After two days of rest, RBC Bluesfest was back in full force with another sold out evening, this time for the Foo Fighters. The day before the show, Bluesfest announced a $5 beer deel for Molson Canadian tall cans from 5 to 7 p.m. to encourage people to show up early to avoid massive lines. The 50/50 charity raffle also surpassed $100,000—so be sure to get your tickets and support Blues in the Schools.
It was another sunny, humid day as River City Junction kicked off the evening on the SiriusXM stage. The crowd was small as people were settling into their spots by the main RBC stage to wait for the Foo Fighters later on. It became very clear after wandering through the festival grounds that everyone was there for the Foo Fighters, but they were also getting a chance to sample different musicians in the meantime. Even the merchandise line was snaked around the War Museum courtyard for most of the evening.
The SiriusXM stage has been keeping the blues in Bluesfest with a steady stream throughout the festival. River City Junction, a Canadian trio, delivered tepid blues and retro-rock to a calm crowd that was more focused on taking advantage of the beer deal. Their blend of blues and folk had uplifting moments including energizing harmonica solos that nudged the crowd to tap their feet along with the beat.
My Son The Hurricane, a 12-piece brass-dance crew from Niagara, Ontario, got the party started on the River stage with their unique blend of jazz, rhythm, and blues. The young and energetic ska band had the volume cranked so loud it made my organs dance along with them as they jumped around the stage with their instruments like a quirky marching band.
“People are paying attention and we don’t know why,” joked drummer Danno O’Shea as he proudly told the crowd about two recent videos that hit 2 million views. The crowd started getting more and more into it despite the blistering heat and sweat dripping down all of our backs. Sylvie Kindree, the amped up singer, could have been in the Beastie Boys with her hip hop style vocals.
As the crowds picked up and the lines grew, White Reaper performed on the main RBC stage to get the audience ready for the Foo Fighters. Their punk rock vibes reminded me of playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 & 2 in the basement with my siblings when I was just a kid. They had great energy and some enjoyable beats and guitar licks, but I was waiting for that catchy and memorable song that most emo and punk bands have that sets your heart on fire.
Beach balls bounced back and forth in front of the stage as the crowd jumped up and down in true punk fashion. And even the band was hyped for Foo Fighters as they caught sight of a sign asking Dave Grohl for a hug. I think we all want that!
Black Joe Lewis was next up on the SiriusXM stage to deliver more blues beats but with even more soul and personality. The tent and bleachers were filled to the brim for his show with fans clad in Foo Fighters merchandise and enjoying the diversity in genres. Everyone had their dancing shoes on as Lewis delivered funky beats.
MONOWHALES followed My Son The Hurricane with a similar energy level and vibe but with much less people on stage. The Juno award-winning alternative rockers from Toronto, Ontario had a thunderous start as the volume was turned up even louder for their set. My heart could have stopped and I wouldn’t know the difference, the bass drum was beating it for me. Singer Sally Shaar had killer pipes, reminiscent of Paramore at times, as she smiled and danced around the stage.
“It’s early in the show but I want to be out there with you,” said Shaar as she ran off the stage and down into the pit in front of the crowd. She jumped up and clung onto the bar as she sang her heart out to the audience, reaching out to everyone around her. She expressed her gratitude for Ottawa and her fans for helping them get to where they are today. I love musicians who express their feelings so genuinely and have high praise for their fans, it makes me want to support them even more.
I could feel the anticipation for the Foo Fighters growing as people started to leave this show early to make their way through the massive crowd to snag a spot with a good view. Even though Shania Twain was also sold out, this was by far the biggest crowd. I saw the Foo Fighters at Bluesfest back in 2018 and it was the same experience—who doesn’t love a good rock show?
With the first strum of a guitar promptly at 9 p.m., the festival was packed from stage to exit. The audience exploded into applause as the Foo Fighters walked out on stage. Signs flew up everywhere for a chance to interact with Dave Grohl. From start to finish, the crowd was animated and singing along for 2 straight hours. Without any metal in the festival, this was the heaviest night and it was nice to see so many different people enjoying a rock show on a random Wednesday night.
“Alright motherfuckers, you wanna dance?” Grohl shouted after the first song. It must have been amazing for him to look out at the vast crowd and see 30,000 people staring back. From superfans to casual listeners, most people could sing at least a few of their hits.
In my opinion the sound was muddy at times (which is the downside to an outdoor concert) and his vocals were pretty strained when trying to scream after performing so many shows already, but it didn’t affect the crowd’s enjoyment of his charming presence and captivating spirit. In a cute moment he paused to read the signs waving at him from the crowd, and then even more went up. You could see his eyes light up as he blew kisses to his fans. This is someone who truly loves what he does and being on stage gives him life. In another beautiful moment he shushed the crowd and had everyone turn on their phone flashlights and shake them around for all to see. Bluesfest became a whimsical fairyland filled with buzzing fireflies and everyone was mesmerized. I’ll remember that moment for a long time.
An hour in he checked in on the audience and reminisced about playing here 5 years ago to an equally impressive crowd. “I like to look at you,” he said as the cameras scanned the festival grounds and showed us on screen just how many people were there. And then he brought out his favorite singer, his daughter Violet, to sing a few songs with him. I’ve never heard her sing before and it was a wonderful experience. At 17 she has a great voice, and I’m excited to see where her career takes her.
As the show came to a close, Grohl made a heartfelt dedication of the song Aurora to the late Taylor Hawkins, who passed away last year and will be missed by all. The new drummer Josh Freese was introduced earlier in the show and did a fantastic job, and you could tell he was humble and appreciative as he bowed his head and clasped his hands together while Grohl talked about his history.
People will be talking about this show for a long time!
