Concert Preview: Ottawa Bluesfest To Celebrate 20th Anniversary With The Black Keys, Björk, Weezer, Fun. and More!

By: Curtis Sindrey (@SindreyCurtis) –

Ottawa will be beaming with excitement this July 4-14 as the 20th anniversary of the iconic Ottawa Bluesfest invades downtown Ottawa with a stacked line-up including The Black Keys, Björk, Weezer, Fun. and many more.

A stones throw away from the parliament buildings, Ottawa Bluesfest takes place in the heart of our nation’s capital and with tons of local bands performing, including Hearts & Mines, Capital Grass and the No Men and Camp Radio, and treats fans to a mix of major international artists and promising local talent.

This year, the event will include 10 days of programming between July 4 and 14. Festival organizers are offering a dynamic festival experience for what Billboard Magazine has ranked as one of the top-10 music festivals in the world.

“Over the years, we’ve built a solid reputation for world-class programming,” says the festival’s executive/programming director Mark Monahan. “We consider this year’s line-up to be one of the best of any across North America—it reaches out to a wide-ranging demographic with cutting edge performances as well as festival favourites.

Beginning in 1994 with just 5,000 people attending a Clarence Clemons concert at Majors Hill Park, Ottawa Bluesfest has since grown exponentially and has grown to feature over a week’s worth of concerts, entertaining over 200,000 fans each year.

If you don’t want to drive and prefer to cycle your way to Lebreton Flats, Ottawa-based cycling advocacy group Citizens for Safe Cycling will provide free, supervised, valet bicycle parking for the eighth consecutive year. If you’re cycling to and from Bluesfest, use the Twitter hashtag #OttBikePark to stay up to date.

If you want to look beyond the well-known headliners, we’ve compiled a list of other bands and artists who are worth checking out.

Who To See At Ottawa Bluesfest 2013

A Tribe Called Red 

Ottawa-based and 2012 Polaris Music Prize longlist nominees A Tribe Called Red takes EDM and blends it with elements of traditional First Nations vocal chanting and drumming. Having released their second studio album Nation II Nation, on May 7th, the trio strengthened its relationship with the Aboriginal community by partnering with Aboriginal Co-op Label, Tribal Spirit Music. If you want to hear music that is truly unique, be sure not to miss A Tribe Called Red. 

Cold Specks 

With her 2012 Polaris Music Prize longlist nominated album I Predict A Graceful Expulsion, Cold Specks, aka 23-year old Al Spx, tore through a beautifully crafted blend of serenity and torment that illustrates both Spx’s vulnerablity and strength.

Mother Mother

Vancouver-based indie rock quintet Mother Mother have made a name for themselves with their unique melodies and vocal-driven pop songs. Through the powerful stage presence of lead singer Ryan Guldemond to the engaging harmonies sung by Guldemond’s sister Molly and Jasmin Parkin, they have cultivated a unique sound through four studio albums and that aren’t even close to stopping.

Matthew Good

Canadian rock icon Matthew Good, who will release his sixth studio album Arrows of Desire in September, has performed his political-savvy brand of rock the world over for 20 years and like a fine wine, Good only gets better with age.