Bluesfest Review 2025
jfclams (all lists)  
0
  Public
Modified at: 2025-07-25 7:13pm
Guess what? It's the return of Bluesfest! I made it back to Ottawa for the 2025 edition. Didn't get to see all the shows – not even close – but got to see what I wanted to see and damn sure got my money's worth! Performer list below, and looking back I see I didn't catch the amount of acts I could have, but I'm old, cranky, and not as sprightly as I used to be

The first night I arrived during their set. Have to admit do not remember much of it. They were on the main stage.

I caught this guy and his backing band on the River Stage which is one of the smaller ones. Just gonna say it was strange and leave it at that. Lainey Wilson was the main stage act but not a fan so admittedly I left as she was wrapping up.

Hozier
Hozier
People

He wrapped up the first Friday night show. Just gonna leave it at not my cup of tea.

Opened on the main stage the first Saturday night. A lot of Neil Young idolizing from this guy. Not anything to write home about.

Pixies
Pixies
People

I was floored at how bad they sounded, just from a technical perspective. They actually chased me away from the last act which was a punk band I've never heard of called Turnstile. I was feeling a mixture of being lagged and wondering if the shows were not going to be up to par the rest of the time. I was to be proven wrong, of course....

OK, say what you will about Shania, but she's nearly 60, looks killer, and put on a killer show. Up to that point was easily the best performance of the festival! I was mesmerized from start to finish. I also forgot how friggin' good all those hits from the 90's were.

Onto the second week of shows starting with Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine. He has his 14-year old kid playing bass in his live band. Was a good warmup for....

Yes, the old bats closed out the 2nd Wednesday playing all their classic hits on the main stage, and even a new song which Morello came on stage to play. "Just Like 73". Rockin' good time had by all.

The 2nd Thursday was a wash in more ways than one. The weather was pretty crappy, and this guy – apparently, Canada's "hip hop ambassador" (that's what Wikipedia says) - was the 2nd main stage act. But all he did was DJ old dance tunes and chant over them. Sean Paul was the closer but once again, we decided to leave early and save up for the next night.

So...all I can say is – this was THE SHOW!!! I think everyone was high just from being there, and there was a ton of people there! I think I read 35,000? It was so packed. And everyone practically chanting the words to every single song. "When I Come Around" gave me chills and then some. Of course, they opened with "American Idiot", and closed with "Time of Your Life". These guys are greatness personified. I don't care what anyone says. Go see them ASAP.

The American Idol guy! 2nd on the main stage on the last Saturday. He was alright. He sported a really weird arm length tattoo thing, though. Very strange.

The last main stage act on Saturday who I really wasn't expecting much from but...they did pretty good. It rained fairly hard during their set and I think the singer got off on that. There wasn't nearly the amount of people as there were for Green Day so we were able to get close to the stage which was pretty nice. Not bad for some old guys. Not sure if I'd do it again, though.

Comments

Just a few honorable mentions as I couldn't locate these guys on the site and didn't feel like adding them -Alan Doyle: Performer from Newfoundland on the main stage before Shania. Lots of upbeat folky-type and sea shanty songs. -Bob Log III: A one-man show on one of the smaller stages the last Saturday night. A guy in a jumpsuit and flight helmet jamming on slide guitar non-stop, sort of like a desert version of Buckethead -I skipped the last night of shows to catch the CFL game at TD Place (TiCats crushed the Redblacks by 15 pts - what else is new) but if you're wondering the closing act was Kaytranada
0
Reason for report
Description