OTTAWA, Ontario (CelebrityAccess) With a lineup that included AWOLNATION to ZEDD—with Lady Gaga, Lady Antebellum, and a little good luck in regards to weather, organizers for this year's Ottawa Bluesfest chalked up another success.
The multi-stage, multi-genre festival featured more than 200 acts, with representation of every style of modern music from blues, rock and pop to EDM, indie, and more, and had an estimated 300,000 music fans of every stripe singing the ‘fests praises.
“It’s taken 20 years, but fans of a particular style of music are no longer complaining about what else we program,” say the festival’s executive/programming director Mark Monahan. “People seem to be enjoying what we bring in for them and aren’t complaining so much about what we bring in for others. It used to be, ‘why are you bringing in EDM or rap, or why country or world music?’ Well, it turns out that a lot of people like a lot of different kinds of music; especially in Ottawa where music fans are very savvy.”
The event is not only supported by hundred of thousands of fans, it also boasts 3,500 community volunteers and substantial private- and public-sector support . . . and for good reason. The RBC Bluesfest has established itself as one of the premier festival stops for artists and music fans in North America and generates close to $40 million in economic impact in the region.
Festival organizers say they’re happy to have 20 years in the books and are looking forward to another 20 and more.
