Ottawa is best known as the nation’s capital, a highly government oriented workplace and now music city?
That’s right, O-Town is seeing a recent rise in big named musical acts hitting its stages. Did all these artists call one another beforehand and decide the last year or so was finally the time to set foot onto the capital?
It’s no secret many artists tend to skip over Ottawa during their tours. Cities such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver frequently host top performers. Alberta, Saskatchewan and even Manitoba draw big country music stars.
Now it seems Ottawa is getting a chance to prove how many loyal music fans are ready to fight over tickets and fill seats at concerts.
This past summer, Ottawa attracted A-list musicians including Katy Perry, Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake. In July, BluesFest brought in big names such as Lady Gaga and Blake Shelton.
And that was just the beginning of what appears to be a musical breakthrough for the capital.
We saw Cher and Cyndi Lauper fly in. Folkfest brought in Lorde and Fleetwood Mac stormed to the Canadian Tire Centre in October.
Ottawa also saw a number of top country acts in 2014 such as Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Kira Isabella and Dallas Smith. This past New Year’s Eve, Sparks Street was illuminated and tried to replicate Times Square. Tim Hicks was the headliner, yet another country star.
In 2015, Ottawa will be blessed with the likes of country turned pop sensation Taylor Swift and country music star Luke Bryan.
Teens will also be losing their voices and possibly minds when One Direction comes to town for two shows in September. All these shows are rare and sold out in minutes.
Does this not show how hungry Ottawa fans are for certain musical acts?
Though Swift performed in the city in 2010 and was supposed to come in 2012 for the failed Capital Hoedown, the other two acts have never been before.
Based on the number of fans who are attending these concerts, it should give the artists an indication the capital is ready and has been ready for a long time to have such big names come to town.
We also have Kenny Chesney Florida Georgia Line, Bryan Adams and Neil Diamond hitting Canadian Tire Centre.
With TD Place now open, there’s more accessibility for concerts to be played there, as well. It’s where Def Leppard will play in May.
Sure, some Ottawans are still shocked to learn bigger names are actually coming to capital city stages, but is this a trend that will last?
If more concerts keep selling out, it should give artists a reason to come back and put Ottawa on the musical radar.
Now seems like the time when the city is ready to have more names hit the stage and if residents are patient enough, they just might get what they want.
Ottawa’s musical scene is really starting to heat up and therefore it should not be constantly criticized for lacking big names.
Just wait and see: 2015 has just begun and we’re already filling our calendars with dates and emptying our wallets to get tickets for big name shows coming to town.