BLUESFEST LINEUP RELEASED

[The Chameleon]

Mind bogglingly huge line up. I ma have to make the drive to see Steve Miller alone!

WOW.

[Jaimoe]

so no calls for changing the name from Bluesfest then, jaimoe?

Why beat a dead horse. The name makes me sad, but it's an awesome festival.

[AD]

With an airy new Lebreton Flats venue and a deep and exciting lineup featuring diverse acts like Bob Dylan, The White Stripes and Kanye West, the 2007 Bluesfest is getting a major makeover this year.

Running from July 5-15, the 11-day festival boasts 147 musical acts on five stages. It also marks a return to Lebreton Flats after five years at an increasingly cramped Ottawa City Hall location.

This year, two main stages will face each other at the spacious, south lawn entrance of the Canadian War Museum, featuring continuous music and boosting capacity to 30,000 people from the 20,000 who have made an awkward fit into Festival Plaza.

"This is just a site that's built for large scale events," said Monahan. As for the music, there appears to be something for everyone.

Monahan, "a huge fan" of The White Stripes, said he was personally psyched to get the eclectic Detroit brother-sister outfit.

The festival has also tried repeatedly to get Dylan, and, to work around his Montreal date, added the extra, opening day on July 5 to secure his performance. Monahan says another get was the Steve Miller Band, which rarely comes this way.

"The festival is definitely recognized as a great play in Canada," said Monahan. "I think that's happened over time, so when artists plan a tour they definitely look at this festival as a great opportunity to meet a lot of people."

Monahan says because 25% of Bluesfest goers are under 35, hot rap acts like Kanye West are essential to the lineup. But the festival is never just about the main stage, and with acts like The Flatlanders, Los Lobos and the return of Buddy Guy, Monahan is confident there will be something for everyone.

"There's a lot of stuff there for the blues guys. I think that audience has changed as well. I think a lot of our audience loves Buddy Guy and The Flatliners, but they also like some Tex Mex stuff, some rock stuff," said Monahan. "The audience for this event is really pretty diverse and I think the way we program this, people actually like the opportunity to see all this other stuff."

The festival is heavy on solid acts like George Thorogood & the Destroyers, George Clinton & The P-Funk, Randy Newman, Sam Roberts Band and the reality-show creation that is the new INXS. There are also many returning favourites like Michael Franti & Spearhead, Aussie multi-instrumentalist Xavier Rudd and Ottawa mainstays Blue Rodeo, who continue to draw a healthy crowd no matter how many times they return.

This Bluesfest also features 25 Ottawa bands, including Jim Bryson and Souljazz Orchestra.

Tickets for the Ottawa Bluesfest go on sale April 28 at 10 a.m. through Capital Tickets (613-599-3267, www.capitaltickets.ca), all Sports Experts locations, Compact Music's two Bank St. locations and the Rideau Centre kiosk across from Roots. Festival passports run from $160-$385, weekend passports are from $85-$115, while single day outdoor tickets range from $30 to $95, depending on area. Visit www.ottawabluesfest.ca for more information.

[Ms.Huxtable]

Holy cow. My highlighter runs dry after that line-up! Man this is going to be fun.

[phorbesie]

incredible!!! wow. so stoked!!!

[M.O.B.E]

When Leslie(my wife) sees that Bob Dylan is playing that will confirm my trip to Ottawa.

[PassedOutGuy]

Well i wont be able to get vacation time right away when i get back from Alaska but im thinking of grabbing a single night when moe. plays to head up... crash space for two there Booche?

[bouche]

we're just debating moving 1 week of our 3-week honeymoon over a notch. Mind you, we've never needed any vacation time to enjoy bluesfest. I think it's even closer to home now since it's on the cusp of hull.

woohoo! go Monohan!

[mark tonin]

What a great lineup ... huge! I know that at times you Ottawa peeps miss some of what comes to southern Ontario, but WOW, Bluesfest looks amazing this year!

Peace, Mark

[gentlemonkey]

sweet merciful christ. monohan = the man.

I will be organizing a group rate again this year, so watch for that email soon..

again.. holyfuckingshit is that lineup unreal.

[Niplit]

Suddenly Ottawa is seen in a brand new light through my eyes...I guess all it took was some warm weather and reeeeedikulous bluesfest (and even jazzfest) lineups! I'm completely blown away....no words....should have sent.....a poet

[Booche]

crash space for two there Booche?

You got it dink. I already took the following morning off. moe > Los Lobos?

Fucking awesome and not a sober Booche in sight. That's my major party night.

[paisley]

that line-up is just sick

[Booche]

Too bad for you Pais, my place is full arsewhipe!

[NewRider]

that line-up is just sick

it's beyond sick. it's ill.

HOVA

[Calamity Jane]

and popo weenie's band as well?

The Mighty Popo

Crrrrraaaazzzzzyyyyyyy!

he's awesome, actually...and also played MY high-school aud a month ago, but didn't get the press that Arcade Fire did.....

anyway...quite stoked for this line-up, fo' so'....

...lots of crash space available here for outtatowners, though we are a bit of a trek from the downtown core.....

[Im going home Donny]

this does look sweet...I'm forseeing a team Holly, Azlan and a Dessy get down. holy moley.

Edited April 19, 2007 by Guest
ohmygawd mamma spelled her boys name wrong!hahaha

[AD]

A look at the green initiatives... I'm glad they've thought of supervised bike parking. With the shitty new location, this will be key.

[bradm]

I wonder...with

moe.

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones

Michael Franti & Spearhead

Soul Jazz Orchestra

Xavier Rudd

Built to Spill

on the list, will they be allowing people to record these artists? I may send an e-mail to one of their contact addresses to check.

Aloha,

Brad

[AD]

i doubt they'll let people record the sets. much easier to have a blanket no than a yes with major restrictions.

also, joel plaskett is no longer on the schedule. strange.

[Jakis]

I know last year my friend recorded the mofro sets.

[TimmyB]

What a year to decide to go to Europe in July.

I'm getting impatient about Bob Dylan announcing his tour a Canadian gig here and a Canadian gig there. I want all the dates to figure out what gig I will be able to attend in June and/or July that do not conflict with June 29-July 15.

Tim

[Jay Funk Dawg]

wow this is a saawweeat line up.

I'm going BIG UPS OTTAWA!

[Esau.]

Go see Chris Duarte if you have a chance...likely not going to be touted as a "heavy hitter" in this forum' date=' I thought I'd give him a little bit of promotion...he's AMAZING![/quote']

Agreed. I remember seeing him open up for Buddy Guy at LuLu's (Kitchener) YEARS ago. Blew me away. Bought his new release at the time: Texas Sugar Strat Magik. Great album.

I caught that show also - looking at the stub right now - Buddy Guy, Chris Duarte and Mel Brown Thursday March 9th 1995 ($15.75 ticket price)

We recorded it also. I have the show on cassette still to this day. I also caught the next nights show with Buddy and Duarte at Convcation hall, but I found Duarte was just way too loud for the place.

[Velvet]

Not that I'm complaining, but whatever happened to Jerry Lee Lewis? The Citizen announced him, along with Bela Fleck, Leo Kottke, Randy Newman, and Steve Miller weeks ago.