07-04-2008, 07:05 PM
Starting off on the right note
Good weather, good tunes bring out more than 25,000 music lovers
By Tony Lofaro, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Friday, July 04, 2008
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=7ab1e41b-3600-4a36-ad33-474a62a77aed">http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/new ... 4a62a77aed</a><!-- m -->
On a beautiful summer evening with the sun shining over picturesque LeBreton Flats, the 15th annual Ottawa Bluesfest opened to a large crowd, great musical acts and a festive spirit on the grounds.
It was a different scenario yesterday morning, though, when festival organizers awoke to driving rain and gloomy skies. But staff were confident the weather would improve by showtime when headliners Matt Mays, Cassandra Wilson, Taj Mahal, the Blind Boys of Alabama and the Tragically Hip were to hit the stage.
Bluesfest founder and CEO Mark Monahan says the music festival has consistently had good luck on opening night when it comes to the weather.
"We've had good weather for every opening night except one -- that was 1999 when it rained," said Mr. Monahan, relaxing by his trailer while the crowds spilled onto the grounds.
"So 14 years of good weather on opening night out of 15 (years) isn't bad."
He said the pleasant night was expected to push the opening attendance to more than 25,000, with most of the festival-goers coming for the Hip, which took to the Bank of America Stage at 9:30 p.m.
Travis Hohner of Ottawa was among the first Tragically Hip fans to park himself in front of the stage for a good vantage point to see his favourite Canadian band.
"I got here about 3 p.m.," said Mr. Hohner, sitting in a lawn chair directly in front of the stage.
"I've seen the band 12 times since 2004, this will be my 13th time," he said, adding he enjoys watching Hip frontman Gord Downie.
Mr. Hohner said he wasn't sure how his wife was going to meet up with him because she was arriving later in the night and would probably have problems fighting her way through the crowd.
By 8 p.m., the number of festivalgoers on the grounds had swelled considerably, which caused long lineups at the beer tents and and washrooms.
Fred Daly, a beer tent supervisor, said he expected to see a rush of beer patrons just before the Tragically Hip show.
"You only have so much room and on opening night you're always going to have some hiccups with the logistics," said Mr. Daly. "But compared to last year, it's a lot better."
He said last year's long lineups were due to the move to the new LeBreton Flats site. However, with about 32 cashiers and servers working the biggest tent, located on the south side of the grounds, he expected the lines to move much more quickly this year.
In fact, the lineups for the nearby portable toilets were longer, sometimes snaking as long as about 50 people.
Jeff Barclay was one of the patient festivalgoers waiting in line to use the toilets.
"I'd rather wait (in line) than have to hold it for later," said Mr. Barclay, who came to Bluesfest to catch the Hip.
By early evening, police and paramedics said they had encountered few problems among the crowds.
© The Ottawa Citizen 2008
Good weather, good tunes bring out more than 25,000 music lovers
By Tony Lofaro, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Friday, July 04, 2008
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=7ab1e41b-3600-4a36-ad33-474a62a77aed">http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/new ... 4a62a77aed</a><!-- m -->
On a beautiful summer evening with the sun shining over picturesque LeBreton Flats, the 15th annual Ottawa Bluesfest opened to a large crowd, great musical acts and a festive spirit on the grounds.
It was a different scenario yesterday morning, though, when festival organizers awoke to driving rain and gloomy skies. But staff were confident the weather would improve by showtime when headliners Matt Mays, Cassandra Wilson, Taj Mahal, the Blind Boys of Alabama and the Tragically Hip were to hit the stage.
Bluesfest founder and CEO Mark Monahan says the music festival has consistently had good luck on opening night when it comes to the weather.
"We've had good weather for every opening night except one -- that was 1999 when it rained," said Mr. Monahan, relaxing by his trailer while the crowds spilled onto the grounds.
"So 14 years of good weather on opening night out of 15 (years) isn't bad."
He said the pleasant night was expected to push the opening attendance to more than 25,000, with most of the festival-goers coming for the Hip, which took to the Bank of America Stage at 9:30 p.m.
Travis Hohner of Ottawa was among the first Tragically Hip fans to park himself in front of the stage for a good vantage point to see his favourite Canadian band.
"I got here about 3 p.m.," said Mr. Hohner, sitting in a lawn chair directly in front of the stage.
"I've seen the band 12 times since 2004, this will be my 13th time," he said, adding he enjoys watching Hip frontman Gord Downie.
Mr. Hohner said he wasn't sure how his wife was going to meet up with him because she was arriving later in the night and would probably have problems fighting her way through the crowd.
By 8 p.m., the number of festivalgoers on the grounds had swelled considerably, which caused long lineups at the beer tents and and washrooms.
Fred Daly, a beer tent supervisor, said he expected to see a rush of beer patrons just before the Tragically Hip show.
"You only have so much room and on opening night you're always going to have some hiccups with the logistics," said Mr. Daly. "But compared to last year, it's a lot better."
He said last year's long lineups were due to the move to the new LeBreton Flats site. However, with about 32 cashiers and servers working the biggest tent, located on the south side of the grounds, he expected the lines to move much more quickly this year.
In fact, the lineups for the nearby portable toilets were longer, sometimes snaking as long as about 50 people.
Jeff Barclay was one of the patient festivalgoers waiting in line to use the toilets.
"I'd rather wait (in line) than have to hold it for later," said Mr. Barclay, who came to Bluesfest to catch the Hip.
By early evening, police and paramedics said they had encountered few problems among the crowds.
© The Ottawa Citizen 2008
