Festival Updates and News
News about Ottawa Festivals and our Member festivals, special events and fairs.
Jazz festival blows its horn: ‘Most successful’ edition staged more varied acts than ever
Peter Hum, Citizen Special
From its soggy start hours after Ottawa’s recent earthquake to its sweltering finish on Sunday night, the 30th TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival was the “most successful” edition of the event to date, its executive producer said Sunday night.
As reasons to be pleased, O’Grady cited the co-operative weather this summer compared with the rain that befell most of her 2009 edition, a 25-per-cent increase in pre-event passes sold compared with last year, and much positive feedback she’s received concerning the festival’s mix of shows.
That mix, which cost the festival more than $1 million, was jammed with extra shows compared with previous years, and its mainstage shows offered more pop- and funk-flavoured music than ever.
Read full atory on Ottawa Citizen website: Jazz festival blows its horn
Music in a classical turn: New festival expected to attract 40,000 to 50,000
TRACY TONG | METRO OTTAWA
Music lovers in the capital might be pumped for Bluesfest, but Ottawa’s newest music festival, opening today, is creating a buzz among a different musical circuit.
The classical music festival Music and Beyond brings international legends, including soprano Kathleen Battle, acclaimed pianists Peter Serkin and Menahem Pressler, one of the world’s top vocal groups, the Hilliard Ensemble, and the renowned Canadian Brass to Ottawa — some for the first time.
The festival features 350 musicians playing in 82 concerts.
Full story on Metro Ottawa online: Music in a classical turn
A concert a day: Reviewer Richard Todd picks his Top 10 must-see concerts at the new Music and Beyond festival.
At the new Music and Beyond festival, which begins today, there are several events worth attending every day. All of the 8 p.m. concerts will be of considerable interest, and when there are two or more during that time slot, music lovers will have some difficult choices.
Here’s a list of items that caught my fancy, although there will be times when I wish I could be two or more places at once.
Find the list on the Ottawa Citizen website: A concert a day
The players’ picks: Inside tips from Music and Beyond performers
Steven Mazey, The Ottawa Citizen
More than 300 musicians will be in Ottawa to play the first edition of cellist Julian Armour’s Music and Beyond classical music festival, which opens today, runs to July 14 and offers more than 80 concerts.
There will be orchestras, choirs, string quartets, piano trios, wind ensembles, pianists, cellists, accordionists and sax quartets. Performers include Les Violons du Roy, soprano Kathleen Battle, the Emerson String Quartet, pianist Menahem Pressler, the Vienna Piano Trio, the Moscow String Quartet, the Ottawa Bach Choir, Ottawa counter-tenor Daniel Taylor and the Theatre of Early Music and the British vocal quartet the Hilliard Ensemble.
The Citizen asked a few musicians to tell us about the concerts they hope to hear or wish they could hear if their schedules allowed.
Full article: Inside tips from Music and Beyond performers
The Musical Accounting of Julian Armour
Mike Levin, UnFolding
This is why Armour ransacked his Rolodex to assemble a world-class lineup for Music and Beyond and then begged, borrowed or stole whatever was needed to make the event more accessible. “People today are looking for artistic experiences, and an arts organization’s main purpose is to make people feel comfortable in that experience. Some in classical music love the elitist feeling, and that’s the worst thing for the art world.” He’s speaking in much broader terms than just music.
Ten years ago he was selected for the Victor Tolgesy Award, for contributions to Ottawa’s cultural creativity, and the feeling was marvelous. His view has changed slightly: “We glow at awards, and then forget (what they really mean). It frustrates me because we know the economic return (of a vibrant arts sector) and the private-sector benefits. There is a responsibility to give back, to keep Ottawa a safe, clean, beautiful place to live. But this is a responsibility that’s not being met.”
Armour sours at the thought of that unmet obligation. “I feel the private sector needs to do a whole lot more than what they are doing,” he says. But the moment passes; he’s got a show to put on, and the only attitude he can afford to be concerned with is how people will react to a music festival that spills into literature, poetry, dance and film.
Full story via the UnFolding blog: The Musical Accounting of Julian Armour
Invasion of the cult bands: Iron Maiden, Rush, Flaming Lips lead the lineup at Bluesfest. So where does the Hollywood theme fit in?
