Pink was the big draw and day 4 at Ottawa Bluesfest and that saw the biggest crowd of the festival so far. Despite some rain, and her show was a full on spectacle. Since she’s had plenty of mainstream coverage, I’ll focus on some some of my highlights from the night.
The first act I caught was Johnnyswim. I was really impressed with their performance and it didn’t take them long to hook me in. They obviously have somewhat of a following here in Ottawa, despite the fact that I have never heard of them before. Catchy tunes, outstanding vocals and plenty of humor thrown in between songs made for a highly entertaining set. I urge you to check this duo out.
Next up on the Black Sheep Stage was The Clint Everson Band. If you were looking for some great local blues music, this was the place to be. Complete with backup singers, Clint and his band are something to keep your eye on in the Ottawa scene. If you want to catch more, they have a monthly blues jam at the Rainbow Bistro. Check the band’s show page for upcoming dates.
I then headed over to the City Stage to take in a bit of Gabrielle Shonk‘s performance. By this time the rain had started to fall, but she took full advantage of her stage time by delighting the large crowd with a fun set with her music that’s a large mix of folk and pop. If you were at the show and enjoyed it, you can look for her debut release later this year.
The final act I caught before Pink was Alberta’s High Valley. This sibling duo brought the show to the Claridge Homes Stage. Along with their band they left everything on the stage as they quickly upped the entertainment factor for the evening with highly polished performance. These guys definitely know how to engage a crowd.
Johnnyswim
The Clint Everson Band
Gabrielle Shonk
High Valley
