Latest news with #BeintheBand

Ottawa Citizen

'I'm extremely nervous': Students rock out on stage for Bluesfest's final night

On the final night of Bluesfest, crowds could hear 'Mr. Brightside,' 'Girlfriend,' and 'Sweet Child O' Mine' resonating from the LeBreton Stage. Article content But The Killers, Avril Lavigne and Guns N' Roses didn't make an appearance at Ottawa's biggest music festival this year. Instead, the guitarists, pianists, drummers, bassists and singers from about 10 different schools or community groups were rocking out on stage, with some performers as young as seven years old. Article content Article content The performers were part of Bluesfest's Be in the Band and Blues in the Schools programs that offer elementary and high school students mentorship opportunities from local artists. Following weeks of music practice during the school year, the students perform at their school or local community centre. Article content Article content 'It's a pretty big deal,' said Bluesfest community programs manager Alan Marsden. 'You come together for a show in your community and see your kids performing up there. Article content 'It gives you a sense of pride.' Article content Blues in the Schools — 'a large bucket of cuteness,' according to Marsden — was up first. Twenty-two Grade 2 students from Corpus Christi lined up and sang just under 30 minutes worth of music, accompanied by dance moves and harmonicas simulating train sounds. Article content Article content The student's teacher, Jeannie Wong, has been involved with Blues in the Schools for 26 years. She gives up her summer holidays to prepare the children to have the 'one-of-a-kind experience' of performing at Bluesfest. Article content Article content 'I'm always excited to learn something new, but also bring that love of music and excitement for the children to spark that passion in them,' Wong said. 'It's thrilling to see the kids so excited and the light in their eyes when they finally get up on the stage.' Article content Be in the Band was up next, with 18 separate sets of musicians, mostly playing rock or pop tunes to an audience that grew throughout the night, particularly when the rain started just before 8:30 p.m. Each group sang a song or two before cycling off the stage to make room for the next. Article content Article content Louisiana Saucier from Hadley Philemon Wright High School in Gatineau, Que., plays bass. This was her third time performing with Be in the Band. Before hitting the stage, the 14-year-old said it can be nerve-wrecking to play for a crowd — but it's still a great experience. Article content 'It's fun to be in a band with people my own age,' she said. 'It's nice to just create something.'