2013 RBC Royal Bank Ottawa Bluesfest - July 4-14, Lebreton Flats, Ottawa ON
Ottawa's biggest and best music festival features 12 consecutive days of programming, from Thursday, July 4 through Sunday, July 14. This year's event takes place at Lebreton Flats & the War Museum, near downtown Ottawa.
For info on tickets & passes as well as the most up-to-date lineup, visit www.ottawabluesfest.ca
For info on tickets & passes as well as the most up-to-date lineup, visit www.ottawabluesfest.ca
Nigeria's Femi Kuti at Bluesfest on Thursday, July 4
Thursday, July 4 - 6:30 PM - River Stage
Femi Kuti
The son of Afro-beat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Femi Kuti helped introduce a percussive blend of jazz and funk music to the international masses beginning in the mid-'90s. After his father's death in 1997, Femi suddenly found himself the subject of immense attention. He responded by signing with MCA and embarking on a solo career,
beginning with the release of 'Shoki Shoki', which received tremendous critical acclaim from a number of esteemed publications like the New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and Vibe. This led to a major breakthrough into the U.S. Mainstream.
Femi Kuti
The son of Afro-beat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Femi Kuti helped introduce a percussive blend of jazz and funk music to the international masses beginning in the mid-'90s. After his father's death in 1997, Femi suddenly found himself the subject of immense attention. He responded by signing with MCA and embarking on a solo career,
beginning with the release of 'Shoki Shoki', which received tremendous critical acclaim from a number of esteemed publications like the New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and Vibe. This led to a major breakthrough into the U.S. Mainstream.
Malian duo Amadou et Mariam at Bluesfest on Saturday, July 6
Saturday, July 6 - 5:00 PM - Bell Stage
Amadou & Mariam
To expand your horizons while remaining true to your roots is a challenge that Amadou & Mariam have risen to throughout their career. Each new album has found the husband-and-wife duo from Mali boldly moving forward and breaking fresh ground, while preserving their instantly recognisable trademarks—the exquisite song
craft, Amadou’s thrilling electric blues guitar and the magical interplay of their two voices, which first brought them popularity.
Amadou & Mariam
To expand your horizons while remaining true to your roots is a challenge that Amadou & Mariam have risen to throughout their career. Each new album has found the husband-and-wife duo from Mali boldly moving forward and breaking fresh ground, while preserving their instantly recognisable trademarks—the exquisite song
craft, Amadou’s thrilling electric blues guitar and the magical interplay of their two voices, which first brought them popularity.
Blues legend B.B. King at Bluesfest on Sunday, July 14
Sunday, July 14 - 8:00 PM - Claridge Homes Stage
B.B. King
Throughout the annals of modern music, there has been only one King of the Blues—Riley B. King, affectionately known as B.B. King. Since B.B. started recording in the late 1940s, he has released over 60 albums, many of them considered blues classics.
During his career, B.B. has had multiple R&B hits, including his most
popular crossover hit, 1970's ‘The Thrill Is Gone’, which went to #15 pop.
His classic songs such as ‘Caldonia’, ‘Everyday I Have the Blues’, and
‘Why I Sing the Blues’, are international favourites that have stood the test of time, while remaining concert staples.
Over the years, B.B. King has developed one of the world's most readily identified guitar styles, integrating his precise vocal like string bends and his left hand vibrato, both of which have become indispensable components of rock guitarist's vocabulary. His economy—his every-note-counts phrasing—has been a model for thousands of players, including Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Jeff Beck.
B.B. has mixed traditional blues, jazz, swing, mainstream pop and jump into a unique sound. His singing is richly melodic, both vocally and in the "singing" that comes from his guitar. In B.B's words, "When I sing, I play in my mind; the minute I stop singing orally, I start to sing by playing Lucille. I'm trying to get people to see that we are our brother's keeper. Red, white, black, brown, yellow, rich, poor, we all have the blues".
