Seal performing at Bluesfest.
LeBreton Flats on Sunday felt like every parent's dream come true. The lineup on Sunday had to be the most family-friendly lineup of the whole weekend. There was literally something for every member of the family. While the kids could enjoy themselves at the Electro and River Stages, parents seemed to be in the land of date-night as R&B singer Seal and blues/ jazz artist Norah Jones headlined the night.
Earlier that day, Ottawa pop band Keek performed on the River Stage. Keek played a small crowd which included a few dedicated Down with Webster fans who wanted to grab good spots. Luckily for Keek, their brand of bubble gum pop wasn’t a far stretch from DWW. Keek's lead singer bounced from one end of the stage to the other, and they seemed to have pleased the small young crowd. Those who were over the age of 15, on the the other hand, didn’t seem as entertained.
They probably would’ve been better off watching Jeff Rogers and the All Day Daddies over on the Main Stage. Rogers and company had a great mix of R&B, soul, and blues that had the crowd swaying to and fro. If at the right venue, I could definitely see couples starting to pair off and slow dance their way through Rogers’ set because it was the kind of music you could fall in love to.
Parents also would’ve enjoyed James Vincent McMorrow at the Blacksheep stage. The folky musician kept it simple with him and his guitar, but the sparse set-up proved to be enough as he entranced everyone around him. His raspy voice was low and full of emotion other than general excitement, which was a nice change of pace from the usual hyped up vibe of Bluesfest. The Blacksheep stage worked in his favour as the smaller open area felt just as intimate as if we were in a small, dark venue. I wouldn’t be surprised if McMarrow gains a large Ottawa following as the crowd shouted praise for the humble musician.
Just before Seal was set to perform on the Claridge Stage, The Wooden Sky warmed the crowd with their indie, country-rock style. The Toronto band drew in a large, diverse crowd and kept it interesting with their slow music. At one point, the keyboards felt a little too screechy and overpowered the vocals during “City of Light.”
Though, the highlight of the night had to be Seal. Near the beginning of his set I overheard one woman tell her friend that “this is getting sexy real quick,” and it truly was. Seal was working that stage with what I would describe as “campy, sexy” dance moves. He worked those hips, and got close to his fans as risers connected the stage to the crowd. It seemed like he had just about every middle-aged woman in the crowd melting as he performed some of his older nineties R&B tracks. (Just a side note for those few who aren’t married: Seal is single again.) Unfortunately for me, I had to skip out near the end of his set and missed “Kiss from a Rose,” my karaoke favourite. It was the only Seal song I knew, and I’m still angry that I missed it.
Chromeo’s set was slightly disappointing especially after gaining a new appreciation for live DJing after seeing MSTRKRFT the night before. First off, Chromeo began late. Then, later on into the night, it just felt like some playlist DJing was happening as he switched from one popular song to the next.
I ended my night with Norah Jones. Luckily, I didn’t miss out on a very well done performance of “Come Away with Me.” Jones, who was accompanied by a band for her set, was alone on stage for this number. She slowed the song down even more, and holding on to each note just a little longer. Her voice was buttery smooth and beautiful. She tried her best to interact with the crowd, even taking suggestions for new band names. Yet, her charisma couldn’t hold me there much longer afterward.
For more photos from Sunday, click HERE.