RBC Bluesfest kicked off with country night yesterday to a sold out and heat-exhausted crowd. But a little heat warning couldn’t stop the fans clad in cowboy hats and boots from pouring in all evening for the featured artist, Shania Twain. Looming thunderstorms became a distant thought as the music started and grabbed everyone’s attention.
Brea Lawrenson opened Bluesfest as the first of three Canadian female country stars to take the stage. She prepped the crowd for a relaxed evening of smooth yet upbeat tunes with songs about whisky, dating, and loving your home.
Lindsay Ell, who was a late addition to fill in for Orville Peck, followed Lawrenson on the main stage and brought the energy to a growing crowd. Peck would have put on a great show but having three women one after the other made the evening even more magical and empowering.
Ell’s country pop and enthusiasm got the crowd moving and singing along as hype for Shania Twain continued to build. Ell spoke about growing up and singing Shania Twain songs into a plastic microphone, and now she gets to tour with the icon herself.
And then the crowd tripled in size as the floodgates were opened for the main act. LeBreton Flats was filled to the brim with barely any room to move as 9 p.m. approached. Three older gentlemen walked by with shirts that read “SH” “AN” “IA”—everyone was out for the experience.
As the stage lights flickered and the crowd quieted, Twain sauntered onto the stage in a black coat and large white glasses. Cheers erupted as the spectacle began, and not before long she whipped off her disguise and unveiled a stunning red, glittery outfit. “Damn she looks amazing,” came a voice from the sea. He said what we were all thinking. As she stood front and center, we were ready for the power of her hits to consume us.
But the energy was off as she paced the stage or stood in one place. For how packed the festival was, the crowd was calmer than usual. From acts like Foo Fighters, Bryan Adams, Rage Against the Machine, Alanis Morissette, P!nk, and many more who brought similar crowds, the audience didn’t seem captivated. The show followed a tight script as she moved from song to song, checking off her hits. The dynamic backup dancers and singers and vibrant stage setup turned her country songs into theatre.
Young girls bopped around to the tunes as the show unfolded, but Twain’s presence seemed lackluster. Even the moments in between songs where she shared little anecdotes and laughs seemed awkward. But that didn’t stop the audience from listening and staying until the very end—her hits are still nostalgic and charming.
Even though day 1 leaned towards a country line-up, there were many different hidden gems that stole the limelight for festival-goers. Part of the draw of festivals of this size is to explore lesser-known artists and discover your next favorite musician. You’re missing out if you stay at the main stage all evening!
The first gem was discovered in the Barney Danson Theatre, the contemporary singer-songwriter Mimi O’Bonsawin. The show was intimate and calming as she sang to a mesmerized room about the healing powers of the land. Her story-driven songs inspired by her Franco-Ontarian and Abenaki roots were filled with emotion and soul.
O’Bonsawin lit up the dark room with her ethereal energy and ear to ear smile as she sang, hummed, and howled. Her voice and songs held real magic as they transported the crowd to a lush forest with birds chirping and the flow of a nearby river. The “jingly jinglies” (as she called it) of her skirt, the masterful drums and guitar by her bandmates, and the backing tracks made for a perfectly unique and delightful hour.
She called upon the audience to take part in her music and echo her chanting in an invigorating moment shared between us all. “Music is healing,” she said as she asked for us to take part in the magic.
The next gem was BBNO$ who fought against sharing the timeslot with Shania Twain. It’s a mighty feat to be able to pull the crowd from an icon, and he did not disappoint. He brought some much-needed energy with his unique hip hop / rap style to the evening and had the crowd bouncing, fist-pumping, and laughing.
In a surprising moment, he stopped the crowd to comment on a recent tragedy. He urged everyone to pause for a moment of silence for the billionaires who died in the submarine accident. He said his next song wouldn’t start until there was silence, and then he counted down. The crowd paused. And then My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion played as he pranced and goofed around, wiping his shirt back and forth between his legs. The crowd was launched into laughter, and then he continued with his set with nods to Jurassic Park, Teletubbies, Yung Gravy, and more. He brought the party, and everyone was loving it!
For anyone saying that RBC Bluesfest shouldn’t keep its name anymore, there are plenty of wonderful blues artists in the schedule this year. Multi-Blues-Music-Award nominee John Nemeth performed two sets on different stages, bringing the blues and Americana vibes for the audience’s listening pleasure.
The Memphis-based singer-songwriter has made a remarkable recovery after last year’s ameloblastoma diagnosis, where a tumour was removed from his lower jaw with a significant amount of bone along with it. Nemeth’s smooth southern tunes along with captivating harmonica solos got the audience up from the bleachers and dancing in front of the SiriusXM Stage.
