Ottawa Bluesfest kicks off tonight. Here's what you need to know about Ottawa's biggest festival
Ottawa Bluesfest kicks off today, with nine nights of music set to fill the air at LeBreton Flats.
This is the 31st year for Ottawa's largest summer music festival, with performances set for four stages on the property just west of downtown Ottawa.
Country singer Lainey Wilson headlines the opening night of Bluesfest, with other headliners including Hozier, Turnstile, Shania Twain, Def Leppard, Green Day and Papa Roach.
'We're just glad,' Joe Reilly, Ottawa Bluesfest spokesperson, told CTV Morning Live.
'Anticipation, anticipation, you're doing stuff, and you just want it to start. So we're glad it's happening.'
Organizers anticipate 250,000 people to attend the nine nights of music along the banks of the Ottawa River.
'It's always best to leave your car at home or park far away and jump on the LRT or OC Transpo's bus system,' Reilly said, adding you can also cycle to LeBreton Flats.
A new addition to the grounds this year is the Casa Loco, a Mexican-style cantina with a 100-foot outdoor patio located on the Kichi Zibi Mikan Parkway. The Crazy Horse Saloon is returning, featuring a mechanical bull.
Ottawa Bluesfest runs until July 20.
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at what you need to know about Ottawa Bluesfest.
Ottawa Bluesfest 2025 Site Map
Ottawa Bluesfest 2025 Site Map (ottawabluesfest.ca)
Tickets
Tickets are available for all nine nights of Ottawa Bluesfest.
You can visit the Ottawa Bluesfest website for tickets, including the full festival pass and the Pick-3 Pass.
A full festival pass costs $428.04.
Ottawa Bluesfest lineup
Here is a look at the lineup each night at Ottawa Bluesfest.
July 10: Lainey Wilson ; The Red Clay Strays; Father John Misty; The Cat Empire; Linka Moja; Melbourne Ska Orchestra; Chambers DesLauriers; DB Cohen; Garnetta Cromwell & DaGroovmasters; Riley Burns; Rosewood Avenue; DJ Karyen
Lainey Wilson The Red Clay Strays; Father John Misty; The Cat Empire; Linka Moja; Melbourne Ska Orchestra; Chambers DesLauriers; DB Cohen; Garnetta Cromwell & DaGroovmasters; Riley Burns; Rosewood Avenue; DJ Karyen July 11: Hozier ; The Dead South; Charlotte Day Wilson; Sarah Harmer; Amigo The Devil; The Claudettes; Claude Munson; Emilie Steele & The Deal; Kristine St-Pierre; Sophie d'Orléans; Vikki Gilmore; DJ Karyen
The Dead South; Charlotte Day Wilson; Sarah Harmer; Amigo The Devil; The Claudettes; Claude Munson; Emilie Steele & The Deal; Kristine St-Pierre; Sophie d'Orléans; Vikki Gilmore; DJ Karyen July 12: TURNSTILE ; Pixies; Men I Trust; Kurt Vile & The Violators; The Budos Band; Sue Foley; Shaina Hayes; André Bisson; Melissa Ouimet; Rosie's Smokehouse Deluxe; DJ Karyen; Emerging Artist Showcase
TURNSTILE Pixies; Men I Trust; Kurt Vile & The Violators; The Budos Band; Sue Foley; Shaina Hayes; André Bisson; Melissa Ouimet; Rosie's Smokehouse Deluxe; DJ Karyen; Emerging Artist Showcase July 13: Shania Twain ; Alan Doyle; Wild Rivers; Big Freedia; The Paper Kites; Darrell Nulisch; Edwin Raphael; Alanna J Brown; Buck Twenty; Jessie Simmons; Leverage for Mountains; DJ DoubleDown
Shania Twain Alan Doyle; Wild Rivers; Big Freedia; The Paper Kites; Darrell Nulisch; Edwin Raphael; Alanna J Brown; Buck Twenty; Jessie Simmons; Leverage for Mountains; DJ DoubleDown July 16: Def Leppard ; Tom Morello; The Decemberists; Reignwolf; D.K. Harrell; Amos The Transparent; Beau Nectar; Funk Yo Self; Le Winston Band; Luscious; The Sarandons; DJ DoubleDown
Def Leppard Tom Morello; The Decemberists; Reignwolf; D.K. Harrell; Amos The Transparent; Beau Nectar; Funk Yo Self; Le Winston Band; Luscious; The Sarandons; DJ DoubleDown July 17: Sean Paul ; Kardinal Offishall; Peach Pit; Harry Manx; Alicia Moffet; Jolie Laide; Lilyisthatyou; Moontricks; Durham County Poets; Dystoh; Sofia Duhaime; DJ DoubleDown
