Festival Updates and News
News about Ottawa Festivals and our Member festivals, special events and fairs.
Pride focuses on outdoor fun, fitness
STEVE COLLINS | METRO OTTAWA
Yesterday’s Capital Pride activities put the emphasis on physical fitness and outdoor activities, with a fun run, yoga and golf.
“It’s important to promote an active lifestyle,” said Pride chair Alan Chaffe. “It improves our quality of life and increases our lifespan.”
Full story @ Metro Ottawa online: Pride focuses on outdoor fun, fitness
Headliners strike intimate note at workshop
TIM WIECLAWSKI | METRO OTTAWA
Only at a folk festival would you see the biggest acts of a weekend playing together on a side stage for an afternoon concert on the last day.
The Ottawa Folk Festival wrapped up last night with a concert from Nova Scotia folk/pop singer Joel Plaskett.
But before he took to the main stage, Plaskett played at an afternoon workshop with former Barenaked Ladies lead singer Steven Page, Canadian folk legend Bruce Cockburn and Ottawa singer songwriter Ana Miura on the Hill Stage to a crowd of around 1,000 people.
Full review @ Metro Ottawa: Headliners strike intimate note at workshop
Cockburn creates magic with just voice, guitar
Lynn Saxberg, The Ottawa Citizen
Freedom of expression was the order of the day at the Ottawa Folk Festival on Saturday, with a program that ranged from the politically charged music of Bruce Cockburn to the wacky comedy of the Arrogant Worms. Both acts are folkfest favourites in Ottawa, and have played at the Britannia Park site in past years.
Under a starry sky, the darkness was alive with possibility, as Cockburn sang in the 1986 song World of Wonders, with which he opened his headlining performance. Wearing a purple shirt and black jeans, the silver-haired troubadour performed solo, creating magic with little more than his voice and an acoustic guitar.
With Last Night of the World and Night Train, the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter went for the slow build, ensuring the spotlight was on his hypnotizing acoustic guitar work rather than his rather scratchy vocals. He spoke to the crowd a few times, but there were also long periods of silence between songs.
Full review on the Ottawa Citizen website: Cockburn creates magic with just voice, guitar
Relax, it’s Folkfest: Even the weather was laid back
Patrick Langston, The Ottawa Citizen
Call it the Folk Fest Stroll. People at other music festivals tend to scurry, intent on getting to the next show. At the Ottawa Folk Festival, they stroll through Britannia Park as though they haven’t a care in the world. At least, that was so on opening night Friday, when balmy weather reminded us just how pleasant strolling can be.
In fact, the night was almost balmy enough that had Steven Page shown up naked, he’d have been comfortable. As it was, the former front man for the Barenaked Ladies, and Friday’s headliner, took the stage fully clothed in a white suit and matching shoes.
Full story: Relax, it’s Folkfest
1989 killing remembered as Capital Pride festival begins
By Katie Daubs, The Ottawa Citizen
It was something you wouldn’t have seen 20 years ago, in the “long hot summer” of 1989.
Friday night, on the anniversary of one of Ottawa’s most notorious hate crimes, Dixie Landers, the Queen of Pride, hugged a member of Ottawa’s Police Service.
“Twenty years ago, that relationship was non-existent,” said James Bromilow, co-chairman of the Ottawa Police Service GLBT Liaison Committee.
On Friday evening, 300 people, including Gatineau and Ottawa police officers, gathered at the amphitheatre of the National Gallery to pay tribute to Alain Brosseau, and the changes sparked by his senseless death. The event was one of the first of the 2009 Capital Pride Festival, which runs until Aug. 30.
Full story on the Ottawa Citizen website: 1989 killing remembered as Capital Pride festival begins
Festival remains rooted in folk: Canadian talent takes main spotlight at event
AEDAN HELMER, SUN MEDIA
The Ottawa Folk Festival has always prided itself in swimming against the stream in the increasingly commercialized festival scene.
The decidedly Can-con lineup — with Bruce Cockburn, Steven Page, Joel Plaskett and The Sadies topping the bill — has never relied on the big ticket international acts that draw throngs to Bluesfest, or the worldly prestige artists that dot the Chamberfest and Jazz Festival rosters.
Instead, the folk festival remains true to its grass roots, bringing a diverse array of cross-cultural artists and musicians to Britannia Park without abandoning the authenticity of the experience.
Full story on Canoe.ca: Festival remains rooted in folk
Fests set for last big weekend of the summer
TIM WIECLAWSKI | METRO OTTAWA
SuperEX is one of the many events happening during the last big weekend for festivals this summer.
While the 16th annual Ottawa Folk Festival – which includes a series of gardening and music workshops along with performances by Bruce Cockburn, Steven Page, Amy Millan and Joel Plaskett – is held at Britannia Park, the second annual Ottawa Reggae Festival is held at Lebreton Park.
The 2009 edition of Capital Pride also kicks off Friday. “Ottawa’s most colourful festival” has something for everyone this year,” said Capital Pride parade grand marshal and past chair Joanne Law.
Full story on the Metro Ottawa website: Fests set for last big weekend of the summer
Capital Pride keeps growing
TRACEY TONG | METRO OTTAWA
Twenty-four years ago, 300 people attended the first Capital Pride celebration – a picnic in Strathcona Park – at the end of Laurier Avenue.
While successful for the time, that celebration is a far cry from Capital Pride today, as a record 60,000 people are expected to attend Canada’s fourth largest pride festival (after Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal), stretching 10 days and held in various venues across the downtown core.
“It’s really growing fast,” said Capital Pride chairman Alan Chaffe. “Last year, we had over 55,000. This year, we’re expecting more.”
When visitors come from all over Ottawa and North America, they’ll find more than 40 events when the 2009 edition of Capital Pride begins Friday.
Full story: Capital Pride keeps growing
SuperEx rides again
KENNETH JACKSON, Sun Media
Every year they gather before the tall red gates peering in through the bars with wide eyes.
Their anticipation boils to the point of gleeful exuberance until finally the gates open and the kids rush in like water through a broken dam.
Today is the opening day of the 121st SuperEx and it’s free.
Let the fun begin.
Full story on Ottawa Sun online: SuperEx rides again
SuperEX:Long-married couple proof that fest is good icebreaker on dates
TRACEY TONG | METRO OTTAWA
August 23, 1982. Nineteen-year-old Rhoda Blake and 23-year-old Dan Hudson were on a blind date. The destination was SuperEX at Lansdowne Park. Earlier that evening, Blake’s friend had set her up with Hudson, a neighbour’s brother.
Despite a bit of awkwardness, she liked him. Soon after, the two became inseparable, marrying four years later.
Now 46 and 50 years old respectively, the couple, who now lives in Richmond east of Montreal, still comes to SuperEX every year they can.
Read the full story on the Metro Ottawa website: Long-married couple proof that fest is good icebreaker on dates
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