Taking a Trip Down Memory Lane Should be Wheelchair Accessible

 During the summer months, Ottawa comes alive with festivals. So far, I’ve attended RBC Bluesfest, the Fringe Festival, ​​and the Buskers Festival. Still to come is CityFolk, which takes place from September 13th to 17th. One festival that I didn’t attend was the Nostalgia Music Festival, which took place this

Bluesfest Continues to Give People With Disabilities the Blues

 Last week, I talked about the good aspects of RBC Bluesfest, such as the sense of community, and festival-goers being respectful towards people with disabilities, As promised, this week, I’ll be talking about the less-than-positive aspects of Bluesfest and issues that Bluesfest continues to ignore. Before I begin, I understand

Feeling disconnected from the world can give you the blues

 As we’re all aware, last Friday was interesting for Rogers customers nationwide. Perhaps, interesting is an understatement. While I wasn’t personally affected by the outage, it significantly impacted several people with disabilities, and that’s pretty scary. I’ve seen stories where local PWD couldn’t book rides or even call Para Transpo

Drum roll please . . . Announcing the 2020 OLA winners

 The old adage it was the best of times-it was the worst of times will never apply to 2020. It seems as if it was just the worst of times — an annus horribilis — if there ever was one. Despite the lockdown, layoffs, CERB, social distancing, handwashing, masks, and news that a

Vote for Ottawa’s Best in 2020 Ottawa Life Awards

 After over 20 years writing about life in Ottawa, we think we have a pretty good idea of the best of what this city has to offer. For the better half of last year, we shared our top picks with you, from hotels, live music venues, local brews, museums and more! Hopefully

Best of Ottawa 2020: Ottawa Festivals

 After over 20-years writing about life in Ottawa, we think we have a pretty good idea of the best of what this city has to offer. In this weekly series, we share our picks with you — our top hotels, live music venues, local brews, bands and more. Check, share and discuss

BEST OF OTTAWA 2019: Festivals

 After over 20-years writing about life in Ottawa, we think we have a pretty good idea of the best of what this city has to offer. In this weekly series, we’ll share our picks with you — our top hotels, live music venues, local brews, bands and more. Check, share and

Emma Lamontagne hits her stride

 Photo credit: Eric Yu Early success can be lost on some, but for Ottawa's Emma Lamontange it's been a constant source of gratitude. Since winning the She's the One competition at Bluesfest at just 16, Lamontagne has focused in on music as career and is on the heels of a

Bluesfest by day: The Killers & The Psychedelic Furs

 Shot of Brandon Flowers looking to the crowd (credit: Rob Loud) Synths ruled the night on Sunday at Bluesfest! The cooler weather had everyone a little more relaxed and with that vintage hits let everyone just have fun. And if anyone was still hungry for more, there was a non-stop

Ottawa Teenage Rock Band Five+None Are Far Beyond Their Years

 Photo credit: Sean Sisk When you think of teenage bands you generally don’t think professional or ready for the big time. Heck, I was once one of those teenage bands that thought we were the be all end all when we weren’t anywhere close. You can’t say the same for

Still Cryin’ After All These Years

 Photo credit: Sean Sisk The Town Cryers RBC Bluesfest / Thursday, July 12 6:30 pm/ Black Sheep Stage   “Who the hell are these guys?” Wait, did I say that out loud? Yup, my jaw was adequately dropped, out popped the words, and somebody had just spun dervishly in their

Hits and Memories Straight From the Heart, Bryan Adams Looks Back with Bluesfest Crowd

 All photos by Andre Gagne Hey HOTtawa, any weather buffs out there? On July 5, back in the summer, the summer of ’69, a ten year old Bryan Adams would have been basking in a balmy 26°c as opposed to today’s shirt soakin’ ten flaming points higher 36°c. I mean,

Navigating Bluesfest

 If you’ve been a frequent attendee of RBC Bluesfest since the “Big Man” Clarence Clemons took to the stage back in 1994, you’ve grown accustomed to change. I’m not just talking line-up fluctuations, but entire festival uprooting! What started at Majors Hill Park would move to outside City Hall and

