Bluesfest Day 1: Lainey Wilson rounds up the cowgirls

Ottawa Citizen

11-07-2025

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In all, Lainey's performance, her first at Bluesfest, was a refreshing change from the bro-country-dominated industry, and a good introduction to an artist worthy of following in the footsteps of legends like Dolly Parton and Faith Hill.
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Earlier in the evening, the smorgasbord of music ranged from the passionate country-soul of Red Clay Strays on the main stage to the vast instrumentation and enormous danceability of the Aussie party band Melbourne Ska Orchestra, who were slotted on the River stage in a slot that overlapped with another Australian party band, the Cat Empire, on the LeBreton stage.
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It was a tough decision, but I opted to say at the stage that had a spectacular view of the sunset over the Ottawa River, instead of the mud floor and tent walls of the LeBreton stage area. I should note, however, the sound is excellent at both the River and LeBreton stage.
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Back on the main stage, the first act was Rosewood Avenue, a likeable country-flavoured band formed by a pair of former high-school sweethearts who grew up in Timmins. They shared a story about a visit to Ottawa last summer, when they mused how great it would be if they played the big stage, casting the gig as a dream come true.
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The duo was bubbly and upbeat as they performed a selection of their own tunes and covers, including a romp through a hit(If You're Not in It For Love) by Shania Twain, once a fellow Timmins resident, they were quick to point out.
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Meanwhile, Ottawa-based recording artist and bandleader D.B. Cohen had the honour of kicking off the humid summer evening on the River stage with his gang of Ottawa merrymakers, complete with a brash brass section. The sun blazing in his face, the U.K. native had a determined air as he demonstrated his strong vocals and sure hand on guitar, not to mention a high level of professionalism on songs that straddled the realm between ska, rock and blues.
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But for some real blues, you had to check out the LeBreton stage, where a surprise discovery was the powerhouse vocalist, Annika Chambers. She performed with her husband, a guitarist who's no stranger to Bluesfest – Cornwall native Paul DesLauriers – and they were astounding.
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Chambers, a winner of multiple Blues Music Awards, captivated the festival's core population of blues fans with her gospel-drenched vocals, turning in a rendition of The Blues Got a Hold on Me that sent the old nugget sailing into the stratosphere, as DesLaurier unleashed his sultry licks.
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