B.B. King's album ‘Deuces Wild’—featuring B.B. in tandem with many other legendary artists, including Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Joe Cocker, Tracy Chapman, Mick Hucknall (Simply Red) and Dr. John—was a huge success. “Deuces Wild” became B.B. King's second gold album. Over the years, B.B. has been recognized with fifteen Grammy Awards and many other accolades, including induction into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1984 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1996, along with Eric Clapton, Jimmie Vaughn, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, Dr. John and Art Neville, King received the Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "SRV Shuffle" from “A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan”.
B.B. King
Throughout the annals of modern music, there has been only one King of the Blues—Riley B. King, affectionately known as B.B. King. Since B.B. started recording in the late 1940s, he has released over 60 albums, many of them considered blues classics.
During his career, B.B. has had multiple R&B hits, including his most
popular crossover hit, 1970's ‘The Thrill Is Gone’, which went to #15 pop.
His classic songs such as ‘Caldonia’, ‘Everyday I Have the Blues’, and
‘Why I Sing the Blues’, are international favourites that have stood the test of time, while remaining concert staples.
Over the years, B.B. King has developed one of the world's most readily identified guitar styles, integrating his precise vocal like string bends and his left hand vibrato, both of which have become indispensable components of rock guitarist's vocabulary. His economy—his every-note-counts phrasing—has been a model for thousands of players, including Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Jeff Beck.
B.B. has mixed traditional blues, jazz, swing, mainstream pop and jump into a unique sound. His singing is richly melodic, both vocally and in the "singing" that comes from his guitar. In B.B's words, "When I sing, I play in my mind; the minute I stop singing orally, I start to sing by playing Lucille. I'm trying to get people to see that we are our brother's keeper. Red, white, black, brown, yellow, rich, poor, we all have the blues".
B.B. King's album ‘Deuces Wild’—featuring B.B. in tandem with many other legendary artists, including Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Joe Cocker, Tracy Chapman, Mick Hucknall (Simply Red) and Dr. John—was a huge success. “Deuces Wild” became B.B. King's second gold album. Over the years, B.B. has been recognized with fifteen Grammy Awards and many other accolades, including induction into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1984 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1996, along with Eric Clapton, Jimmie Vaughn, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, Dr. John and Art Neville, King received the Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "SRV Shuffle" from “A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan”.
2012 Ottawa Bluesfest - July 4-17, Lebreton Flats, Ottawa ON
Ottawa's biggest and best music festival features 12 consecutive days of programming, from Wednesday, July 4 through Sunday, July 15. This year's event takes place at Lebreton Flats & the War Museum, near downtown Ottawa.
Tickets
•Tickets are available via CapitalTickets.ca on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 28.
•Full festival passports are $375. Youth passports $199 (ages 10-21)
•Day Passes, Full Festival Passports, and VIP Access tickets are available.
•Day Passes range from $40-$65 depending on the concert day.
•Multi-day wristband - pick 4 dates and save 10%, pick 5 dates save 15%, pick 6-9 dates, save 25%.
•VIP Access: Empire Grill Clubhouse $575, Metropolitain Gold Circle - $100-$150.
RFID Bluesbands
•RFID Bluesbands combine event admission with the ease of cashless payment - all on your wrist! RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest is proud to offer a ticketless and cashless environment at the 2012 festival.
For detailed tickets/pass info, please visit: www.ottawabluesfest.ca (official festival site)
Sierra Leone's Refugee Allstars at Bluesfest on Sunday, July 8
Sierra Leone's Refugee Allstars
River Stage
Sunday, July 8
6:00 PM
Sitting in a dusty refugee camp in Guinea in 2004, Reuben M. Koroma, the founder of Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, could not have imagined what the near future would hold for him and the members of his band. In just six whirlwind years, the group has gone from being unknown musicians languishing in various refugee camps to being the subject of an acclaimed documentary film, touring the world to support the critically revered album Living Like a Refugee, appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and sharing the stage and studio with Aerosmith and other international stars. SLRAS have arisen like a phoenix out of the ashes of war and enflamed the passions of fans across the globe with their uplifting songs of hope, faith and joy. The band is a potent example of the redeeming power of music and the ability of the human spirit to persevere through unimaginable hardship and emerge with optimism intact.
