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Ottawa Bluesfest 2019 – Day One – July 4, 2019

July 5th, 2019 by Mike Milito | Published in Concerts

The time of year has arrived for Bluesfest. Day One always has hiccups and complaints aplenty with the new one-gate entry they adopted, what, two or three festivals ago? Let’s get over it. It’s zig-zaggy and irritating, we know. The Bluesfest lineup this year is nostalgic, and if it was 2006 or 2007, nothing short of spectacular. The newer headliners of Logic and Kygo tailor to one audience while the Glorious Sons and Alt-J another. Luckily for me and festivalgoers alike, Day One mixed the new with the old.

Chvrches at RBC Ottawa Bluesfest (2019) by Matthew Perry

Chvrches at RBC Ottawa Bluesfest (2019) Photo Credit: Matthew Perry

Greeting the attendees on the festival grounds is a giant Instagram worthy “25 Years” sign to celebrate the quarter of a century anniversary of Bluesfest. Beyond that sign and through the seemingly visible heat is the City Stage. Chvrches had a generous crowd moving with her electronic blend of indie and pop. Lauren Mayberry, the frontwomen of Chvrches bounced around with light blue eyeshadow surrounding her eyes like glasses. Her music is fun and easy listening, something one may want to listen to while studying and searching for a reason to procrastinate.

Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul at RBC Ottawa Bluesfest (2019) by Matthew Perry

Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul at RBC Ottawa Bluesfest (2019) Photo Credit: Matthew Perry

If you’re at Bluesfest chances are you’re from Ottawa, and chances are you work in an office, and chances are you’ve seen someone with a Dilbert-esque comic strip hung up somewhere that says, “The only boss I listen to is Bruce Springsteen.” The Bluesville covered stage was shoulder tight with people flowing out to watch the legendary guitarist of Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band, Little Steven Van Zandt on the guitar and vocals with his Disciples of Soul. He had energy and tactics to get the crowd into the music that one can only acquire after playing decades of three plus hour sets.

Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul have their own distinct flavour, too. An element of 60s soul that leaks through the choreographed backup singers and horn section. When the three backup singers marched onto the stage to the opening notes of the first song with swingin’ twenties umbrellas and claps to the beat, it was obvious that the band was there to party with the many fifty-year-old-plus people watching. Some even put away their lawn chairs, and on the bleachers at the back of the tent, feet stomped, and hands clapped with the unmatchable energy of an excellent performer in Little Steven. I had to leave after three songs to catch the next act. “Only three songs,” which was just under half an hour in proper Springsteen fashion.

Approaching the Videotron Stage, Montreal born Charlotte Cardin began her set to a much younger demographic. In her “She’s The One” interview she acknowledged advice from her sister—not to rush her art, which might explain why she doesn’t have a full-length album and also why her songs are so well arranged and play to all the strengths of her jazzy and powerful voice. She’s a star on the rise and proved it with songs like “Drive” and “Talk Talk.”

Someone around me mentioned she sounded like early Pink (?), but to me, it seemed more like a tame but direct Amy Winehouse. The audience knew most of the words to her song “Main Girl,” but there’s no doubt we’ll know all her lyrics as her rise to stardom continues. She played some French songs as well and thanked the crowd with a “Merci Ottawa” before departing the stage after a solo performance of “Faufile,” a song in Canada’s other official language.

Her band wore all white and was comprised of her on vocals and a keyboard that she sometimes ditched to pace the stage, a bass player who also had a synthesizer with a laptop underneath for purposes I’d rather not discuss, and a drummer who was also stellar. She tried out some new songs, one of which is currently called “Good Girl.” She allowed an open call for submissions on what the title of that song should be. For what it’s worth, “Good Girl” should be called “By Your Side.” Seriously, listen to it here from the CBC Music Festival video of the song, and check her out live if you can get to one of her gigs.

Charlotte Cardin at RBC Ottawa Bluesfest (2019) by Greg Kolz

Charlotte Cardin at RBC Ottawa Bluesfest (2019) Photo Credit: Greg Kolz

Cardin’s set ended slightly before Alt-J’s, and I was able to catch the ending of the light show drenched encore of their songs “Left Hand Free,” “In Cold Blood,” and “Breezeblocks.” But the echoes of Charlotte Cardin’s voice and the chorus refrain of “Main Girl,” rang in my head– all risk and no gain, and I’m a fool to love the pain. We were all fools in the nearing 35-degree heat, the temperature just started to cool off as the first night of festival ended, starting what will be another great edition of Ottawa’s biggest music festival.