We’ll go beyond the music with artist interviews, volunteer profiles, concert reviews and spotlights on
the tastes, sights and sounds of the festival season.
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Photo by Kamara Morozuk
Opening the first day of the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, the weather was perfect, not too hot, and the forecasted rain was holding out. Pulling through with sets from The Elwins, Said The Whale and the Sheepdogs, the music didn't disappoint either. Considering it all managed to wrap up just moments before a torrential downpour hit the city is just the cherry on top.
The Elwins
These Keswick, Ontario indie-rockers started the night on a lively note, charging up the crowd on a mix of upbeat power pop and solid, fun guitar rock. Swapping instruments and vocal duties throughout their set, the surprises kept coming. Songs from their upcoming album were a welcome addition to their already great setlist and the old songs kept the crowd dancing as strong as ever. With some dashes through the crowd, and vocals back and forth with the audience, it was easy to get caught up in all the excitement, especially in "So Down Low."
Said The Whale
Taking things on a deeper note, the Vancouver trio brought an intense set, mixing their dense new synth-infused sound with some older rock tracks for a set that ticked all the boxes. With vocal duties rotating back and forth between Ben and Tyler throughout the set, there was always a lively energy to their vocals thanks to their brief rest when alternating. Running back and forth across the stage they delivered a show to match their mood and epic sonic pushes. Along with some deep bass, and jolting dynamic shifts, tracks like "Camilo" and "Realize Real Eyes" popped more than ever.
The Sheepdogs
Returning to a festival stage with a forecast set for rain, it seemed like The Sheepdogs were set to repeat their epic set from CityFolk, where they played through the rain for an hour, but apart from a couple drops they actually managed to completely dodge the bad weather until they left the stage.
Blowing through openers "Who?" "I'm Gonna Be Myself" and "The One You Belong To" they ripped open their set with a burning flame of energy. Grouping up often to take solos in twos or just do some synchronized rock moves, they didn't understate the start of their set at all, setting the crowd on a high for the rest of the night.
"Back Down" brought on a double double, appropriate for the Tim Hortons run fest, giving a double tambourine intro of sonic bliss, followed by double guitar solos bouncing back and forth before merging for sweet harmonies.
"Downtown" light up the stage with its classic pop, earning such loud shouting from the crowd, that you could hear voices in the crowd going this early into their set. Moving right into "Way It Is" and "Southern Dreaming" they kept the momentum going, without letting the crowd ever settle down for a few songs.
After the lighthearted piano of "Same Old Feeling" they switched right back to the crowd chanting, stomping rock of "Right On" as they all embraced the guitar cheese wholeheartedly. Swinging around to one of their concert staples, "Bad Lieutenant" moved the crowd around as the funky keyboard solos and new guitar shredding moments made the song even more memorable.
Sandwiching deeper cuts like "I Don't Get By" "Plastic Man" and "Nobody" between the crowd-pleasing notes of "How Late How Long" and "Take A Trip" to make the middle of the set fly by. Along with fan favourites like "Ewan's Blues" and "Help Us All" closing things with trombone section from Shamus before going to the set-closers.
Ending the set with "Feeling Good" and "I Don't Know" in a distorted, high voltage fashion, they assured no fan was let down and the hits were plentiful as always. Returning for their encore with a raucous rendition of the Allman Brothers track "Whipping Post" dedicated to the recently lost Gregg Allman to wrap the show dynamically as the drops started to fall from the sky.
Setlist
Who?
I'm Gonna Be Myself
The One You Belong To
Back Down
Downtown
The Way It Is
Southern Dreaming
Same Old Feeling
Right On
Bad Lieutenant
How Late How Long
I Don't Get By
Plastic Man
Nobody
Take A Trip
Ewan's Blues
Help Us All
Laid Back
Feeling Good
I Don't Know
Encore
Whipping Post (Allman Brothers Cover)
