In the spirit of Ottawa’s 200th anniversary, Canadiana dominated the final night of Bluesfest as The Guess Who, Elisapie and many other Canadian artists provided a final, meaningful experience for local hip-hop enthusiasts, Indigenous music fans and classic Canadian rock enjoyers alike.
Before Bluesfest’s typical 4 p.m. start time, the festival had opened its doors for free daytime programming featuring a free show from Les Petites Tounes, the MacMaster-Leahy family group and Choir! Choir! Choir! The programming was offered in partnership with the city to mark Ottawa’s bicentennial birthday. Celebratory Ottawa 200th anniversary flags were handed out to attendees, later seen sticking out of the hats and pockets of many.
At 6 p.m., ticketholders got to enjoy Wakefield, Que.-based rock band Rebelle kick off the day on the RBC Stage, while a small but enthusiastic crowd gathered at the Hard Rock Stage in support of Ottawa’s own Banggz. The self-proclaimed ‘Banggerz’ writer was accompanied on stage by DJ-hypeman Mo The Pro.
[Photo by Emma Fazakas/the Charlatan]
Dressed to impress in a stylish all-white getup with a signature “Love, Banggz” pocket embroidery, Banggz came performance-ready to play original songs like “How Far” and “Call Me.” He described his latest record, Love, Banggz, as “a love letter to [his] childhood self” and ended his set impressing upon his audience what all his music led to: “that pure essence of love.”
The local pride continued with Ottawa-Gatineau’s LeFloFranco, who opened with an energetic display of party-ready rap and skilled hip-hop dancers. His set featured waving Franco-Ontarien and Haitian flags, a callback to the artist’s heritage.
Meanwhile in the Barney Danson Theatre, Kingston-based Savannah Shea dove into the song “Back with my Baby,” expressing the frustration of feeling dissociated while spending time with loved ones.
Shea’s voice soared and riffed alongside guitarist Logan Brown’s mellow accompaniment, her bubbly banter enthusing the audience between songs. Dressed in deep pinks and ruffles, the couple played to an attentive audience as a soft rose lighting coated the room, matching the sweet, intimate tunes.
On the tented LeBreton Stage, Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar lived up to every expectation, the crowd packing the tent and lawn outside. Martin’s bone-chilling vocal prowess was the star of the set, while the band produced heavy blues rock and sensational backup vocals to songs like “All Night Long” and “I’ve Got a Feeling.”
In another moment of Canadian pride, Saskatoon’s The Sheepdogs entertained from the RBC stage with hooky country blues rock, clad in tassels, snakeskin boots and jean jackets. Feel-good songs like “Feeling Good,” “Never Gonna Get My Love” and “Bad Lieutenant” featured fresh guitar solos, organ accompaniment and tambourine elicited excited laughter from a roaring crowd. Hits like “Nobody but You” and “Take Me for a Ride” kept the dancing going.
Not having played in Ottawa since early 2025, Elisapie was a long-anticipated LeBreton Stage headliner. A serene yet dramatic force on stage, she began her set with “Uummati Attanarsimat – Heart of Glass.” The song appears on her 2023 album, Inuktitut, consisting of Inuktitut covers of English songs.
Elisapie related the recording of the songs to the struggles and issues the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island have faced, recounting the profound story of how her own Inuk grandfather fled a residential school.
“These songs were our friends. They didn’t judge us,” Elisapie remarked. “So I decided to steal some songs from white people.” The comment elicited laughter and applause from the invested audience.
Between songs, she took a conversational tone to explain each song’s origin. Her three-piece band provided a steady, atmospheric base for her deep, saccharine melodies as she swung her arms to the music, the tassels woven onto her top following her movements.
The final set of the entire festival run began as The Guess Who took on the RBC Stage. Originating from Manitoba, the all-Canadian rockstars took their places on stage, most of them seated for comfort due to their age. The years were not reflected in frontman Burt Cummings’ vocals, and the band was greeted with thundering applause as a response to their opening song, “Runnin’ Back to Saskatoon,” followed by “Hand Me Down World” and “Give It a Try.” The latter foreshadowed the Bachman-Turner Overdrive classics the band would later perform during the set.
The Guess Who had no problem riling the crowd up, rehearsing a clapping routine with them before “Clap for the Wolfman.” Many quips were made and tales were told between songs, including anecdotes of songs written on the road or before the band ever left their home province.
Between bluesy piano interludes and impassioned electric guitar soloing, the band was right to claim, “We see very clearly that you still like rock ‘n’ roll in the nation’s capital…”
The players plunged into a series of hits, including “No Sugar Tonight” and “American Woman.” Well into the night, the double encore was played, featuring the band’s song “Share the Land” and another Bachman-Turner Overdrive tune, “Taking Care of Business.”
And with The Guess Who’s set providing a rocking conclusion, Bluesfest ended by celebrating the storytelling of songs, particularly from the band and Elisapie, local sweethearts of hip-hop and old classics, together highlighting memories of Canada’s complex past.
Featured photo by Emma Fazakas/the Charlatan.
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