Bluesfest in photos: A look back at the musical acts and the fans who were watching

5 hours ago 13

Fans were loving Jamaican reggae star Shaggy's performance on the RBC Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats, Saturday, July 18, 2026.

Article content

Another successful year for Ottawa Bluesfest ended on Sunday night with a performance by Canadian rock royalty, The Guess Who.

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Unlimited digital access to the Ottawa Citizen.
Analysis on all things Ottawa by Bruce Deachman,David Pugliese, and others, award-winning newsletters and virtual events.
Opportunity to engage with our commenting community.
Ottawa Citizen ePaper.
Ottawa Citizen App.

SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles from David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office.
Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account.
Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
Support local journalism.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month.
Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
Enjoy additional articles per month
Get email updates from your favourite authors

Sign In or Create an Account

Article content

Thousands upon thousands attended the festival to see a wide variety of acts from July 9 until July 19, but there was no bigger night than the triple bill of Ella Langley, Sheryl Crow and viral sensations Angine de Poitrine on July 17.

Article content

“I think it was definitely one of the biggest nights we’ve ever had,” Bluesfest CEO and co-founder Mark Monahan told the Ottawa Citizen’s Lynn Saxberg. “We’re not publishing specific numbers, but it was over 30,000 for sure.”

Article content

Other shows that likely went over the 30,000 mark included the nights headlined by The Lumineers, Limp Bizkit, Gwen Stefani, Cody Johnson and Hardy.

Article content

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

Article content

Here’s a look back at the 32nd edition of the city’s biggest festival of the year, from photos captured by Citizen photographers Ashley Fraser and Spencer Colby.

Article content

Day 1: Cody Johnson gets the party started

Article content

Cody Johnson gave a rousing performance at Ottawa Bluesfest’s RBC Main Stage on July 9, kicking off the 32nd edition of the festival with a generous helping of country music that was as American as apple pie.

Article content

Cody Johnson performs at Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

Article content

Article content

Article content

Article content

Jessie Murph performs at Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

Article content

A light drizzle falls as Jade Hilton performs at the Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

Article content

Jade Hilton performs at Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

Article content

Fans take a picture in front of a Bluesfest sign during the opening night of Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

Article content

People make their way toward security during the opening night of Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

Article content

Article content

People walk by large reflective mud puddles

Article content

Article content

Day 2: Some ’90s nostalgia

Article content

The chaotic energy of Limp Bizkit was building to a peak on July 10 when the rap-rock legends surprised the crowd by inviting an old friend, Tom Green, to join them on the RBC Main stage at Ottawa Bluesfest.

Article content

Members of Limp Bizkit on stage at Bluesfest.

Article content

Article content

Limp Bizkit performs during Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Friday.

Article content

Sen Dog of Cypress Hill performs during Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Friday.

Article content

B-Real of Cypress Hill performs during Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Friday.

Article content

Day 3: Hardy and his killer band

Article content

In his first Bluesfest appearance, country-rocker Hardy and his killer band cruised through a set that ranged from solo acoustic singer-songwriter fare to thrashing rock explosions on July 11.

Article content

Article content

American country singer Michael Wilson Hardy, known professionally as Hardy, performs during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Article content

Mikhail Laxton performs on the LeBreton Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Article content

Aspects, a guitarist known for blending blues, soul, hip-hop and jazz, performs during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Article content

Aspects, a guitarist known for blending blues, soul, hip-hop and jazz, performs with his daughter, Illiyah Rose, during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Article content

Music fans gathered at LeBreton Flats for another evening of performances at Ottawa Bluesfest on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Article content

Hawaii-born singer-songwriter and guitarist Ron Artis II performs barefoot during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Article content

Music fans enjoyed BigXthaPlug's performance on the RBC Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Article content

Dallas rapper BigXthaPlug performs on the RBC Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Article content

A festivalgoer tests her skills on Jed the Mechanical Bull in the Crazy Horse tent during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Article content

The bar inside the Crazy Horse tent stayed busy as festivalgoers enjoyed another evening at Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats, Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Article content

Day 4: The Lumineers and Ottawa-Gatineau talent

Article content

Bluesfest put the spotlight on The Lumineers, but it was the depth of Ottawa-Gatineau talent on the bill that really enriched the festivities at LeBreton Flats Park on July 12.

Article content

Lumineers singer Wesley Schulz on stage at bluesfest

Article content

Article content

Folk duo summersets, featuring Kalle Mattson and Andrew Sowka, perform on the RBC Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

Article content

Folk duo summersets, featuring Kalle Mattson and Andrew Sowka, perform on the RBC Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

Article content

Les Rats d'Swompe perform on the LeBreton Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

Article content

Festival-goers arrive to Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

Article content

Security staff handed out bottles of water to fans at the front of the RBC Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats as temperatures climbed on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

Article content

Steel guitar player Cindy Cashdollar performed with Leif Vollebekk on the RBC Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

Article content

Ottawa-born singer-songwriter Leif Vollebekk returns to perform on the RBC Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

Article content

Day 5: It’s Conan Gray after the break

Article content

Bluesfest resumed July 15 after a two-day break, rising back to life with a slice of emotional pop fare headlined by Conan Gray, a 27-year-old musician who’s already an icon to his devoted following.