Lynn Saxberg, The Ottawa Citizen
After the blockbuster lineups of the last couple of years, when everyone from Bob Dylan and Van Morrison to Kanye West and Snoop Dogg hit the main stage, one could argue that this year’s bill highlights some pretty obscure stuff. I’d say the celebrity quotient is somewhat lacking, not entirely consistent with the Hollywood theme.
However, this is not a bad thing. If you’ve ever wanted to dabble in a musical subculture or explore other styles of music, such as reggae, worldbeat, prog-rock and, yes, even blues, now’s the time. Don’t be fearful of a band you’ve never heard of.
Read Lynn’s preview of the cult heroes and the Hollywood stars: Invasion of the cult bands
Nostalgia need not apply: James Farm gives listeners a taste of the cutting edge of jazz
Peter Hum, The Ottawa Citizen
Over the last week, the TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival’s headliners in Confederation Park usually had the power of nostalgia going for them, winning listeners to their side.
That wasn’t the case with the co-op band James Farm, which played the park Friday night.
Unlike the groups of Herbie Hancock or John Scofield or Roy Hargrove, the quartet, whose frontman was the celebrated saxophonist Joshua Redman, didn’t play covers of classic tunes or harken back to jazz of decades ago.
Instead of nostalgia, the group stressed the here and now, with finely wrought, moody, original music.
And the Confederation Park crowd was entranced by the music just the same.
Full review: Nostalgia need not apply
Benson hits the groove where jazz meets soul
Lynn Saxberg, The Ottawa Citizen
The scattered showers and cool temperatures were a minor inconvenience for smooth-jazz master George Benson at Confederation Park on Wednesday. He’s such a pro, he made everyone feel like they were in a cushy seat in a posh casino instead of a damp lawnchair.
“It’s party time, people,” the good-natured musician said at one point. “The rain ain’t gonna get us.”
The 67-year-old singer-guitarist began with a couple of instrumental pieces, Collaboration and Weekend in L.A., that demonstrated his effortlessly fluid style on a hollow-body guitar. Cascades of notes tumbled from his fingers in the form of elegant melodies, showcasing a unique playing style that was flashy but, at the same time, restrained.
Full review on the Ottawa Citizen website: Benson hits the groove where jazz meets soul
Bluesfest group vying for Church
Phil Ambroziak | EMC
Mark Monahan, executive director of Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest, recently confirmed his group’s interest in purchasing the former Westboro United Church building located at 450 Churchill Ave. N. The congregation at Kitchissippi United which was formed in 2008 when Westboro United amalgamated with Kingsway and Northwestern united churches to address the issue of small congregations – originally planned to rent space in the 97-year-old Westboro United building to various community groups, but ultimately decided the put the building up for sale earlier this year.
“The church went through the traditional process, received a number of bids, reviewed them and narrowed them down and eventually chose one,” explained Arnold Midgley, a lifelong member of the Westboro congregation. “The successful group has three principle players – developer David Spillenear of Springcrest Properties, architect Barry Hobin and the Ottawa Bluesfest people who plan to make the church building available to community users as a rentable space.”
“We have a conditional agreement to buy the church and turn it into a music hall,” Mr. Monahan said. “Essentially, we’re hoping to create a 500-seat community music hall that can also be used by other festivals and community groups throughout the year.”
Full story: Bluesfest group vying for Church
Ottawa Folk Festival takes on new challenge
Phil Ambroziak | EMC
Organizers are hoping a new take on one of the city’s most popular summer music festivals will result in a new audience while still attracting longtime traditionalists.
The Ottawa Folk Festival is scheduled for Aug. 13 to 15 at Britannia Park and, while it will still feature everything that has made it a popular event in the past, this year’s festival plans on being bigger and better than ever.
Although all acts that will be appearing at the festival have yet to be confirmed, Mr. Griffith noted that long-time fans will be pleased to see such folk music legends as Ramblin’ Jack Elliott while new groups such as Arrested Development will have a somewhat different approach in terms of lyrical content and how they connect with the audience.
“There will be new artists and new genres, but they will all have a connection to our roots in folk music,” Mr. Griffith said.
Full story on the EMC website: Ottawa Folk Festival takes on new challenge
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