Ottawa Bluesfest - History

History

The festival was first held in 1994 at Majors Hill Park with the performance of Clarence Clemons, attracting 5,000 spectators. The following year the festival attracted larger crowds with entertainers like John Hiatt and Buddy Guy. In 1996 25,000 fans attended the Bluesfest to see Robert Cray, Los Lobos and others. It was then that the Mitel corporation became the first major sponsor of the event. In 1997 the festival was moved to Confederation Park to provide more space for the increasing number of fans to see musicians such as Dr. John and Little Feat. In 1998 over 80,000 people showed up for the festival, which coincided with Canada Day. Bell Mobility and CIBC Wood Gundy joined the list of sponsors. In 1999 the festival was moved to LeBreton Flats. The Bluesfest became a registered charitable organization while attracting over 95,000 fans. The Royal Canadian Mint became a sponsor. Cisco Systems became the Bluesfest Title Sponsor in 2001, while the Ottawa Citizen and the National Post became Presenting Sponsors. In 2002 Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest moved to Festival Plaza in downtown Ottawa and 200,000 fans. In 2003 the festival expanded to eight stages to celebrate its tenth anniversary with 220,300 people in attendance. 2005 saw the festival further diversify its offerings, reaching out to a younger audience as well as those interested in more than just blues. The eleven-day event brought over 220,000 people to Festival Plaza to enjoy and appreciate a wide variety of music from around the world. The 2006 festival saw continued growth with increased crowds and the move of the MBNA stage to Lisgar Collegiate Institute to provide more capacity. The 2007 Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest was located at LeBreton Flats Park, a move from the site at Festival Plaza the previous year. The new site offered five stages in and around the Canadian War Museum. The stage set-up featured twin main stages akin to the Austin City Limits Music Festival, which allowed audiences to transfer between headlining acts. The festival drew more than 300,000 attendees that year. On July 17 just 20 minutes into Cheap Trick’s set, a thunderstorm blew through the festival area. The band and crew narrowly exited the stage before the 40-ton roof fell. Miraculously, it fell away from the audience and landed on the band's truck which was parked alongside the back of the stage, breaking the fall and allowing everyone about 30 seconds to escape. Robin Zander was treated for a laceration to the abdomen and released from hospital the same day.

In 2012, Bluesfest took place July 4 - 15 including headliners such as LMFAO, City and Colour, Alice Cooper, Iron Maiden, Norah Jones, I Mother Earth, Nickelback, Shinedown, Snoop Dogg, John Mellencamp, Blue Rodeo, Our Lady Peace, Skrillex, K'Naan and the Trews.

In 2013, Ottawa Bluesfest takes place July 4-14.