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Bluesfest Day 3 – 2021 closes out the amazing weekend with music icons Tom Cochrane & Red Rider, April Wine with support from Ottawa’s own MonkeyJunk
Monkey Junk
First up for the last night of Bluesfest is Ottawa’s own MonkeyJunk with Steve Marriner, Tony D, and Matt Sobb. This was the boys’ first show at home in more than 2 years and what a way to welcome them home. It’s a perfect time to play at home as the last night not only boasted some music royalty but also a boosted sold-out capacity. Touted as swamp rock/blues, you right away get that feel of the southern rock sound that forces you to have a good time like it or not.
Steve rocked out some crowd favorites like Time to Roll and Best Kept Secret with his harmonica by his side. Tony D made sure to melt some faces with his solos showing everyone just what he does best while Matt led the charge keeping perfect pace with the rest. Steve let us know just how much fun he was having being back home and even told us he recently convince a lovely woman to marry him! Some of his new extended family was in the crowd seeing him play live for the first time. This is a great way to get the mood just right for the following acts.
April Wine
Next up is the legendary April Wine. Most people have probably heard one of their songs if you’ve ever listened to the radio. Started back in 1969 April Wine is a band that has had countless hits spanning over 50 years! Opening up the night was Could Have Been A Lady which not only had the crowd going nuts but also some of my fellow photographers in the pit.
The lights were bright the music was rocking the beer was flowing which means tonight is a party, to say the least. Few more tracks following things up like Tonight is a Wonderful Time to Fall in Love and Just Between You and Me had the fans singing along and nostalgia flowing. They ended the night with Roller which was a perfect way to finish off their set and get the crowd ready to hit the main event
Tom Cochrane & Red Rider
Bluesfest Day 3 – 2021 headliner closing out the night is the one and only Tom Cochrane and Red Rider. Personally, I was most excited to see this one. I grew up listening to the occasional Tom Cochrane track which made for all the nostalgia come flooding in for this one. The crowd is primed and the stage is set to cap off the perfect end to an amazing return to live music in the national capital area.
Fans expected nothing but the best so that’s what Tom brought! The energy was high and the party started as they belted out some of the fan favs like Boy Inside The Man, Big League, and The Untouchable One. I had never seen Tom live nor Red Rider so I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of energy coming from the stage. Everyone was obviously loving it and the perfect way to end to put an end to this amazing night was of course the most iconic track, Life is a Highway.
The night drew to an end and they did not disappoint as the music started and Life is a Highway started. Tom almost didn’t even need to sing as the sold-out crowd was serenading the stage showing their love. The perfect end to an amazing weekend.