Ottawa Bluesfest – Day 9

Ottawa Bluesfest – The Sunday Send Off
Sunday, July 19, 2026

Pictures and Review By Mark Kelly
Additional pictures courtesy of Greg Kolz/Landon Entwistle – Ottawa Bluesfest

The curtain came down on another memorable edition of Ottawa Bluesfest Sunday night, with organizers delivering a lineup that celebrated Canadian music from start to finish. Under warm summer skies at LeBreton Flats, thousands of fans gathered one final time to enjoy an evening
that mixed rising local talent, modern rock, prairie swagger, and legendary Canadian classics.

The final day offered more than just the evening concerts. Festival-goers enjoyed daytime programming celebrating Ottawa’s 200th anniversary, featuring local artists, family entertainment, and cultural performances before the evening schedule began. The result was a true community celebration that highlighted both local talent and nationally recognized performers. Acts like Choir! Choir! Choir! , Les Petites Tounes, Blues in Schools, and Be in
the Band celebrated kids music and musicianship. A family affair, Natalie MacMaster
and Donnell Leahy, Canada’s reigning couple of Celtic music, even feature
Their seven music-loving children performed on the main RBC Stage.

RBC Main Stage

Wakefield’s Rebelle opened the final night with a confident set that immediately energized the growing crowd. Their modern rock sound, built around powerful vocals and driving guitars, proved they are a band ready for bigger stages. Their chemistry was evident from the opening
song, and the hometown support made for an enthusiastic welcome.

Next came Saskatchewan rockers The Sheepdogs, whose blend of Southern rock, blues, and classic ’70s-inspired grooves fit the festival atmosphere perfectly. Their unmistakable twin-guitar attack and rich vocal harmonies had the audience singing along while tracks from throughout their catalogue reminded everyone why they remain one of Canada’s premier live bands. The
relaxed, feel-good energy spread across the festival grounds as fans danced from start to finish.

Closing the festival was one of Canada’s most iconic names, The Guess Who. From the moment they walked on stage, the atmosphere shifted into a celebration of Canadian rock history. Classics like American Woman, These Eyes, No Time, Share the Land, and No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature transported fans back through decades of timeless music. Every chorus was met by thousands of voices, creating one of the biggest singalongs of the
festival.

The band’s musicianship remained impressive throughout the night, proving that great songs never lose their impact. While today’s lineup has evolved over the years, the music continues to resonate with audiences of every generation. It was a fitting finale that honoured both the band’s legacy and Ottawa Bluesfest’s long tradition of showcasing legendary performers.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa Stage

Banggz is a Nigerian artist blending Afrobeats and Hip-Hop into a sound that moves both body and spirit. His music channels resilience, emotion, and ambition.

Ottawa-based hip-hop sensation, LeFLOFRANCO brings to the table a sound high in energy mixed with heartfelt lyrical content. Striving to push Hip-Hop’s sound towards new heights, he refers to his unique sound as : multicolored urban pop.

Under the bright sun 4KORNERS hit the stage, a visionary artist, producer, and DJ who transforms music into an immersive journey across cultures. His sound, which he has dubbed Global Dance Music, fuses House, Baile, Techno, Afrobeats, Dancehall, Soca, Latin, and beyond into a seamless flow that transcends borders and unites people through music.

A packed crowd witnessed a charged Connor Price set. With over 2 billion streams to date, Connor Price is one of the most successful Canadian independent artists in today’s music industry. In May, he hit 10M Monthly Listeners on Spotify for the first time, released ‘ICONIC’ – a collab mixtape with frequent collaborator Nic D, and was featured on the cover of Billboard Canada’s – The Indie Edition.

Lebreton Stage

Paolo Stante is a Rock/Blues singer, songwriter, guitarist who incorporates the classic sounds of heroes such as Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers, Stevie Ray Vaughan and the like with a visionary passion, to create a uniquely fresh approach. His CDs “One Way Back”, “Man Out Of Time”, “At It Again”and “Lawless” are a testament to this fact.

Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar are one of Canada’s most electrifying blues-soul bands, blending gospel, roots, and retro-soul with a voice that commands attention. While Samantha Martin’s musical journey took shape in Toronto, her sound has always defied easy categorization. A two-time JUNO nominee and seven-time Maple Blues Award nominee for Female Vocalist of the Year, Martin brings raw emotion, power, and authenticity to every performance.

Elisapie put a spell over the crowd as we listened to haunting vocals capturing our imaginations.
Elisapie’s unconditional attachment to her territory and her language, Inuktitut, remains at the core of her creative journey. She was also honored with a Canada Post stamp. Always surrounded by the best musicians from the Montreal indie and folk scenes, Elisapie makes her culture resonate with finesse by mixing modernity and tradition.

Additional pictures courtesy of Greg Kolz/Landon Entwistle – Ottawa Bluesfest