Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest

Photos © Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest; Photographers—Peter Waiser; Bill Young; and John Boland
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Festival Story:

Cisco goes Hollywood in 2010:

• In keeping with the ‘Bluesfest Goes Hollywood’ theme, the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest today announced the addition of Michael and Kevin Bacon’s band, The Bacon Brothers to the festival program. Also added to the mix is Hole—featuring Courtney Love.
  
  • Bacon Brothers — Michael and Kevin Bacon
    As stated on their website, 2009 marks 14 years of the Bacon Brothers band’s existence, and any cynical preconceptions about well-known actors “dabbling” in music now can safely be discarded. The band has gigged relentlessly to build up a following, and their latest offering, New Year’s Day, represents their sixth LP release. As The New Yorker recently observed, “Hollywood hangs like an albatross around the neck of any movie star turned musician, but this duo shakes off the burden of fame with sharply executed rock that has a blue-collar, rootsy edge.”
  • Hole — Courtney Love
    As for Hole, what more needs to be said. Fronted by Courtney Love, who is superbly backed by guitarist Micko Larkin, Shawn Dailey on bass and drummer Stuart Fisher, this show promises to be a ‘don’t-miss performance’. Last month, the first Hole single in ten years, and first from the album Nobody’s Daughter was released. Skinny Little Bitch was the most added song on alternative radio and the second most added song on active rock in early March in the United States, debuting at #32 on Billboard’s Alternative Singles Chart.

Festival Events:

Confirmed line-up 2010:

• Alexisonfire
• Anders Osborne & Johnny Sansone
• Andrew Bird
• AfroReggae
• Arcade Fire
• Aterciopelados
• Babe Ruth
• Basia Bulat
• Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
• Bear in Heaven
• Big Jeezus Truck
• Big Soul Project featuring Roxanne Goodman
• Bill ‘Sauce Boss’ Wharton
• Bjorn Berg
• Blonde Redhead
• Campbell Brothers
• Caravan Palace
• Carolyn Wonderland
• The Cat Empire
• Champion and His G-Strings
• Charlie Winston
• Coolooloosh
• Crowded House
• Culture Reject
• Curtis Salgado
• Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band
• and…
  Down With Webster; Drake; Dream Theatre; Eamon McGrath; Elvis Perkins; Ethiopique; Faber Drive; Foghat; Furthur featuring Phil Lesh & Bob Weir; Garaga; Gipsy Kings; GOOD2GO; Gord Downie and the Country of Miracles; Great Big Sea; Great Lake Swimmers; Group 1 Crew; Grupo Fantasma; Iron Maiden; James Hunter; Jimmy Cliff; Joan Jett; Joe Krown Trio with Walter Wolfman Washington & Russell Batiste; John Butler Trio; John Hiatt; John Kilduff; Keith Urban; Ken Workman & the Union; Kevin Costner and Modern West; Kings Go Forth; Konono No. 1; Lady Tramaine Hawkins; Laurent Bourque; Levon Helm; LIGHTS; Loudlove; Lukas Nelson; Marc Cohn; Marcia Ball & The Voice of The Wetlands All Stars featuring Tab Benoit, Cyril Neville, Anders Osborne, Johnny Sansone, Waylon Thibodeaux, and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux; Marianas Trench; Martin Sexton; Matt Andersen; Matthew Good; Matt Schofield; Metric; Moneen; Monster Mike Welch; NEWWORLDSON; Nicolas Collins; Occidental Brothers; Octoberman; Ozomatli; Passion Pit; Paul Rishell & Annie Raines; Planet Smashers; Renaissance; Richie Righteous; River City Junction; Robert Farrell Band; Robert Randolph & the Family Band; Roger Hodgson; Ronnie Baker Brooks; Roy Rogers & The Delta River Kings; Rosanne Cash; The Rural Alberta Advantage; Ryan Montbleau Band; Santana; Septentrional d’Haiti; Slyde; Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes; Staff Benda Bilili; Steel Pulse; Steve Dawson’s Mississippi Sheiks Project; Steve Hackett; Steve Winwood; That 1 Guy; That’s the Spirit; Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience; The Aggrolites; The Budos Band; The Constellations; The Ethics; The Flaming Lips; The Hold Steady; The Lost Fingers; The Love Machine; The Mohawk Lodge; The Moody Blues; The Musical Box; The Swell Season; The White Wires; Timber Timbre; TJ Wheeler; Tommy Castro; Too Slim and The Taildraggers; Trevor Hall; Tye Tribbett; We Are Wolves; Weezer; Woodhands; and Yatkha, with more to be announced.