Sean Paul Kardinal Offishall; Peach Pit; Harry Manx; Alicia Moffet; Jolie Laide; Lilyisthatyou; Moontricks; Durham County Poets; Dystoh; Sofia Duhaime; DJ DoubleDown July 18: Green Day ; The Linda Lindas ; Dwayne Gretzky; Fantastic Negrito; Ron Sexsmith; Les Shirley; Los Bitchos; Four Eyed Muscle Man; Jahmeema; N'nerjie; The Commotions; DJ Acro
Green Day The Linda Lindas Dwayne Gretzky; Fantastic Negrito; Ron Sexsmith; Les Shirley; Los Bitchos; Four Eyed Muscle Man; Jahmeema; N'nerjie; The Commotions; DJ Acro July 19: Papa Roach ; Daughtry; Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram; Lucius; Bob Log III; The Texas Horns; TJ Wheeler; JW Jones; Hellhound Trail; Rubber Tire Peep Show; We Were Sharks; DJ Acro
Papa Roach Daughtry; Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram; Lucius; Bob Log III; The Texas Horns; TJ Wheeler; JW Jones; Hellhound Trail; Rubber Tire Peep Show; We Were Sharks; DJ Acro July 20: Kaytranada; BADBADNOTGOOD; Tim Baker; Lou Phelps; Darren Kiely; Joce Reyome; Catriona Sturton; Elizabeth Royall; Nolan Hubbard; Be In The Band Showcase; Blues In The Schools Showcase; DJ Acro
OC Transpo
Bluesfest ticketholders can travel for free on all O-Train lines, OC Transpo buses and Para Transpo up to three hours before and two hours after the concerts.
O-Train users can access LeBreton Flats from Pimisi Station and walk down Booth Street to enter the grounds. O-Train service will be extended to midnight on July 13 and July 20.
OC Transpo says special extended westbound night service on N57, N61 and N75 will start at 9:30 p.m. each night to accommodate crowds. The buses will be on Albert Street at Booth Street.
The Para Transpo drop off area is southbound on Booth Street, next to the Canadian War Museum.
OC Transpo
OC Transpo provides an outline on how festivalgoers can leave LeBreton Flats after Bluesfest. (OC Transpo website)
Parking
Ottawa Bluesfest says there is no public parking available at the Canadian War Museum or at the site during the festival.
Festivalgoers are encouraged to take transit, walk, cycle or be dropped off near LeBreton Flats.
The taxi stand is located at Lett Street and Wellington Street.
Cashless venue
Ottawa Bluesfest is a cashless venue.
Food, beverage and merchandise vendors accept Interac, all major credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Prohibited items
All festivalgoers and their belongings are subject to search before entering.
Ottawa Bluesfest says the following items will not be allowed onto the festival's grounds:
No bags over 12' X 12' X 6'
No glass of any kind, no cans
No weapons, gang colours or contraband
No bicycles inside festival grounds
No musical instruments, horns or noisemakers
No inflatables of any kind
No illegal substances or drug paraphernalia
No pets
No hard-sided coolers or glass containers
No flyers, handbills, posters, stickers
No fireworks or explosives
No beach balls, soccer balls, baseballs or footballs
No tents
No megaphones
No banners or flags
No non-collapsible chairs
Road closures
The City of Ottawa says the following roads will be closed during the festival:
The north and south side parking lanes on Wellington Street, between Vimy Place and Lett Street, are closed until midnight on Monday, July 21
Kichi Zībī Mīkan between Parkdale Avenue and Booth Street
Reduced by a single lane in each direction on Monday, July 7 at 6 a.m.
Kichi Zībī Mīkan eastbound between Slidell Street and Portage
Thursday, July 10 at 10 a.m. to July 14 at 6 a.m.
Wednesday, July 16 at 10 a.m. to Thursday, July 17 at 6 a.m.
Thursday, July 17 at 10 a.m. to Monday, July 21
Kichi Zībī Mīkan between Slidell Street and Portage
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