HipHopCanada and CapCityHipHop were down at Ottawa’s LeBreton Flats for day seven of RBC Bluesfest 2018.
The day featured performances by some incredible local talent. We caught live shows from Black Iri$h, Aspects, and Rita Carter.
Check our review below. You can find more photos from the show towards the bottom of the write-up.
Black Iri$h
With RBLx looking on, their crewmate Black Iri$h hit the Black Sheep Stage with explosive energy, reminding us again of the immense amount of talent working in the Ottawa scene. With Travis Scott inspired crowd work and a collaborative approach to his set, Iri$h brought a much needed vibe with his set. What took the crowd by surprise was his slick versatility with Auto-Tune on his song “Foreign.”
What made this show a classic was the fact that he wanted to put his crew on. He brought out Trevor, a local MC in his crew, as well as up-and commers SV and Xuave who brought that Trippie Redd aura to the stage. Some of the performance highlights included energetic performances of “Auston Matthews” and “Nascar.” What makes Bluesfest special is the fact that local artists are able to express themselves on a larger platform, and Iri$h took full advantage. The crowd was a healthy mix of his loyal, ever-growing fanbase, as well as new fans he had won over with his performance.
I’d give his set a solid 5/5. Another great look for a bubbling artist on the local scene. Keep doing your thing Iri$h!
Aspects & Rita Carter
Ottawa’s own Aspects and Rita Carter were a highlight of the entire festival, treating the diverse crowd inside the Barney Danson Theater to one of the best performance’s of the festival.
With fellow Ottawa talent City Fidelia watching on, Carter and Aspects came out out to impress and they did not disappoint. Playing standout tracks like “Time Makes Two”, “Handle That” and a YouTube fan favourite, “Mercy,” it was clear that experience was on their side. The live band (Drummer – Stephen Adu, Violin – Patrice Robinson, Base – Lyan, Electric Guitar – Robbie Rigg) brought an extra flavour to the performance, making the audience feel fully entrenched in the intimate setting.
Singer Paula Whitelocke also added another layer of bliss to the set with her support on Rita’s “Handle” and “Unlearn.”
Another highlight of this performance was the crowd itself; they were seated but their knowledge of the material made them a special group. They knew the lyrics, they knew what to expect. The crowd was so diverse; we even found a 60-year-old grandmother jamming with her 10-year-old grand daughter.
It was refreshing to see local music that brought a Jazz, blues and hip-hop feel. The acoustic style of Aspects made the show more interesting accompanied with Rita Carter’s vocal range melted into a special sauce. The crowd gave two standing ovations not only to Aspects and Rita Carter at the end of the night, but also Aspects’ daughter Illiyah Rose who performed the amazing cover of “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston. Definitely a star in the making.
In conclusion, we would give this show 5 Stars for giving us what we want in music: an experience, the mix of jazz, blues, hip-hop and love!
Written by Sean Jean (@SeanJeann) & Nate G for HipHopCanada & CapCityHipHop
Photography by Sean Jean for HipHopCanada & CapCityHipHop
Our RBC Bluesfest 2018 coverage is brought to you in partnership with our friends at CapCityHipHop.