I've spent the past few days reacquaniting myself with my somewhat forgotten love for live music at Ottawa's bluesfest. It took 3 days but i finally saw some real live blues today. Not that I'm complaining, mind you, as I'm having a wonderfully terrific time at all of the shows. Here's a brief rundown on my lineups thus far:

July 7 - Brock something or other, Corb Lund, 5ish lackluster songs by Great Big Sea (I thought they would be much more fun live...), Final 25 minutes of Broken Social Scene (why did they have to be playing at the same time as Calexico who I very much wanted to experience???)

Highlight of the evening was definately Corb Lund, who put on a terrific show. I also got to meet him afterwards thanks to a colleague who knew him. The disappointment with Great Big Sea has caused me to make the following decision: when given the choice between a fairly big name Canadian group/artist who is likely to play the other major festivals at some point in my summer/next year, and an interesting sounding artist with whom I find myself unfamiliar and is likely from far away thus less accessable, I will henceforth be choosing the stranger. I so very much regret missing Calexico. Sigh.

July 8 - Elvis Perkins, Matt Costa, Jason Collett, Feist

Matt Costa was my favourite - I bought a cd and he signed it. He's my new boyfriend. Elvis Perkins was also awesome. Jason Collett and Feist should have been swapped for Bonnie Raitt and anyone a little different. It was a lot of rockabilly/alt country/pretty poems by boys with guitars through the afternoon and early evening. Fun times though, big smile on my face all night.

July 9 - Ani DiFranco (just 4 or 5 songs), Maraca with Elmer Ferrer, Solomon Burke

Ani DiFranco was unnervingly happy. I seem to remember her having some more whine to her words last time I saw her play... Maraca and Elmer Ferrer were much power rocking blues. Solomon Burke was by far the highlight of the night. He was great Soul/r &b/blues fun and very interactive. Can't really say much to describe his banter, other than it was unreal. Oh, and we ran into Simon (rather I approached a bald guy that I thought was Simon and it was Simon, but he completely didn't remember me) and danced with him throughout the set. Much fun was had by all.