Suffering from Bluesfest withdrawl? Here are some videos to help with the come down…

Roger Hodgson

Kevin Costner is a nice guy 

Backstage with Rush technicians

Arcade Fire

Joe Reilly interviews Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips

Bluesfest observations

Of course, everyone’s talking about tonight’s headliners, RUSH on the main stage at Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest. But they don’t play until 8pm. I love this scene from I Love You, Man. Excuse the quality, some arsehole disabled the embedding code:

There’s a whole world open to you today at bluesfest. Couple of things I’ve noticed so far at this years edition.

1- People with backpacks. I know you need them to carry your “stuff” but if you are trying to make your way closer to a stage in the middle of 30 000 people, REMEMBER THAT YOU’RE ACTUALLY CARRYING ONE!! I can’t tell you how many times I got nearly K.O’d by some Justin Beiber looking clone not minding where they’re going.

2- Elbows IN! There were moments during Metric that I honestly felt as if I were in a hockey game from the 1970’s. People walking by, looking down at their cell phones, slamming into people with their elbows.

3- If you feel the need to get into an argument with someone over $40. Don’t due it while in the middle of 30 000 people!!! You are upsetting the vibe of the crowd. Yes, I’m talking about you, steroid juice head with the cheap sunglasses and tight red t-shirt. NO ONE CARES how bad ass you think you are. We came to party, not deal with your misguided “Jersey Shore” need to look tough.

4-Bring sunblock and cash, lots of cash. The lineups for the ATM’s can get pretty thick. You can miss your favorite act while waiting for money. Head indoors to the Canadian War Museum, they have an ATM in there, it’s never busy and best of all, it’s air condidtioned!

Today’s Best Bets:

St. Joe’s Mission (formerly known as DonkeyPunch) 2pm Claridge Homes Stage

The Bush Pilots 3pm Black Sheep Tent

Graham Greer (Formerly of the Barstool Prophets) 5pm Claridge Homes Stage

Rush 8pm MBNA Stage

See ya there!

Bluesfest Day 3

Pacing, it’s all about pacing when it comes to Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest. Especially in this heat!! Make sure to take plenty of breaks indoors, inside the War Museum. Let’s be honest, we all know someone (no, I don’t mean me, ) who tends to knock a few back while at Lebreton Flats but for the love of all things holy, wait until the sun goes down! Alcohol + sun = pain. Lots and lots of pain. For example, drink too much in the sun and this could happen to you:

I’m not saying don’t do it, I’m just sayin’. Thursdays lineup, like the entire lineup, has a little something for everyone. If you’ve got teenagers and you’re planning on checking out Bluesfest tonight, they’ll probably want to be dropped off in the market to catch Stereos on the Pop Life Stage downtown:

If you’re leaning more towards that british prog rock thang, might I suggest The Moody Blues?

Haven’t caught the Black Sheep Music and Comedy stage? Be there tonight to see former SNL’er Jim Breuer:

And for a little bit of that retro kitsch factor, it doesn’t get any better than the B-52′s!

Bluesfest VS EDDIE!!!

We are less than 48 hours away from the kickoff to one of the best music festivals in North America, Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest!! Tent city at Lebreton Flats went up earlier this week, the final touches are being made on all the stages, it is TIME! Bluesfest has opened with some pretty big names like Van Morrison, Jeff Beck and the Tragically Hip. But it’s never opened with so much METAL!! Maiden, OUTDOORS this Tuesday night!! For those not in the know, Iron Maiden rule. Here’s a primer, it’s about 7 minutes long, but well worth it:

Maiden hit the MBNA stage at 9pm July 6th. Make sure to get there early and catch my buddy’s in Loudlove, one of the BEST bands around, never mind Ottawa. They play the Claridge Homes Stage @ 8pm. It’s always a party with LL:

Best bets for opening night:

Dream Theatre

Lights

Wayne Brady

For ticket and schedule info, make sure to check out the official site, www.ottawabluesfest.ca.

Zombies @ Bluesfest!!!

July 6th, Bluesfest goes Hollywood! I was checking out the new Bluesfest app on the iphone, taking a look at the different stages, trying to plan things out and while looking at the lineup for the Barney Danson Theatre (which is inside the Canadian War Museum), I came across the words George Romero. Who is George Romero? He’s the guy behind the zombie cult classic Night of the Living Dead:

July 16th & 17th, Bluesfest teams up with the Mayfair Theatre for a live version of the movie! The film will play on screen and local actors will perform along with it. Montreal’s The Hi Lo Trons will provide the soundtrack and on July 17th, director George Romero will check it out live! Best thing about it, it’s free with your entrance to Bluesfest.

Something new @ Bluesfest

Billboard magazine recently named Bluesfest one of the best festivals in North America and I can see why. Bluesfest has grown into not just a little something for everyone, but a HUGE something for everyone! I know some blues purists might say, yeah but where are the blues in Bluesfest? To them I say shut up. Go to the smaller stages, you’ll find the blues.

