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Ottawa Citizen

Ottawa Bluesfest is a family thing, too: Sharing a love of music

Article content On a hot and muggy Wednesday evening, three generations of music fans from Montreal descended onto LeBreton Flats ready to rock out all night at Bluesfest. Article content Joel Perron, son Gabriel Perron and grandson Victor Perron came to watch Def Leppard play on the RBC Stage. Article content Article content All three wore the band's T-shirts as they posed for a photo in front of the food stalls near the festival entrance and held up the sign of the horns. Article content Article content For Joel, this was an opportunity to share his love for the band and to make lasting memories with his family. Article content Article content 'We're here because of a Def Leppard show as three generations of fans who like this group,' Joel said. Article content 'My children listened to this band when they were children, and now it's the same thing for my grandson.' Article content The Perrons were one of many families at Bluesfest on Wednesday night, sharing their love for rock music and live concerts with the younger generation despite the sweltering weather. Article content Some pushed strollers with young children in the main area near the RBC Stage as they filled up water bottles and bought food. Others tried to corral their toddlers to prevent them from getting lost in the crowd. Teens huddled inside the air-conditioned Canadian War Museum and discussed which acts they wanted to see with their parents. Article content 'I think it will be a nice memory for sure. Victor is too young to speak, but I know he will remember the show for sure,' Gabriel Perron said with a smile from ear to ear. Article content Article content Sloane Hilderley-Barr, 6, came to Bluesfest on Wednesday evening with parents Alicia Hilderley and Andrew Barr. It was Sloane's first concert ever. Article content 'Andrew and I have been coming most nights so far, and Sloane was jealous and wanted to come, too, so we're here for her first show tonight. She really likes rock music,' Hilderley said. Article content Barr, who plays in a rock band, said his daughter wanted to see a real live rock drummer. Article content 'We love concerts. We go to a lot. She wanted to be part of it, and we figured it was time,' he said. Article content Article content Sureen Gosal brought his two young sons Arjun Gosal, 6, and Jeevan Gosal, 4, to Bluesfest on Wednesday after he volunteered in its first week. Article content Sureen said he wanted to see Def Leppard, but would be going home with them early because the band's performance was only going to start past the kids' bedtimes. The three of them would instead spend their time exploring the grounds and discovering new artists.