Hendrik Pape, Ottawa Citizen
Night one of Bluesfest 2012 is in the history books and what a night it was. Artists from all over the musical spectrum took to their respective stages and, from what I’ve heard so far, not one was a disappointment.
I’ve worked countless festivals like this as a volunteer and have sat on organising committees putting such festivals together so I know that it’s no easy task. To be honest it can be sheer hell at times but to see everything under your control go smoothly is huge. One thing was brutally clear last night and that was the fact that Mark Monahan and his team are a well oiled machine. Colour co-ordinated shirts for different volunteer groups and armies of them let loose on the festival grounds. A seamless wristband process that electronically signs you in, and out of the festival grounds. And how about the entertainment? Who would’ve thought that a DJ like Tiësto would go over at Bluesfest. It was a risk that needed to be taken and last night it paid off huge. Massive crowds of young and old swarmed to the venue to experience, not listen to, his performance and he would not disappoint.
Read the rest of Hendrik’s review on the Ottawa Citizen’s blog: Bluesfest opening night was so hot it sizzled!