After spreading their uplifting messages to enthusiastic crowds of dancing music fans across the US, SLRAS headed into a studio in New Orleans. With producer Steve Berlin of Los Lobos at the helm, the band spent two weeks recording an amazing album—Rise and Shine—a masterful collection of songs that reflect how much
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars have grown since their early days jamming around campfires in isolated refugee camps. New Orleans stars Trombone Shorty, Washboard Chaz and the Bonerama Horns all sat in on the sessions to create a spicy new Sierra Leon-meets-New Orleans musical flavour!
Source: www.ottawabluesfest.ca
River Stage
Sunday, July 8
6:00 PM
Sitting in a dusty refugee camp in Guinea in 2004, Reuben M. Koroma, the founder of Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, could not have imagined what the near future would hold for him and the members of his band. In just six whirlwind years, the group has gone from being unknown musicians languishing in various refugee camps to being the subject of an acclaimed documentary film, touring the world to support the critically revered album Living Like a Refugee, appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and sharing the stage and studio with Aerosmith and other international stars. SLRAS have arisen like a phoenix out of the ashes of war and enflamed the passions of fans across the globe with their uplifting songs of hope, faith and joy. The band is a potent example of the redeeming power of music and the ability of the human spirit to persevere through unimaginable hardship and emerge with optimism intact.
After spreading their uplifting messages to enthusiastic crowds of dancing music fans across the US, SLRAS headed into a studio in New Orleans. With producer Steve Berlin of Los Lobos at the helm, the band spent two weeks recording an amazing album—Rise and Shine—a masterful collection of songs that reflect how much
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars have grown since their early days jamming around campfires in isolated refugee camps. New Orleans stars Trombone Shorty, Washboard Chaz and the Bonerama Horns all sat in on the sessions to create a spicy new Sierra Leon-meets-New Orleans musical flavour!
Source: www.ottawabluesfest.ca
SEAL: British soul music royalty at Ottawa Bluesfest! - Sunday, July 8
Seal
Claridge Homes Stage
Sunday, July 8
8:15 PM
When Seal— the son of Nigerian and Brazilian parents—was a teenager in England, a new wave of American soul turned his head.
Seal pays loving homage to that vibrant time in his own musical life with Soul 2, his eighth studio album, bringing his immense talents and deep sensibilities to songs that were coming out of Detroit, Memphis and especially Philadelphia—a sound that in England became known as Northern Soul. Working with producer Trevor Horn (who launched Seal’s career and produced his first four albums) and on four songs with David Foster (who produced Soul, Seal’s first international hit album in 2008 and 2010‘s Commitment). Seal simultaneously internalizes and evokes the spirit of such musical giants as Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass, Smokey Robinson, Bill Withers, the Spinners and the O’Jays. What a great fit for the 2012 edition of the RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest!
Source: www.ottawabluesfest.ca
Claridge Homes Stage
Sunday, July 8
8:15 PM
When Seal— the son of Nigerian and Brazilian parents—was a teenager in England, a new wave of American soul turned his head.
Seal pays loving homage to that vibrant time in his own musical life with Soul 2, his eighth studio album, bringing his immense talents and deep sensibilities to songs that were coming out of Detroit, Memphis and especially Philadelphia—a sound that in England became known as Northern Soul. Working with producer Trevor Horn (who launched Seal’s career and produced his first four albums) and on four songs with David Foster (who produced Soul, Seal’s first international hit album in 2008 and 2010‘s Commitment). Seal simultaneously internalizes and evokes the spirit of such musical giants as Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass, Smokey Robinson, Bill Withers, the Spinners and the O’Jays. What a great fit for the 2012 edition of the RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest!
