The Brits Headline RBC Bluesfest Day 6

After several tornado warnings and a day filled with torrential downpour, wind, and thunderstorms, RBC Bluesfest decided to go ahead as planned. Thankfully the crazy weather subsided and we were left with some wind and a nice chill in the air. The sun even decided to say hello before it started cooling off quite a bite more than usual after dark.

Amos the Transparent was up first on the main RBC stage after a slight soundcheck delay. They played to the most sparse 6 p.m. crowd so far, probably because of the weather and traffic delays, but were ready to get the crowd excited for day 6 of Bluesfest. The folk group from Ottawa was introduced as “local treasures”, and their small following was pumped up to watch them perform. Their calming blend of folk and indie rock is just right for an evening of drinking with your friends.

Dan Hay, guitarist, was my favorite part of the show, he had invigorating solos at the right times and so much energy to give. For me, the best part about a live show is experiencing a musician’s passion. I feed off of that energy like a vampire, so if they’re not into it then I won’t be either. I like a lot of different music for that reason—it’s not that difficult to get into a song when the artist’s love and passion shines brightly.

Angelina Hunter Trio, another local band from Ottawa, got things started on the SiriusXM stage. The crowd was also sparse but started to fill in towards the end. It’s tough for the early acts when Ottawa traffic is so bad during the week. Defined as “blues with string & style” on their banner, they kept the tradition of blues in the tent going.

Angelina Hunter was the picture of cool with her black and white outfit, red hair, and red guitar. Her powerful voice engrossed the audience as she belted out song after song. She talked about how grateful they were to be playing at Bluesfest again, and they even met fans at the merch table after their set.

Avery Raquel, a young Canadian singer/songwriter, was first up on the River stage. Avery has released four solo albums with a mix of soul, R&B, and funk with a dash of jazz and blues. Her strong vocals had the younger crowd cheering, but her voice is not very dynamic, especially to try and tackle a Bee Gees song. Her cover of How Deep Is Your Love fell flat and didn’t grab the audience as much as she wanted.

The War on Drugs took to the main RBC stage as the festival grounds started to fill in more. The American indie rock band snuck on stage behind a cloud of smoke and surprised the audience as they started playing. Day 6 was feeling like day 3 with the mellow blues and soft rock, perhaps a strategic choice by the festival organizers to give everyone a break in between massive crowds. 

Singer Adam Granduciel reminded me of a softer version of Meatloaf both in his appearance, mannerisms, and vocals. Their blend of easy listening rock and on-point guitar riffs made for a relaxing hour swaying in the drying field.

Cam Kahin was up next on the River stage to keep the young crowd engaged. The 20-year-old Canadian singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer from Toronto, Ontario, was there to boost his debut EP, Let It Sink In, a collection of six songs. He clearly has a decent following because the tightly packed crowd at center stage was screaming and cheering the entire time. The way he sings is an interesting blend of punk rock and R&B, while the music itself is more on the rock side. His backing band was having a great time, with his guitarist killing it and really hyping Kahin up. 

Declan McKenna closed out the River stage with one of my favorite shows that evening. The young British musician played a mix of dance and rock music, and was influenced by glam rock and psychedelic pop, as he bounced around on stage between using different instruments and singing. The musician playing the flute was a very nice touch and added a unique edge to the music. 

It felt like a young musician appreciation night on the River stage with the line-up of Raquel, Kahin, and McKenna. The big gen z crowd, filled with mostly young girls screaming for McKenna, was dancing the entire time. Every time he spoke the girls screamed (they loved his British accent). He reminded me at times of Muse with the psychedelic dreaminess and pop flares to his rock that sets it apart from American rock, but more on the pop side.

Mumford & Sons closed out day 6 with a massive audience. I wasn’t expecting the crowd to get so big at 9:30 p.m. after a mellow day with thinner crowds. It seems like a lot of people still only show up for the main artist, especially on a weekday.

After a 10-minute delay, the British folk rock band walked out from behind a blast of sparkling fireworks that lit up the darkness all the way to the exit. By their second song, Little Lion Man, everyone was singing along. It’s the perfect pub drinking music and that’s exactly what the festival grounds felt like.

“We said yes to one show, and then Canada called,” singer Marcus Mumford said as he joked about how they randomly ended up on tour. He talked about how it had been a long time since they played in Canada and they’re happy to be back. The audience replied with cheers, proving that they made a good decision to join the Bluesfest line-up. 

The magical evening of Mumford’s charming vocals and indie rock closed with a fireworks display behind the stage. Their show was truly a spectacle from start to finish.