Come groove to some blues
Saturday August 17th
The Capital Fair with co-sponsor the Ottawa Blues Society, presents the Ottawa Capital Blues Revue at the Rideau Carleton Casino, future home of Hard Rock Ottawa.
Castback
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Originating from the Ottawa Valley, Ashley Monaghan (Bass), Kyler Villeneuve (Drums), Ryan Haché (Vocals), and Mason Hartwick (Guitar), form CASTBACK. This dynamic blues cover band, formed in 2024, brings a searing blues revival to the Capital Fair. Combining classic songs with modern energy, CASTBACK takes influence from artists such as Eric Clapton, Albert Collins, and the Canadian power blues band McKenna Mendelson Mainline. CASTBACK is honoured to perform on behalf of the Ottawa Blues Society.
Joe Gaspar All-Stars
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM
Joe Gaspar is a multi-talented musician who arrived in Canada after enjoying much success on the European scene. Founder of the popular Romanian power-trio Quo Vadis, he sang lead vocals and played bass guitar for over 12 years entertaining large crowds all over Europe. Due to his outstanding vocal abilities, he has been invited to join groups of different genres, sing in rock operas, play keyboards, guitar, bass and even conduct choirs. Joe was also featured in several music publications and documentaries highlighting his musical career.
In Canada he created Joe Gaspar Band in 2011 to breathe life into his original song ideas, with 2 acclaimed albums in the 9 years of existence. Also, he joins successful bands like Crunchy Flower, Rocksnake, Fugly Dawgz in his hometown of Ottawa.
Presently Joe has an all-star project blooming, the Joe Gaspar All-Stars featuring Joe on lead vocals, bass, harmonica and keyboards, Lucas Haneman on guitars and vocals and Andre Ferraton on drums.
Lucas Haneman is a deeply passionate performer, songwriter and improviser, playing guitar since the age of 6, and in more recent years becoming a highly respected band leader as well. He is a strong unique musical force wherever he is present, be it tearing it up on electric guitar with the LH Express, looping and
trading vocals in the acoustic duo The Blind & The Beautiful, or captivating a room as a creative solo performer.
Andre Ferraton is a well-known versatile drummer on the Ottawa scene playing in blues and jazz bands like Drew Nelson Band, Clint Everson Band, and The Radicals.http://www.joegasparband.com/
Jeff Dunn
Winner of OBS Road 2 Memphis Solo/Duo
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
The Ottawa Blues Society is proud to again be showcasing our region’s talented blues acts at the 3rd Annual Capital Fair Blues Revue!
Jeff Dunn is a Kingston Ontario based blues artist. His cutting slide guitar paired with his powerful vocals, and well crafted original modern blues songs are inspired by blues legends like Muddy Waters, Lightnin’ Hopkins and BB King. He has been performing in Kingston for over 2 decades.
Jeff will be representing the Ottawa Blues Society in the solo/ duo artist category at the 2025 Memphis International Blues Challenge.
If you missed his amazing show in April at the “Road to Memphis” Blues Challenge, you will definitely want to make sure you catch his appearance on the main stage at this years Capital Fair!
Bonecat
Winner of Road 2 Memphis Band category
5:45 PM – 7:00 PM
Bonecat’s exhilarating brand of blues-inspired rock and energetic shows have earned them a reputation of a must-see show. Originally a duo, the trio was later formed in 2021 and they have created a unique synergy on stage that audiences love to watch. They released their second CD Bonecat lll, Ready as Anyone Can Be in 2023 which can also be found on Apple and Amazon music. Bonecat recently won the Ottawa Blues Society’s Road 2 Memphis Blues Challenge and will be heading to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge in January 2025.
Over the last several years, Bonecat has performed at Kingston’s Limestone Bluesfest, Kemptville Live, and Ottawa’s Capital Fair and are looking forward to playing Ottawa Bluesfest this July.
Drew Nelson Band
7:30 PM – 8:45 PM
Drew Nelson is conceivably one of Canada’s most criminally underrated musicians, and the Capital Fair cannot be happier that his band is appearing at this years Capital Fair Blues Revue!
Influenced by rock & roll and Chicago blues, Nelson began his career at age 16. In his early twenties he co-founded a group with the late harmonica legend Back Alley John. In 1989 he launched The Drew Nelson Band and won over audiences and critics across the country. He became widely known for his slide guitar playing, gritty vocals and well-crafted songs. Nelson organized tours and recorded with the late Canadian blues pioneer Dutch Mason and has shared the stage with artists including B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy and others.
https://drewnelson.ca/
Clint Everson Band
9:15 PM – 10:30 PM
Clint Everson is an Ottawa based singer-songwriter and guitarist and is continually refining his sound and bringing new life to his original music. With over 20 unrecorded tracks in the vault, Clint is currently recording at Tone King Records, with a new single expected this Spring, and an album to follow later in the year.
The Capital Fair is looking forward to Clint Everson and his Band closing out our 3rd Annual Blues Revue, capping off a full day of an amazing showcase of local blues music! It's going to be a blast!