Other Sources:

Want more? Click on a color — travel and explore.  

Podcast Interviews:

• If you like this… listen to
  
  • Sharon Jones of Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
    http://kadmusarts.com/podcasts/?p=934

Articles and Reviews:

• Bluesfest confirms festival move (Ottawa Citizen, December 13, 2006)
  http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/story.html?id=5c590f4a-a942-4134-8733-c52ec0aaced1&k=0
• Ottawa festivals brighten summer blues. Four events believed to pack $48M punch. By Mike Levin - Business Edge (Ontario Business News, July 21, 2005 - Vol. 1, No. 14)
  http://www.businessedge.ca/article.cfm/newsID/10128.cfm
• Ottawa Blues Festival 2003. Festival Plaza - Ottawa, ON. By Tim Holek (Blues on Stage, July 4-13, 2003)
  http://www.mnblues.com/review/2003/ottawabluesfest03-th.html

Images:

• Cisco Systems Blues Festival Back Stage
  http://www.ottawapanoramas.com/ciscosystemsblue.html

Practical Info:

Vote Now!:

• Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest has made it to CBC Radio’s Top-40 Best MUSIC Fest in Canada. The race is on and the only way for the blues festival to win is to get out the vote. Top 20 will be revealed on February 24, 2010
• VOTE NOW
• VOTE EVERY DAY
  http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/searchlight/vote

Venues:

• Bluesfest ByWard York Street Outdoor Stage — New venue
  http://www.byward-market.com/
• The Great Canadina Cabin
• Capital Music Hall
• The Hard Rock Cafe
• Fat Tuesday’s
• The Heart & Crown
• The Rainbow
• The Live Lounge
• Mavericks
• Pier 21
• Ritual
• Zaphod’s

Tickets:

• Single day pass
  This NON-TRANSFERABLE Day Ticket permits general admission access to all onsite stages and shows for one specific day. Some exclusions apply.

Event passports:

• Full Festival Passport (Transferable Ticket Series) 
Transferable passports are good for general admission access to all on-site shows for the duration of the festival. Transferable passports are not available at the Rideau Centre Kiosk. Some exclusions apply.
• Full Festival Passport (Non-Transferable Wristband)
  Wristband passports are good for general admission access to all on-site shows for the duration of the festival with the exception of the Pass Plus events, and other exclusions apply. A limited number of non-transferable wristband passports will be available at a reduced price for 18 and under. Ticket holders will be required to show ID at the festival to receive their wristband.
• Weekend Passport
  Weekend passports are good for general admission access to all on-site shows during one weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) of the festival. Some exclusions apply.
• Gold Circle Pass - Limited Number
  A Gold Circle Pass is a transferable pass that provides you with access to the Gold Circle area located adjacent to the Main Stage. With a Gold Circle pass you will benefit from:
  
  • Private bar services
  • Patio tables and chairs
  • Private washroom facilities
• Empire Grill Club Pass
  This transferable pass entitles you to full access at the Empire Grill Club areas at four of our stages.
• Main Stage (Gold Circle)
  
  • MBNA Grassroots Stage
  • Blacksheep Stage
  • ADCN Stage (Club Tropical)
• Inside the Empire Grill Club areas you will enjoy:
  
  • Private bar services
  • Patio tables and chairs
  • Private washroom facilities

Group discounts:

• Groups of 15 or more receive a discount on the per-ticket cost for the festival. For more information email
  info@ottawabluesfest.ca
• Corporate suites
  Corporate suites come complete with 30 tickets to see world-class entertainment with the opportunity to purchase additional seats up to a maximum of 40.
• Great sight line and elevated platform for optimal viewing
• Private bar and catering available with your own attendant
• Patio tables and chairs for your comfort
• 2’ x 2’ company sign
• Access to the City Hall washroom facilities
  For more information call Nathalie Laperrière at (01) 613-247-1188 Ext. 231, or email: nlaperriere@ottawabluesfest.ca

Buying tickets:

• In person (Gold Circle Pass is available from two first and Empire Grill Club Pass only from the first location)
• Bluesfest Office
  1810 St. Laurent Blvd.
• Compact Music
  785 A Bank St. & 134 Bank Street
• Rideau Centre Kiosk
  Located outside the Roots Store
• Online:
  http://www.capitaltickets.ca
• By Phone (01) 613-755-1111

Do you have an update or more information about this festival? Email us at updates@kadmusarts.com
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