Day six of Ottawa Bluesfest was set to be a high-energy celebration with none other than Jamaican superstar Sean Paul headlining the RBC Stage.
Known for his global hits and lively performances, Paul was expected to bring the heat on Thursday night — but Mother Nature had plans of her own.
Though an afternoon of scattered rain and thunderstorms cleared in time for earlier performances, the rain returned briefly, right as Paul was about to take the stage. However, the rainfall didn’t deter fans from hitting the dance floor.
Music lovers crowded under overcast skies to enjoy the vibrant acts’ sounds and styles leading up to Paul’s performance.
After the Canadian soul jazz duo DYSTOH kicked-off the evening on the RBC Stage, Kardinal Offishall took charge and delivered a strong hip-hop set, warming up the crowd with bouncy beats.
At one point, the rapper pumped up the audience for the headliner when he played his hit track “Money Jane,” a collaboration song with Paul which seamlessly blends hip-hop and dancehall with a spunky and catchy rhythm.
Meanwhile on the River Stage, Toronto-born artist Lily Davies, professionally known as LILYISTHATYOU, brought alt-pop and synth sounds with a dark tone.
Her stage-presence lit up the audience as the crowd jumped. Behind her was an artistic video projection, piecing together video clips tailored to each song. Some collages featured dreamlike and ethereal visuals of herself and landscapes, while others were fragmented, bursts of colour, snippets of people and cityscapes that lifted the energy.
As she performed alone, Davies used the stage like a canvas. Her movement, background visuals and unfiltered voice became an extension of the music itself.
The River Stage followed with Quebec star Alicia Moffet, whose pop tracks brought polished melodies and youthful charm. Moffet’s stage banter was warm and playful while the crowd cheered on her emotive, eloquent voice.
A highlight of Moffet’s performance was when she asked the audience to put down their phones and be “present in the moment.”
She then went on to sing “Beautiful Scar,” which weaves together themes of grief and healing into a soft and heartfelt ballad.
By the time Paul took the RBC Stage – around 20 minutes late – the crowd erupted in cheers as the singer immediately dove into his greatest hits.
He cycled through club classics like “Get Busy,” “Temperature” and “Shake That Thing.”
At one point in the night, the singer asked the audience, “Are you ready to show that Ottawa can still party?”
And that they did.
Colourful lighting lit up the night sky as background dancers energized the stage. Paul brought an amped-up atmosphere that had the crowd moving their bodies to the beat, hips swaying and heads bopping.
In the beginning, there was no mistaking Paul’s command and extreme stage presence. The main stage was a pulsing sea of dancing bodies from the first beat.
However, the late start paired with damp conditions, cold temperatures and the crowd’s dwindling energy, created an uneven vibe later on.
While his hit songs reignited some enthusiasm, many attendees began trickling out before the set ended. Nonetheless, for the fans who stuck it out, there was plenty to enjoy.
For some, the early exit led people to the River Stage where Peach Pit kept the whole crowd hyped from start to finish.
Before their show, the audience cheered in anticipation, chanting the Western Canadian’s band name in unison.
Once they took the stage, they delivered a heartfelt performance, interspersed with vulnerable anecdotes about peeing the bed drunk — and even a shoutout to Prime Minister Mark Carney. The band said they messaged Carney on Instagram after remembering Ottawa is, in fact, where the head of government lives.
The indie-rock band played a tight, engaging show with tracks from their latest album, Magpie. But it was fan favourites like “Alrighty Aphrodite,” “Tommy’s Party” and “Shampoo Bottles” that lit the swaying, laughing and singing crowd up.
Alrighty Aphrodite. Great set tonight at #bluesfest by @peachpitmusic pic.twitter.com/C0dTrDrDtr
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) July 18, 2025
Their set was both heartfelt and celebratory, a reminder of why Peach Pit remain one of Canada’s favourite indie rock bands.
Thousands of fans filed out of LeBreton Flats after the final set in a slow, chaotic waddle to the exits. Some danced their way out under the city lights, while others hobbled with tired feet, clutched against the cold breeze of the late July evening.
With files from Elissa Mendes.
Featured image by Simon McKeown/the Charlatan
