I was fortunate to once again photograph all of the festivals I did in 2017, including Canadian Music Week, Dragonboat, Montebello RockFest, Ottawa Bluesfest, Newport Folk Festival, Osheaga, CityFolk, and Beau’s Oktoberfest as well as many individual concerts. I like to try to capture some of the energy of the live shows in photos so I hope my photos convey some of […]

 All good things eventually come to an end and, as such, this review covers the final weekend of RBC Bluesfest 2018. Day 8 – Friday, July 13th Country music is often a divisive genre. People seem to either love it or hate it, yet Sturgill Simpson is somehow different. To quote one patron overheard at Bluesfest, “I don’t like country […]

Where have the 10 days gone? Tonight, RBC Bluesfest 2018 draws to a close. Though your legs may be tired and you seem to have misplaced your Ray-Bans, those are concerns for Monday. There’s still plenty of fantastic music ahead for the Sunday, so slather on the sunscreen, grab a blanket and put it in your bag (regulation size of […]

This year was a whirlwind of festivals and club shows, both close to home and in cities afar. I was fortunate enough to be able to photograph the final live show at an Ottawa institution, take candid photos of an incredibly personable band during an interview, and had the privilege to return for a second year to photograph a pair […]

The city of Ottawa recently hosted the annual and highly-anticipated Tim Horton’s Dragon Boat Festival. Twenty-three years since the festival’s inception, it has developed international acclaim, drawing 150 teams from across North America. Besides the competition on the water, it raises funds for the betterment of the Ottawa community via supporting charitable organizations in the area. To complement the event, […]

I went in early for Day 8 of  Ottawa Bluesfest to see The Yips. I was first introduced to The Yips last year at the Arboretum Festival so I knew they were a a great live band and wanted to see more of them. Last year at the Ottawa Folk Festival I was caught completely off guard by a band called Dear […]

The 21st edition of the RBC Bluesfest has come to a close. At eleven days, it marked the second longest in the festival’s history. We, Ben and Darren, looked back on the first 5 days last Monday. We now reflect on the shows that impressed us the most for days 6 to 11. Words are by both Ben and Darren, […]

We’re down to the final three days. While I’ve avoided naming headliners, this one cannot be passed up. There’s also a slew of local artists performing tonight, so get there early to see them. For more information on the Ottawa artists, check out the Ottawa Soundmakers series. Without anymore delay, here are the RBC Bluesfest July 17th Gig Picks, which […]

I am a concert addict. I have been averaging around 130 live performances a year once you factor in all the concerts and festivals I go to. Sometimes it surprises me how many bands I see for the first time each year but I am usually at least familiar with their music before seeing them. This year on Thursday night […]