Under the heat of the July sun, the field at LeBreton Flats filled with people. It was a scene local musicians would know best out of any other performers that took the stage at Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest.
“This year was crazy,” said Kirk Ramsay of Giant Hand, whose backing band includes members of Ottawa’s The Acorn and Carleton music grad Adam Saikaley.
Without a trace of doubt, Bluesfest is Ottawa’s premier music festival. The annual event attracts international artists across all types of music to headline its multiple stages. But the festival is also a prime showcase of local talent.
Although this was his third time playing his blend of melancholy folk-rock at the festival, it was Ramsay’s first time playing a headlining stage and first-ever outdoor performance, having previously played inside the Canadian War Museum’s Barney Danson Theatre, he said.
The theatre is where country-folk quintet the Withering Pines made their return to the festival July 14.
Eric Vieweg, the band’s frontman, said the indoor theatre was a perfect venue for the band’s more low-key performances.
“[In previous years], we had 10 or 15 people onstage outside with guests and it was great,” he said. “For just the five of us though, the inside theatre was a better setting.”
Vieweg and Ramsay agree that one of the best things about playing Bluesfest is how it brings out people who may not ordinarily come to their other shows.
“There were a bunch of faces in the audience that I didn’t recognize, which was really nice,” Vieweg said.
Connor McGuire of the Murder Plans said playing Bluesfest is a great way to reach a new audience. Even early on a Thursday evening, their show was well attended, he said.
“It was pretty great to have such a big [space] to play,” McGuire said. “The stage was huge which gave us more room to move around and we were more energetic as a result. When you have lots of energy, people come to watch.”
It’s nice to be treated like all the big stars that play the festival, Ramsay said.
“We got our own trailer with free beer and everything,” Ramsay said. “It made it just a really great day to just spend the afternoon with our friends at Bluesfest.”
