Friday, November 05, 2010

Into the unknown

What to do after Amos the Transparent? Go and check out a bunch of acts I was only vaguely familiar with, that's what. First stop was the main stage, with some reggae-folk from Trevor Hall.

Trevor rocks the dreads, Brian Lang handles the low end, Aaron Dugan goes electric.

Trevor Hall at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Chris Steele thumps merrily away.

Trevor Hall at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Trevor sings!

Trevor Hall at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

And, er, that's all, since I went off to the Subway Stage to see if I could take some Sauce Boss photos. He's always good for a snap or two ... alas, by the time I arrived, only his gumbo remained.

The sauce of the Sauce Boss at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Up next were Paul Rishell and Annie Raines, who keep things bluesy on resonator and harp. Here's Paul doing a little soundchecking.

Paul Rishell & Annie Raines at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Annie works the harp.

Paul Rishell & Annie Raines at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

A solid duo, but they weren't tickling my earlobes so I went off to the Blacksheep tent to check out their latest Afrobeat offering, The Occidental Brothers Dance Band International. These brothers actually hail from Chicago, but they have a jones for the highlife sounds of Africa. They keep things pretty traditional.

Here we have bassist Joshua Ramos and guitarist Nathaniel Braddock.

Occidental Brothers Dance Band International at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More Nathaniel!

Occidental Brothers Dance Band International at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Over on the left we have alto saxophonist Greg Ward and guitarist Antonio Carella (trying his hand at a little percussion).

Occidental Brothers Dance Band International at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More Joshua, and drummer Makaya McCraven.

Occidental Brothers Dance Band International at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Most importantly, here's Samba Mapangala, Congolese star and noted frontman of Orchestra Virunga.

Occidental Brothers Dance Band International at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More Mapangala!

Occidental Brothers Dance Band International at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

A man must dance.

Occidental Brothers Dance Band International at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Alto action!

Occidental Brothers Dance Band International at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More Antonio!

Occidental Brothers Dance Band International at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

The whole lot!

Occidental Brothers Dance Band International at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

After that it was off to another sort of world music.

No comments: