The beginning of the second weekend of CityFolk went off without a hitch. Despite chilly weather, fans gathered together to enjoy music by talented musicians from the folk and rock worlds. The night’s performances attracted young families, elderly couples and everyone in between.
Just like the previous weekend of CityFolk, visitors enjoyed an array of cold beverages including local craft beers and ciders, as well as cuisine from around the city. Another hit of the night was the kettlecorn station, where families gathered around a warmly lit glass popcorn cart enjoying some savoury treats.
First to the stage was Los Angeles-based band, The Record Company. Although the crowd was small in size, audience members were excited to see the band come to town and danced along to the band’s hottest tracks including “Off The Ground,” “How High,” “Life To Fix,” “Turn Me Loose” and “Rita Mae Young.”
Next up was Hamilton, Ont.’s Matt Mays. Mays entered the stage wearing a sherpa-lined jean jacket with a guitar in hand, opening the set with his alt-rock hit “Tall Trees.” Throughout his performance, Mays engaged with the audience and got the crowd moving with his songs “Take It On Faith,” “On The Hood” and “City of Lakes.”
Mays smiled out at the audience, recalling fun times touring with his band and telling stories about songwriting in Ottawa. He ended his set by entertaining the crowd with his No. 1 song “Cocaine Cowgirl,” which had the audience singing along.
The last performance of the night was a highlight for all. Matt Andersen was joined onstage by soul group Big Bottle of Joy to play a mix of original tunes and cover songs. The juxtaposition of the blues guitarist and the voices of the soul singers made for a bone-chilling performance. Covers of “With a Little Help From My Friends” by The Beatles and “The Weight” by The Band had the crowd singing along to their interpretations.
Later, The Big Bottle of Joy left the stage while Andersen performed some of his own songs such as “Quarter on the Ground,” “Other Side of Goodbye” and “Something To Lose.” The crowd even got a taste of an unreleased tune, “Only an Island,” which is set to debut next year.
As performances came to an end, the crowd was treated to an encore performance from Andersen, joined onstage by Mays and his band for an East Coast reunion. The surprise performance of “Helplessly Hoping” by Crosby, Stills & Nash and “Hands of Time” by Groove Armada wrapped up the night.
The gaggle of long-haired musicians put on unforgettable performances at CityFolk. The night was filled with great food, great performances and a lively audience. Lansdowne’s Great Lawn was transformed into a towering stage with bright lights, loud music and a memorable atmosphere.
Featured image by Elise Kieffer.