Source: www.ottawabluesfest.ca
Zimbabwean musical icon Oliver Mtukudzi at Ottawa Bluesfest - July 10
Oliver Mtukudzi
Black Sheep Stage
Tuesday, July 10
9:15 PM
Gifted with a deep, gutsy voice and a talent for writing songs that reflect the daily struggles of the people of his homeland, Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi is one of Zimbabwe's greatest artists. His blending of Southern African music traditions—including mbira, mbaqanga, jit, and the traditional drumming styles of the Korekore—has created such a unique sound that it has been respectfully dubbed "Tuku music."
Parade Magazine referred to Mtukudzi as "one of the few genuine innovators on the Zimbabwean music scene." Bonnie Raitt, who has recorded several of his songs, says, "The juxtaposition of what Mtukudzi sings
about and his raw, imploring voice reminds me of Otis Redding, Toots Hibbert, and some of my favourite reggae—an odd pairing of agonizing, thorny lyrics over basically light-hearted music."
Mtukudzi reached his commercial peak at the turn of the millennium with the album Tuku Music, which topped charts worldwide for most of the year. Shortly after the album's release, Mutukudzi toured the United States and Canada, along with Taj Mahal, Toumani Diabate and Baaba Maal, as part of Africa Fête 1999. A video of Mtukudzi's September 1999 performance in San Francisco was released in February 2000.
Source: www.ottawabluesfest.ca
Black Sheep Stage
Tuesday, July 10
9:15 PM
Gifted with a deep, gutsy voice and a talent for writing songs that reflect the daily struggles of the people of his homeland, Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi is one of Zimbabwe's greatest artists. His blending of Southern African music traditions—including mbira, mbaqanga, jit, and the traditional drumming styles of the Korekore—has created such a unique sound that it has been respectfully dubbed "Tuku music."
Parade Magazine referred to Mtukudzi as "one of the few genuine innovators on the Zimbabwean music scene." Bonnie Raitt, who has recorded several of his songs, says, "The juxtaposition of what Mtukudzi sings
about and his raw, imploring voice reminds me of Otis Redding, Toots Hibbert, and some of my favourite reggae—an odd pairing of agonizing, thorny lyrics over basically light-hearted music."
Mtukudzi reached his commercial peak at the turn of the millennium with the album Tuku Music, which topped charts worldwide for most of the year. Shortly after the album's release, Mutukudzi toured the United States and Canada, along with Taj Mahal, Toumani Diabate and Baaba Maal, as part of Africa Fête 1999. A video of Mtukudzi's September 1999 performance in San Francisco was released in February 2000.
Source: www.ottawabluesfest.ca
Soul chanteuse Bettye Lavette at Ottawa Bluesfest - Friday, July 13
Bettye LaVette
Black Sheep Stage
Friday, July 13
9:15 PM
Her latest CD Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook garnered Bettye a 2011 Grammy nomination. Her best selling CD ever, the record features her versions of classic rock songs so inventively reinterpreted that they won raves from the songs' original writers including Elton John, Keith Richards and Pete Townshend.
Bettye has recently been featured on Good Morning America, Today, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman, Lopez Tonight, and The Late Late show with Craig Ferguson. She is also featured on Steve Cropper's CD, Dedicated, along with guests Steve Winwood, Lucinda Williams, and B.B. King. Bettye's nine-show residency at Café Carlyle in New York City last May received unanimous raves. In June she also appeared in New York at the SummerStage Gala "Motown Meets NYC" with the New York Pops Orchestra. Other recent performance highlights include a three-night sold out run as a featured performer at the Hollywood Bowl's special Beatles Anniversary Celebration and a two-week U.S. tour as a special guest with Robert Plant. Bettye was also joined recently by Herbie Hancock for a performance at the United Negro College Fund's, An Evening of Stars Tribute to Chaka Khan, which also featured Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones and Faith Evans and aired on BET. Bettye's growing legion of fans is confirming her new role as one of America's iconic treasures crossing the genres of Soul, R&B, Pop, Blues and Rock.
