Ottawa Bluesfest 2012, Day 10

Friday's Bluesfest offerings were definitely hit-or-miss. At least it started strong with a hot set (in all senses of the word) by Mother's Children. There wasn't a huge turnout, unless you consider it was a scorching hot Friday at 6 p.m., without much else on the day's bill to attract fans of the local rock scene.


Mother's Children at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 13, 2012

After their 35-minute set, I went off to catch some of Rude Boy, who were playing some straight-ahead ska and doing it well. Here's some black and white two-toners.


Rude Boy at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 13, 2012

Then it was tiome for some Reignwolf. The performer also known as Jordan Cook started off with some solo distorto-blues, even playing the drum kit and his guitar at the same time at one point. Then he was joined by two bandmates for some more fuzz-festing.


Reignwolf at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 13, 2012

I then did a little circuit of Drop The Lime, Become The Sun and The Dirty Heads to see if there was anything that caught my interest. Not really, though I did snap a few Become The Sun photos before I decided they were rote alterna-rock with some talking thrown in.


Become The Sun at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 13, 2012

I wouldn't have stuck around after Rude Boy if it wasn't for a chance to see Bettye Lavette. This show didn't attract the same crowd as she did at her last appearance - once again, nothing else on the day's bill to make the ticket price worthwhile - but it was pretty enthusiastic. Too enthusiastic in the cae of one audience shouter who she in so many words told to to cram it. "Act like it was your grandmother's house," she advised.


Bettye Lavette at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 13, 2012 

Then it was time to head home, because I was starting to feel a bit blitzed by the day's weather. Today promises more of the same. Yuck.

• Show reminder: The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol and Dead Wrestler rock the Clocktower; Brutal Youth, The Decay and Raw Raw Riot perform at Mavericks; Feral Children, Zombifyus and Mannequin play Pressed. Moreland & Arbuckle bring the rockin' blues to the Rainbow; Rocket Rached & The Fat City 8 fire it up at Irene's;The Cowards, The Arcanes and My Cousin Karma are at the Avant-Garde.