RBC Bluesfest rolls out exceptional line-up for 2018

 RBC Bluesfest organizers today announced the initial line-up for the 2018 edition of the festival. Confirmed acts to date include:  Foo Fighters; Dave Matthews Band; Shawn Mendes; Bryan Adams; Beck; Rae Sremmurd; Sturgill Simpson; Rise Against; Brett Eldredge; Three Days Grace; Jethro Tull; Zeds Dead; Jessie Reyez; The War On

I Won’t Back Down

 Ottawa Life’s Festival City Series is back! We'll provide a unique look at some of your favourite events. We’ll go beyond the music with artist interviews, volunteer profiles, concert reviews and spotlights on the tastes, sights and sounds of the festival season.  Your city! Your festivals and events! Like a good sunscreen,

Bluesfest Spotlight: Leading the Volunteers

 Ottawa Life’s Festival City Series is back! We'll provide a unique look at some of your favourite events. We’ll go beyond the music with artist interviews, volunteer profiles, concert reviews and spotlights on the tastes, sights and sounds of the festival season.  Your city! Your festivals and events! Like a good sunscreen,

Sam Roberts Band Kicks off Blues Fest 2017

 Ottawa Life’s Festival City Series is back! We'll provide a unique look at some of your favourite events. We’ll go beyond the music with artist interviews, volunteer profiles, concert reviews and spotlights on the tastes, sights and sounds of the festival season.  Your city! Your festivals and events! Like a good sunscreen,

Q&A: Pokey LaFarge

 Ottawa Life’s Festival City Series is back! We'll provide a unique look at some of your favourite events. We’ll go beyond the music with artist interviews, volunteer profiles, concert reviews and spotlights on the tastes, sights and sounds of the festival season.  Your city! Your festivals and events! Like a good sunscreen,

Five Tips to Keep Your Bluesfest Rockin’!

 Ottawa Life’s Festival City Series is back! We'll provide a unique look at some of your favourite events. We’ll go beyond the music with artist interviews, volunteer profiles, concert reviews and spotlights on the tastes, sights and sounds of the festival season.  Your city! Your festivals and events! Like a good sunscreen,

BEST OF OTTAWA: Festivals

 With 20-years writing about Ottawa life we think we have a pretty good idea of the best of what this city has to offer. In this new weekly summer series we’ll share it with you. From our top picks of hotels, live music venues, local brews, bands and more, check,

Ottawa Life Wants to Get YOU Free Fallin’ Into Bluesfest!

 Ottawa Life’s Festival City Series is back! We'll provide a unique look at some of your favourite events. We’ll go beyond the music with artist interviews, volunteer profiles, concert reviews and spotlights on the tastes, sights and sounds of the festival season.  Your city! Your festivals! Like a good sunscreen, Ottawa Life

Ice on Fire, the Rising Inferno of Malak

 Feature photo by Tarek Ghanem “Only when you stop looking for other people to tell you you’re good and just start knowing it will you start becoming successful,” says singer-songwriter Malak, expressing a wisdom that waltzes comfortably around her youth. At 21, the newcomer is well of aware of the gesso

Destination Anywhere for Arms of the Girl

 Feature photo by  Erick Sodhi Vocalist Carolyn (Cee) Côté struggled with confidence in her own voice until her early 20s. David Cutler was a 13 year old looking for an identity so he reached for an old guitar. Afton Penny thought there was nothing cooler than being a young musician

One Nation Under Gord

 Photos by Andre Gagne. “Thanks for listening in the back. Thanks for listening, period. Have a nice life.” -Gord Downie There are moments in time that unify a people, memories that become the history we look back on remembering where we were, what we were doing, who we were with.

From 12 to 20,000, The Hip Returns to Ottawa to Say Goodbye

 All photos by Andre Gagne ‘Til the men they couldn’t hang stepped to the mic and sang and their voices rang with that Aryan twang -The Tragically Hip (Bobcaygeon) On May 24 a collective gasp went out of a sucker punched nation. Gord Downie, frontman to The Tragically Hip, announced