We Canadians understand the value of summer (after all, it’s so short lived!), which is why it should come as no surprise that music festivals abound this season with a number of big events currently happening or about to happen this weekend: Ottawa Bluesfest, Le Festival d’été de Québec, and Big Music Fest in Kitchener.
Here is a rundown of what to expect at each music event.
Ottawa Bluesfest
July 3-13
There are still a few days left to catch some of the major headliners of Ottawa Bluesfest. Tomorrow sister duo Tegan & Sara are performing, with Blake Shelton, Adventure Club, and Gary Clarke Jr. capping things off this weekend. Stars like Lady Gaga, Queens of the Stone Age, Snoop Dogg (Snoop Lion), The Killers, Zedd, and Lady Antebellum already took to the stage at Bluesfest.
Since its inception in 1994, Bluesfest has built a robust musical platform, showcasing some of the best musical talent in the world The vision of the festival is to create an event that will appeal to a broad base of music lovers, all sharing the festival experience. The RBC Bluesfest is one of Canada’s largest outdoor music festivals and is ranked as one of North America’s most important music events. Based in the nation’s capital, the organization is highly respected on the world stage.
Le Festival d’été de Québec
July 3-13
Yep, the summer festival known in Quebec City as Le Festival d’été de Québec is in full swing but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some great shows to still take in. Lady Gaga, Journey, and Snoop Dogg have already put on shows, however The Killers are performing this evening, with Deadmau5 going on the next night. Queens of the Stone Age are ready for Thursday’s performance, and Blondie as well as musical legend and the Piano Man himself, Billy Joel, will delight audiences on Friday, July 11th. Soundgarden plays on Saturday, and Third Eye Blind along with Canadian singer/songwriter Bryan Adams will bring the event to a close on July 13th.
Every year, the Festival d’été attracts over one million festivalgoers to Quebec City’s historic district for concerts by international superstars and top new talent.
For 11 days, at 10 venues throughout the city, there’s music for everyone: rock, French song, hip-hop, electro, jazz, world music greats and much more! Over the years, such big names as Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars, Tiësto, Bon Jovi, Skrillex, The Black Keys, Metallica, Iron Maiden, The Arcade Fire, Rammstein, The Black Eyed Peas, Elton John and Ben Harper have played its major venue: the historic Plains of Abraham. If music is the core of the event, the popular street performers on Saint-Jean St., one of the city’s oldest and busiest streets, and a host of fun family activities add a colorful accent to the celebrations.
Big Music Fest
July 11-13
Just because Big Music Fest is only three days long doesn’t mean it lacks in musical talent when compared to longer week-plus festivals. On the opening Friday night of the event music fans can check out the top 25 finalists of Breaking Bands, a competition to find break-out groups, in McLennan Park. On Saturday, festival-goers can check out a bevy of hot acts, including Bryan Adams, STYX, Collective Soul, Moist, Autumns Cannon, and Black Collar Union, and on Sunday, Aerosmith, Slash ft. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, Big Wreck, Kim Mitchell, Bleeker Ridge, and Pigeon Park. You can buy tickets here.
Photo: Ottawa Bluefest