Besides, unlike some of the bitter folks, I HAVE had the chance to talk to a lot of the artists that the purists complain about not seeing enough and they’d rather play the smaller stages! To them, it’s more about the environment they perform in, something smaller, low key. Hell, that’s what the blues is all about! It’s not about playing in front of 40 000 people, it’s more about playing in front of a couple thousand, a couple hundred, a couple dozen. But I digress. This year, Bluesfest wants your body, soul and funny bone! Make sure to check out the Black Sheep Music and Comedy Tent for acts like Deb Digiovanni:

Jim Breuer:

Louis CK and more!

Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest!!

It’s no wonder Billboard magazine named Bluesfest as one of the top ten music festivals in North America. It’s grown leaps and bounds from the early days at Lebreton Flats to Festival Plaza and back. Like a lot of people in Ottawa, it’s the highlight of my summer. Even though I’m miffed that they forgot to book the most important rock and roll band of this, or any other decade, The Eagles of Death Metal (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). I will overlook that Mr. Monahan because of once again, one of the most impressive Bluesfest lineups I can remember:

Confirmed Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest acts to-date include Alexisonfire; Anders Osborne & Johnny Sansone; Andrew Bird; AfroReggae; Arcade Fire; Aterciopelados; Babe Ruth; Basia Bulat; Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba; Bear in Heaven; Big Jeezus Truck; Big Soul Project featuring Roxanne Goodman; Bill ‘Sauce Boss’ Wharton; Bjorn Berg; Blonde Redhead; Campbell Brothers; Caravan Palace; Carolyn Wonderland; The Cat Empire; Champion and His G-Strings; Charlie Winston; Coolooloosh; Crowded House; Culture Reject; Curtis Salgado; Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band; Down With Webster; Drake; Dream Theatre;  Eamon McGrath; Elvis Perkins; Ethiopique; Faber Drive; Foghat; Furthur featuring Phil Lesh & Bob Weir; Garaga; Gipsy Kings; GOOD2GO; Gord Downie and the Country of Miracles; Great Big Sea; Great Lake Swimmers; Group 1 Crew; Grupo Fantasma; Iron Maiden; James Hunter; Jimmy Cliff; Joan Jett; Joe Krown Trio with Walter Wolfman Washington & Russell Batiste; John Butler Trio; John Hiatt; John Kilduff; Keith Urban; Ken Workman & the Union; Kevin Costner and Modern West; Kings Go Forth; Konono No. 1; Lady Tramaine Hawkins; Laurent Bourque; Levon Helm;  LIGHTS;  Loudlove; Lukas Nelson;  Marc Cohn; Marcia Ball & The Voice of The Wetlands All Stars featuring Tab Benoit, Cyril Neville, Anders Osborne, Johnny Sansone, Waylon Thibodeaux, and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux; Marianas Trench; Martin Sexton; Matt Andersen; Matthew Good; Matt Schofield; Metric; Moneen; Monster Mike Welch; NEWWORLDSON; Nicolas Collins; Occidental Brothers; Octoberman; Ozomatli; Passion Pit; Paul Rishell & Annie Raines; Planet Smashers; Renaissance; Richie Righteous; River City Junction; Robert Farrell Band; Robert Randolph & the Family Band; Roger Hodgson; Ronnie Baker Brooks; Roy Rogers & The Delta River Kings; Rosanne Cash; The Rural Alberta Advantage; Ryan Montbleau Band; Santana; Septentrional d’Haiti; Slyde; Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes; Staff Benda Bilili; Steel Pulse; Steve Dawson’s Mississippi Sheiks Project; Steve Hackett; Steve Winwood; That 1 Guy; That’s the Spirit; Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience; The Aggrolites; The Budos Band; The Constellations; The Ethics; The Flaming Lips; The Hold Steady; The Lost Fingers; The Love Machine; The Mohawk Lodge; The Moody Blues; The Musical Box; The Swell Season; The Whigs; The White Wires; Timber Timbre; TJ Wheeler; Tommy Castro; Too Slim and The Taildraggers; Trevor Hall; Tye Tribbett; We Are Wolves; Weezer; Woodhands; and Yatkha, with more to be announced.

Got that?? AND MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED!!! From what I’ve been hearing, HUGE names including a rock and roll hall of famer. Plus, in the next few weeks, details about what I’ll be doing with Bluesfest this summer (fingers crossed!). For the complete schedule, ticket info etc… click on the link:

www.ottawabluesfest.ca

And just for good measure, imagine how cool it would be to see this band onstage, outdoors, in this great city?

My name is Cub Carson, I am an Eagles of Death Metal fan, scarred for life.

Dear Bluesfest…..

This weekends weather, sunny, highs around 25, got me thinking about my FAVORITE summer activity, Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest! I’ve been going to/working at Bluesfest for about 8 years now and seen some AMAZING acts. What will the lineup be like for this year? We should find out soon enough, but I’d like to make a few suggestions.

EAGLES OF DEATH METAL

Alright, I admit it, I’m biased. But I LOVE this band, I’ve partied with them, seen them three times in one year and I even have their second album title tattooed on my left arm. But if you saw their show at the Capital Music Hall July 31st 2009, you know what I’m talking about…

M.I.A

Admit it, you LOVED Paper Planes when you saw Pineapple Express! This lady is hands down, the shit.

Hall & Oates

Why? Because your kiss is on my list, bitch!

Who do YOU wanna see this year?