Storm clouds over Ottawa didn’t stop thousands of revellers from descending onto Lebreton Flats Saturday night to enjoy the national Canada Day celebrations evening show.
Hosted by broadcaster, Isabelle Raciot, and broadcast live from coast to coast to coast, the show took on the theme of “A Playlist to Celebrate” and opened with medley of performances of Canadian hits by Cameroon-born, Montreal-based singer-songwriter, Clerel, winner of La Voix 8, Josiane, Iqaulit guitarist, Josh Q, and celebrated folk-duo, Madison Violet.
The show continued with a stirring performance from the legendary Jann Arden of fan favourte “Unloved,” while Felix Award-winning, Roxane Bruneau rocked the crowd with her latest single, “Le blanc des yeux” and country superstar, Jojo Mason, performed his hit single, “Broken Umbrella.”
The evening continued with exciting and powerful performances by Polaris Music Prize short-lister, Les Louanges, with his song “Pigeons” from his latest album, Crash, “Nomads” from rising Obi-Cree superstar, Aysanabee from his celebrated album, Watin, and “Dear God” by Ottawa’s own, Dax.
Clerel, Joisane, Josh Q, and Madison Violet would then return with a medley of their own hits, including Josh Q’s “Put’Em Down”, Clerel’s “QTV”, Josiane’s “Lose It All” and Madison Violet’s “These Ships”.
Meanwhile, 2023 Breakthrough Artist of the Year Juno Award winner, Preston Pablo, sent the crowd wild with his breakthrough single, “Flowers Need Rain,” while Les Louanges returned with “L’essentiel.”
The show then shifted to celebrate the great Canadian songbook; starting with Jojo Mason, who returned to lead the Ottawa crowd in a singalong tribute to hometown hero, Alanis Morrisette, with a performance of “Ironic.” Roxane Bruneau would take on the loud and rocking “Provocante” from legendary Quebec singer-songwriter, Marjo, while the crowd welcomed Quebecois singer-songwriter, France D’Amour, who performed Plume Latraverse’s “Le rock’n’roll du grand flan mou.” D’Amour would later return to perform her song “Je sais ce qu je sais,” while Jann Arden would also return to perform her smash hit, “Good Mother.”
Before fireworks lit up the Nation’s Capital, the show’s finale would pay tribute to the late Gordon Lightfoot, with a medley of his greatest hits, including “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” performed by Madison Violet, “Carefree Highway” performed by Aysanabee and Josiane, “Sundown” performed by Josh Q and France D’Amour and “If You Could Read My Mind” performed by Jann Arden.
With Canada Day 2023 come and gone, Ottawa now prepares its Lebreton Flats for the 2023 edition of RBC Bluesfest.