RBC Bluesfest – July 10, 2016

The sun finally decided to make an appearance at Bluesfest on Sunday, making for a beautiful afternoon and evening before heading into the two-day break from the festival. With shows starting early on in the afternoon, Day 4 of Bluesfest was packed tight with exciting and talented acts – three of which made our Top 10 Must-See Non-Headliner Performances.

From country pop star Jordan McIntosh, to a surprise visit during Belly’s performance, there was no shortage of action Sunday, and Ottawa photographer Kamara Morozuk was there to capture it. As you read through the concert reviews, check out the photo galleries below and follow Kamara on Instagram for more photo updates.

Head to the official Bluesfest website for more information on the festival.

Ottawa rapper/producer Belly performed a shortened set at Ottawa Bluesfest, and although it was only 30 minutes, there was no shortage of energy. To amp up the crowd even more, it ended with a surprise visit from collaborator and fellow rapper Travis Scott, where the two performed the hit single “Antidote”.

Belly (Photo by Kamara Morozuk)

Austin, Texas indie folk pop group Wild Child were excited to be performing at RBC Bluesfest; lead singer Kelsey Wilson took a moment to appreciate the sun setting over the water by the Monster Energy stage, and then began to play. Their lush melodies and playful banter on stage matched the relaxed and care-free aura of the warm, summer evening, as the audience soaked in the sun and the tunes. Performing tracks from across their discography, including their latest album Fools, the seven-piece act included their biggest hits, including “Break Bones”, “Silly Things”, “Bullets”, and especially “Fools” to end the show, as well as throwing in a fun folk pop rendition of The Cardigans’ hit “Lovefool” – just for good measure.

Wild Child (Photo by Kamara Morozuk)

Inside the Barney Danson Theatre, tables are set up in neat rows – similar to a conference or wedding, chairs facing towards the ground-level stage at the front of the room. With a capacity of approximately 200, at first it seemed like an odd set-up, semi-formal and very “un-festival”. But for Brooklyn eight-piece San Fermin, it was the perfect environment for their orchestral baroque pop. Nothing more than a metre distance separated the band and audience, and the intimacy of the show elevated what was already a cinematic performance from some of New York’s most talented musicians. With eight musicians, including two very different vocalists, a trumpet, saxophone, and violin, their sound is extremely dense and articulate, forming a bond between classical and indie rock that facilitates emotion through storytelling and layered arrangements.

Their 90 minute set featured a number of songs from their sophomore release Jackrabbit, including “Emily”, and the explosive album-opener “The Woods”, turning their studio recordings into spectacular live pieces. As a special treat, San Fermin performed four new songs off their future third album, including the explosive and awe-inspiring single “Dead”. With a sound that is so tightly layered, the musicians took turns in the spotlight, bringing each instrument to the front of the stage, and at times past that. Trumpeter John Brandon took it one step further and climbed onto a nearby table to deliver a show-stopping trumpet solo mid-performance. The entire band played with such precision that it was almost impossible not to be in awe for the entire show.

Ending with their stellar single “Jackrabbit”, San Fermin delivered an explosive performance until the final note, receiving a well-deserved standing ovation from the crowd after one of the best live performances of the festival.

San Fermin (Photo by Kamara Morozuk)

Browse through more galleries from Sunday night below:

Jordan McIntosh

Jordan McIntosh (Photo by Kamara Morozuk)

Bahari

Bahari (Photo by Kamara Morozuk)

Debauche

Debauche (Photo by Kamara Morozuk)

Steamers

Steamers (Photo by Kamara Morozuk)

Steamers (Photo by Kamara Morozuk)

Ginkgoa

Ginkgoa (Photo by Kamara Morozuk)

Yukon Blonde

Yukon Blonde (Photo by Kamara Morozuk)

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