Source: www.ottawabluesfest.ca
Black Sheep Stage
Friday, July 13
9:15 PM
Her latest CD Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook garnered Bettye a 2011 Grammy nomination. Her best selling CD ever, the record features her versions of classic rock songs so inventively reinterpreted that they won raves from the songs' original writers including Elton John, Keith Richards and Pete Townshend.
Bettye has recently been featured on Good Morning America, Today, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman, Lopez Tonight, and The Late Late show with Craig Ferguson. She is also featured on Steve Cropper's CD, Dedicated, along with guests Steve Winwood, Lucinda Williams, and B.B. King. Bettye's nine-show residency at Café Carlyle in New York City last May received unanimous raves. In June she also appeared in New York at the SummerStage Gala "Motown Meets NYC" with the New York Pops Orchestra. Other recent performance highlights include a three-night sold out run as a featured performer at the Hollywood Bowl's special Beatles Anniversary Celebration and a two-week U.S. tour as a special guest with Robert Plant. Bettye was also joined recently by Herbie Hancock for a performance at the United Negro College Fund's, An Evening of Stars Tribute to Chaka Khan, which also featured Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones and Faith Evans and aired on BET. Bettye's growing legion of fans is confirming her new role as one of America's iconic treasures crossing the genres of Soul, R&B, Pop, Blues and Rock.
Source: www.ottawabluesfest.ca
Powerful blues vocalist Semekia Copeland at Bluesfest - Saturday, July 14
Shemekia Copeland
Black Sheep Stage
Saturday, July 14
7:15 PM
The daughter of renowned Texas blues guitarist Johnny Copeland, Shemekia Copeland began making a splash in her own right before she was even out of her teens. When Shemekia first appeared on the scene in 1997 with her groundbreaking debut CD, TURN THE HEAT UP, she quickly became an 18-year-old roots music superstar. Critics from around the country celebrated Shemekia's music as fans of all ages agreed that an unstoppable new talent had arrived.
Shemekia soon released two more CDs: 2000's Grammy©-nominated WICKED and 2002's TALKING TO STRANGERS (produced by Dr. John), and in that short period of time, collected five Blues Music Awards, a Grammy© nomination, five Living Blues Awards, and was honoured with the coveted "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" Award by the DownBeat Critics' Poll. Rock legend Robert Plant called her "the next Tina Turner." Shemekia has already had a lifetime's worth of career highlights, sharing stages with some of the biggest
names in the music world. She appeared on the Late Show With David Letterman (along with B.B. King), was featured in the Martin Scorsese-produced concert film Lightning In A Bottle, the PBS television series The Blues and even opened a show for the Rolling Stones in Chicago.
And, of course, there’s more to come. Shemekia continues to tour the world and to win fans at every stop. She's played with Buddy Guy and B.B. King, and has shared the stage with Taj Mahal, Dr. John and Koko Taylor. She won the hearts and souls of new fans at the 1998 and 2002 Chicago Blues Festivals, The The Monterey Jazz Festival, The San Francisco Blues Festival, The North Sea Festival in Holland, The Montreux
Jazz Festival, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and more recently, the Ottawa Bluesfest in 2009.
Source: www.ottawabluesfest.ca
Black Sheep Stage
Saturday, July 14
7:15 PM
The daughter of renowned Texas blues guitarist Johnny Copeland, Shemekia Copeland began making a splash in her own right before she was even out of her teens. When Shemekia first appeared on the scene in 1997 with her groundbreaking debut CD, TURN THE HEAT UP, she quickly became an 18-year-old roots music superstar. Critics from around the country celebrated Shemekia's music as fans of all ages agreed that an unstoppable new talent had arrived.
Shemekia soon released two more CDs: 2000's Grammy©-nominated WICKED and 2002's TALKING TO STRANGERS (produced by Dr. John), and in that short period of time, collected five Blues Music Awards, a Grammy© nomination, five Living Blues Awards, and was honoured with the coveted "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" Award by the DownBeat Critics' Poll. Rock legend Robert Plant called her "the next Tina Turner." Shemekia has already had a lifetime's worth of career highlights, sharing stages with some of the biggest
names in the music world. She appeared on the Late Show With David Letterman (along with B.B. King), was featured in the Martin Scorsese-produced concert film Lightning In A Bottle, the PBS television series The Blues and even opened a show for the Rolling Stones in Chicago.
