Ottawa's RBC Bluesfest kicked off the final weekend of its run in style, with Quebec rock sensations Angine de Poitrine drawing one of the biggest crowds of the festival to LeBreton Flats on Friday night.
The duo, known for their high-energy blend of garage rock and punk-inspired riffs, has been steadily building a following across Quebec and Ontario, and their Bluesfest set proved they've got the chops to headline a major outdoor stage. Fans packed in early to grab a spot near the barricades, and the energy carried through the entire set as Angine de Poitrine tore through fan favourites under the summer sky along the Ottawa River.
A stacked lineup for the last stretch
Angine de Poitrine wasn't the only draw on the night. They shared the bill with an eclectic mix of artists spanning genres, including Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow, rising country star Ella Langley, and Nick Earle and the Reckless Hearts, whose blues-rock sound fit right in with the festival's roots. The pairing of a punchy Quebec rock act with a legacy American icon like Crow is exactly the kind of genre-hopping booking that's made Bluesfest a summer staple for Ottawa music fans.
CBC's Kimberley Molina was on the ground at LeBreton Flats to capture the atmosphere, reporting live as thousands of festival-goers filled the grounds for the opening night of the closing weekend.
Why LeBreton Flats matters
For Ottawa residents, Bluesfest's LeBreton Flats location has become as much a part of the experience as the music itself. The sprawling green space along the river gives the festival room to host multiple stages simultaneously, letting fans wander between a heavier rock set on one side of the grounds and a country or blues act on the other. It's a rite of summer for locals, who plan their July around the lineup and often return night after night to catch as many acts as possible before the run wraps up.
With the final weekend now underway, organizers are expecting some of the festival's biggest crowds yet, especially with a lineup that draws in fans of rock, country, and blues alike. If Friday's turnout for Angine de Poitrine is any indication, Ottawa music lovers are showing up in full force to send this year's Bluesfest off with a bang.
For anyone still deciding whether to grab tickets for the remaining days, the mix of international heavyweights and rising acts like Angine de Poitrine makes a strong case for one more night at LeBreton Flats before summer festival season winds down.
Source: CBC
