In the picture

It's shaping up to be an interesting week; Final Fantasy - a.k.a. Owen Pallett - performs at Bronson Centre Theatre with support from Ken Reaume and Nifty. Here's a leftover photo from this years Bluesfest performance July 9. at the Black Sheep Stage.



Meanwhile, Mavericks plays host to Camilla Rhodes, Favours The Brave, Dead Winter and Hollyacres.

That's final!

My original plan to finish off Monday was to go and see Buddy Guy, but the River Stage was completely jammed during my brief reconnaissance, so I headed back to the Black Sheep Stage to see Final Fantasy. I've seen Owen Pallett twice, both at times Bluesfest. This second show didn't have the revelatory feel of a first appearance, but I was still mighty impressed by how much mileage he got out of looping his violin. He also had a nifty light show provided by animator etc. Stephanie Comilang.



Stephanie gives Owen a hand. You can just make her out operating the overhead projector to the right.







Her bit with the writing was particularly nifty and appropriate.



As was the piano.





Charming as ever; he'll be back in town in a few months, and this time you won't have to head up to Wakefield or wait for Bluesfest to see him: He'll be at the Bronson Centre Nov. 20 and tickets go on sale very soon.

Fantastic voyage

Monday was a leisurely day for me. Instead of running to and fro between stages I stayed at the Black Sheep Stage (er, mostly). I did cut by the Rogers Stage to snap a couple of pictures of the Elmer Ferrer Band. He's become something of a festival mainstay and will be playing again today at 6 p.m. on the River Stage. Don't be surprised if he turns up again next year.



After that it was off to see locals Relief Maps start things up and sweat a lot. Apart from some strap breakage - never seen that before - it went off very well.



Up next were In-Flight Safety. The Halifax band plays the delay-friendly harmonic rock of the early 1980s British outfits like Chameleons and Echo and the Bunnymen.



I did briefly consider checking out Buddy Guy, but the River Stage was already quite jammed a half-hour before the blues legend's set. I would have thought Guy would be on the main stage, but as was the case last year for shows early in the week, Bluesfest booked an act for the younger crowd. I toddled back to see the Black Sheep Stage and a close-to ringside seat for Final Fantasy. I was knocked out by Owen Pallett's set at Bluesfest two years ago. Even without the element of surprise he put on a fab show. There was a visual element provided by Stephanie Comilang (who also did his This Lamb Sells Condos video) using an overhead projector.



As for the main stage, as I pedaled away I could hear Hedley sing a version of Bob Marley's No Woman No Cry that could move a grown man to tears ... and I don't mean that in a good way. I'll probably head back to the Black Sheep Stage today for John Allaire, maybe check out a little Randy Newman - then it's a coin toss between Alejandro Escovedo and Los Lobos.

From Florida to Ferrer

Despite my best efforts (that's sarcasm, folks), I managed to catch most of Mofro's set, and they were just as swell live as on record. Some amusing stage banter and wonderful soulful vocals from J.J. Grey.
I did catch a few songs from Diplo, but as he basically announced he was going to DJ, I figured my time could be better spent watching Carl Weathersby on the Main Stage. Weathersby and Co. put on a dynamite show and he had a lot of fun racing about through the crowd.
I also caught a good chunk of Joe Bonamassa's set; it was energetic blues rock, enlivened by his fine playing.
I popped over to the ADCN Stage for Elmer Ferrer only to find him delayed. Thus, I spent a most enjoyable half hour being blown over by Nora Jean Bruso's powerhouse vocals.
There was a brief delay, then much-lauded Cuban guitarist Elmer Ferrer came on stage. He's got a good band and has amazing technical skills, but I was feeling strangely unmoved. Also, my stomach was beginning to make menacing grumbles, so I went home and rested up for the Immortal Lee County Killers.
And now for a few pictures from yesterday's shows ....

First, Capital B - a.k.a. Bruce McPhillips - bends a few strings.



This Gentlemen Reg photo turned out a little dark. It's a good thing he's so pale.



My Jason Collett pictures turned out much better. Incidentally, I'm going to venture a guess his keyboardist Mike is a Gram Parsons fan.



The one and lonely Owen Pallett.



Now I've got an hour to kill before the Double Pumpers and ILCK.