And, of course, there’s more to come. Shemekia continues to tour the world and to win fans at every stop. She's played with Buddy Guy and B.B. King, and has shared the stage with Taj Mahal, Dr. John and Koko Taylor. She won the hearts and souls of new fans at the 1998 and 2002 Chicago Blues Festivals, The The Monterey Jazz Festival, The San Francisco Blues Festival, The North Sea Festival in Holland, The Montreux
Jazz Festival, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and more recently, the Ottawa Bluesfest in 2009.
Source: www.ottawabluesfest.ca
K'NAAN!! K'NAAN!! K'NAAN!! - Sunday, July 15
K'NAAN
Main Stage
Sunday, July 15
7:00 PM
In 2001, after gaining notoriety as a skilled MC and spoken word poet, K’NAAN was invited to Geneva to perform a spoken-word piece at the 50th anniversary of the UN Commission for Refugees. K’NAAN brought the house down. The audience was so moved by the piece that K’NAAN received a standing ovation and African superstar, Youssou N'Dour, who was also in attendance, invited K’NAAN to Senegal to record with him. K’NAAN’s first full-length album, The Dusty Foot Philosopher, is the type of record you give to people who say they hate hip hop, then dare them to resist its charms. In 2007 the live album On the Road appeared and then, two years later, the exceptional album Troubadour became K’NAAN’s first for the major label A&M. The EP More Beautiful Than Silence was released on January 31, 2012.
Source: www.ottawabluesfest.ca
Main Stage
Sunday, July 15
7:00 PM
In 2001, after gaining notoriety as a skilled MC and spoken word poet, K’NAAN was invited to Geneva to perform a spoken-word piece at the 50th anniversary of the UN Commission for Refugees. K’NAAN brought the house down. The audience was so moved by the piece that K’NAAN received a standing ovation and African superstar, Youssou N'Dour, who was also in attendance, invited K’NAAN to Senegal to record with him. K’NAAN’s first full-length album, The Dusty Foot Philosopher, is the type of record you give to people who say they hate hip hop, then dare them to resist its charms. In 2007 the live album On the Road appeared and then, two years later, the exceptional album Troubadour became K’NAAN’s first for the major label A&M. The EP More Beautiful Than Silence was released on January 31, 2012.
Source: www.ottawabluesfest.ca
3Dreads and a Baldhead + Ottawa Bluesfest = More than just a day of music
For the 6th year, 3Dreads and a Baldhead are participating in the Ottawa Bluesfest BROAD Communities program as a stage sponsor for July 7th. We sell the day pass at a discount, $30 (regular price is $60). This will help in our support of 2 major opportunities: youth traveling to Birmingham Alabama for the annual International Black Youth Summit from the Be More Leadership Academy and the largest ever Swab event in partnership with Sickle Cell Parent Support Group and One Match in order to impact and transform the number of people of African descent on the Bone Marrow Registry. "Party with a purpose!!!!" You are buying more than just a ticket. You are supporting the work of black youth from our communities and them being their visions fulfilled!
If you would like to buy tickets, make a donation (airline reward miles would help too), and/or need more information, email 3dreads@gmail.com or call the 3Dreads hotline at 613 407 3237
Thank you in advance for you support! Please share with your networks
Adrienne Coddett
Founder/Opportunities Broker
3Dreads and a Baldhead
If you would like to buy tickets, make a donation (airline reward miles would help too), and/or need more information, email 3dreads@gmail.com or call the 3Dreads hotline at 613 407 3237
Thank you in advance for you support! Please share with your networks
Adrienne Coddett
Founder/Opportunities Broker
3Dreads and a Baldhead
