Bluesfest expands into Market
DENIS ARMSTRONG, Sun Media
The 2009 Ottawa Bluesfest is moving onto the streets of the Byward Market.
Thanks to a $1.5-million grant from the federal government, Bluesfest will present 70 free concerts – including main-stage concerts on the new open-air Bluesfest ByWard stage at the corner of York and William St. – between July 9 and 13.
Among them will be free concerts by George Clinton & the P-Funk Allstars, The Proclaimers, Arrested Development and Lee Scratch Perry.
The festival will also present a series of late-night gigs at 10 venues including the Great Canadian Cabin, Fat Tuesday’s, Hard Rock Cafe, the Rainbow, Live Lounge, Capital Music Hall, Pier 21, Ritual, Mavericks and Zaphod’s every night between July 9 and 13 until 2 a.m.
Monahan said that he’s been thinking about expanding Bluesfest into the Byward Market since moving the festival to LeBreton Flats in 2006, but only went ahead in April when the federal government announced additional cash would be available through its new Marquee Tourism Events Program, which will provide $100 million over the next two years to events that draw a significant number of tourists to Canada.
Currently, 20% of the 250,000 who attend Bluesfest every year are from outside Ottawa.
Full Story (including video coverage) on the Ottawa Sun website: Bluesfest expands into Market
Tags: bluesfest, Byward Market, Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest, live music, Ottawa festival, outdoor concert
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