Article content

Article content

Article content

OTTAWA - Conan Gray performs during Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Photo by Spencer Colby/Postmedia

Article content

Natasha Bedingfield performs during Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Article content

Myles Smith performs during Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Article content

Band members for Myles Smith perform during Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Article content

Article content

Day 6: The headlining dark horse

Article content

Of the nine headliners at this year’s Bluesfest, Lord Huron was the dark horse, the least-known act of the bunch to have top billing on the main stage at LeBreton Flats Park on July 16.

Article content

Lord Huron singer Ben Schneider on stage at Bluesfest

Article content

Lord Huron performs during Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Thursday, July 16, 2026.

Article content

Lord Huron singer Ben Schneider with a pay phone on stage at Bluesfest

Article content

Article content

Article content

Royel Maddell, left, and Otis Pavlovic of Royel Otis perform during Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Thursday, July 16, 2026.

Article content

Otis Pavlovic of Royel Otis perform during Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Thursday, July 16, 2026.

Article content

Lucy Dacus performs during Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Thursday, July 16, 2026.

Article content

Koko Love performs during Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Thursday, July 16, 2026.

Article content

Social Distortion performs during Bluesfest

Article content

Day 7: Langley’s big night

Article content

Country’s current queen, Ella Langley, attracted the biggest crowd of this year’s Bluesfest on July 17, with an estimated 40,000 people filling every corner of the site at LeBreton Flats Park.

Article content

Ella Langley played to the biggest crowd of this year's Ottawa Bluesfest. More than 30,000 people came out to see her on the main stage on July 17.

Article content

Ella Langley played to the biggest crowd of this year's Ottawa Bluesfest.

Article content

Article content

Article content

Article content

Article content

Article content

Article content

Article content

Nayana performs during Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Friday, July 17, 2026.

Article content

Nayana performs during Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Friday, July 17, 2026. Nayana performs during Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats on Friday, July 17, 2026.

Article content

Day 8: Stefani joins the party

Article content

The audience at the RBC Main Stage was in a party mood for Bluesfest’s final Saturday night on July 18, and Gwen Stefani was there for it.

Article content

Fans were loving Jamaican reggae star Shaggy perform on the RBC Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats, Saturday, July 18, 2026.

Article content

Article content

Grace Bowers performs on the LeBreton Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats, Saturday, July 18, 2026.

Article content

Here Come the Mummies perform on the LeBreton Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats, Saturday, July 18, 2026.

Article content

The bad weather passed and the sun poked through as Ottawa Bluesfest kicked off at LeBreton Flats, Saturday, July 18, 2026.

Article content

Bridge Music perform on the Hard Rock Hotel Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats, Saturday, July 18, 2026.

Article content

The rain that fell Saturday afternoon caused many mud puddles and sloppy areas for Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats, Saturday, July 18, 2026.

Article content

Article content

Article content

Here Come The Mummies perform at Bluesfest

Article content

A young music fan watches Here Come the Mummies perform on the LeBreton Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats, Saturday, July 18, 2026.

Article content

The sun sets over the Ottawa River as a security guard stands near LeBreton Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats, Saturday, July 18, 2026.

Article content

Day 9: All-Canadian musical buffet to end it

Article content

Ottawa Bluesfest closed out its 2026 edition on a high note on July 19 with an all-Canadian musical buffet, highlighted by a trio of inter-generational headliners in rabble-rousing Rebelle opening for throwback rockers The Sheepdogs, who formed a perfect pairing with the mighty Guess Who.

Article content

The Guess Who perform on the RBC Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats, Sunday, July 19, 2026.

Article content

Article content

Wakefield-based alt-rock band Rebelle performs on the RBC Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats, Sunday, July 19, 2026.

Article content

Four-time JUNO Award-winning rock band The Sheepdogs performs on the RBC Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats, Sunday, July 19, 2026.

Article content

Fans were ready for The Sheepdogs at the RBC Stage during Ottawa Bluesfest, Sunday, July 19, 2026.

Article content

Music lovers soaked up an afternoon of free live music at the Ottawa 200 performances during Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats, Sunday, July 19, 2026.

Article content

Ottawa Bluesfest executive and artistic director Mark Monahan at LeBreton Flats during Ottawa Bluesfest, Sunday, July 19, 2026.

Article content

Ottawa Bluesfest executive and artistic director Mark Monahan is photographed at LeBreton Flats during Ottawa Bluesfest, Sunday, July 19, 2026. Monahan credits the Ottawa Bluesfest team for the festival's continued success year after year.

Article content

Take control of your search results. Make the Ottawa Citizen a preferred source on Google and see verified local reporting first.

Article content

*** Disclaimer: This Article is auto-aggregated by a Rss Api Program and has not been created or edited by Bdtype.

(Note: This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News Rss Api. News.bdtype.com Staff may not have modified or edited the content body.

Please visit the Source Website that deserves the credit and responsibility for creating this content.)

Watch Live | Source Article