Review of Bluesfest Day Five: A genre-bending night of rising stars

There is nothing better than a great surprise, and that’s what Ottawa Bluesfest’s fifth night was.

The July 9 date wasn’t originally part of the itinerary, but following long negotiations, Bluesfest announced the additional night to accommodate a highly sought-after mystery artist.

This artist was soon announced to be Jason Bradley DeFord, better known as Jelly Roll. 

Jelly Roll has quickly become one of the most recognizable artists in the country music scene. His story resonates with many as he overcame addiction and multiple arrests to become the star he is today. 

The Bluesfest set marks Jelly Roll’s second international show, as he previously played in St. Catharines, Ont. He also visited the Royal Mental Health Centre earlier in the afternoon where he performed a short acoustic set and answered questions from patients and staff.

While seeing Jelly Roll drew most ticket buyers, many showed up to watch the opening acts. 

Ottawa-raised artist Dax kicked things off at the RBC Stage by delivering his poetry with a signature intensity and emotion, using raw lyricism to tell his story to an excited crowd.

Up next, folk pop artist Shaboozey made a grand entrance with the dramatic scores of legendary Western film composer Ennio Morricone ushering in his performance.

Crossing the boundaries between country and hip hop, Shaboozey’s music has gone viral across streaming platforms, largely due to his collaborations with Beyoncé on the highly acclaimed COWBOY CARTER album.

The rowdiness of Shaboozey’s audience showcased the newfound popularity of bending these opposing genres. 

A highlight of his set was “Beverly Hills,” a song he dedicated to the forgotten Black outlaws of the old West. A masterful element of Shaboozey’s music is his ability to incorporate Black history into country songwriting.

The combination of trap beats and references to modern pop culture contrasted with the old-school fiery Western imagery that felt straight out of a Sergio Leone film.

Shaboozey abruptly left the stage, cheekily waving goodbye before coming back to give the crowd what they wanted: “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which has taken social media by storm. 

The crowd was so excited to hear the track that Shaboozey couldn’t leave without just playing it once — he had to give eager fans one last rendition before handing the stage to the headliner.

When Jelly Roll hit the RBC Stage, it was a moment of triumph. Chants of “Jelly” echoed across Ottawa, as approximately 25,000 attendees burst with excitement to see the surprise star.

“If you told me when I was in prison that I’d be at Ottawa Bluesfest, I wouldn’t have believed you,” Jelly Roll said to the supportive crowd.

Jelly Roll’s humility was on display all night. Tears flowed down his face as he frequently took in the size of the crowd. 

When performing his hit songs, Jelly Roll turned the twang up to 12. Cowboy hats swayed in the night as he bellowed out powerful vocals to “The Lost” and “Halfway To Hell.” 

The many influences of Jelly Roll were prominent throughout the set. He shouted out his mother, brother and father for shaping his musical identity by introducing him to country, gangster rap and southern rock. 

He continued the night’s theme of crossing genre barriers by covering segments of classic songs such as Toby Keith’s “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” and even Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.” 

It was an emotional night for Jelly Roll and many of his fans. Some came with signs celebrating their sobriety, which were met with thunderous applause when showcased on screens. 

Jelly Roll gave Bluesfest attendees a message of hope and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. While many things exist to bring people down, Jelly Roll gave a night where people could be optimistic and happy to be alive.

Because, as Jelly Roll said himself, “There’s a reason the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror.”

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Featured image by Greg Kolz.