play, as well as a single released on June 24th called Inappropriate Misbehaviour.
What artists are you hoping to catch during this year’s Bluesfest?
I’m really looking forward to seeing Tash Sultana, they have amazing grooves and guitar skills that I’m sure will make a wicked live show. Rage Against the Machine is going to be a show for the ages, I can’t wait to yell Fuck you I won’t do what you tell me!! Thankfully it’s the day after our show and not before. And of course the legend herself Alanis. Everyone has memories with Jagged Little Pill as the soundtrack, and I actually met her parents last summer playing a gig in a little shop, they were the only ones there and incredibly nice people, her mom gave me little pieces of paper with positivity mantras on them that I keep in my wallet.
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