The end of summer was celebrated in Ottawa with the 2025 edition of CityFolk at Lansdown Park and a vast array of bands and artists spanning decades, genres and the world!
Two stages of performances gave festival goers a variety on any given night. Beginning on September 10, the headlining TD Stage played host to up-and-coming acts, such as JUNO-nominated Tafari Anthony and rising musical influencers Paul Russell and Alex Warren; while CanCon pillars Mia Kelly and Tyler Shaw led the Faskin Stage. Meanwhile, September 11 brought the legendary Indigo Girls to the TD Stage, while Rum Ragged brought out homesick Maritimers for a much needed Kitchen Party at the Faskin Stage.
The start of the weekend on September 12 saw Canadian singer-songwriter Kaia Kater and Americana favourites, the Devil Makes Three, rocking amazing acoustic-led sets on the Faskin Stage, while longtime Brit-Pop fans warmly welcomed the arrival of Madchester legends, James, who took over the TD Stage following a spirited solo performance by Caveboy’s Mint Simon.
The continuation of international superstars continued on the TD Stage on September 13 with electric, one-two punch, performances by fabled Celtic punks, Dropkick Murphys, and later the Pogues, while the incomparable Celeigh Cardinal and later Hurray for the Riff Raff owned the Faskin Stage.
Finally, closing out the festival on September 14, was a strong spotlight of Canadian artists. Local fusion stars, BLAKDENIM, and R&B superstar, TOBi, own the final night at the Faskin Stage, and while the TD Stage saw not one, but two mighty returns, with alt/electronica legends USS (Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker) playing their first show in the Capital since 2022 and Millennial rap-rock icons, Down with Webster, headlining the night.
With the end of the 2025 concert festival season, Ottawa begins the patient wait until the 2026 editions of both Bluesfest and CityFolk, and the next summer of exciting music from across Canada and the world to the Capital stages!