CityFolk 2018 In Photos

Yesterday, we shared Part 1 of the photo essay of the 25th anniversary of Ottawa’s music festival CityFolk, while today we cover the last two days of the annual event. As with all larger festivals, it’s a logistical challenge to take in every set fully but here are some quick highlights of what we did see.

Day 4 – Saturday, September 15th

Acclaimed country singer-songwriter Lindi Ortega, made her second appearance in Ottawa in 2018, but the crowd didn’t mind her revisiting the capital. She is currently touring on her sixth album, Liberty, and certainly sparkled on stage like the music star she is in a sequined butterfly top and oversized shades. One of the stories of the day was the size of the crowd the Skydiggers drew on the RavenLaw stage. They not only completely packed the inside of the room, but they had fans spilling out at into the hall, surely setting the record for attendance at that stage. Legendary yacht-rocker Michael McDonald performed on the main stage, his set copiously seasoned with familiar smooth stylings, including classic tracks from his time with The Doobie Brothers through to his own solo hits. Finally, Irish musician Hozier drew what would be the largest crowd of the festival to close the night off. His debut album was a smash hit across the world, and Ottawa was eager to hear him perform. He certainly took everyone to church that night.

Also photos from: Barney Bentall

Day 5 – Sunday, September 16th

Husband and wife team Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland‘s Whitehorse just keeps getting better and better. They once again wowed Ottawa with their wonderful music and spot-on harmonies. The indie group Mt. Joy brought attendees to new musical heights on the RavenLaw Stage, with applause heard throughout the building. Hamilton’s Terra Lightfoot has performed frequently in Ottawa over the past few years, allowing her to grow her fan base. For fans, it was an anxiously awaited performance that didn’t disappoint. Inside at RavenLaw, Janis Ian was holding an intimate session including stories of her history in folk music. Finally, the evening was capped by indie legends The Decemberists, who introduced Ottawa to some new songs as well as playing many older favourites.

Five days of incredible weather and performances will ensure this year’s CityFolk will not soon be forgotten!