If last year was Ottawa's ultimate year of rock, this year is sputtering along as if it's going to fizzle out.
In one month, Donald Fagen, Nine Inch Nails, Sheryl Crow, Hawksley Workman and MC Rob Base all blew off dates in Ottawa. There were various legitimate reasons, mostly health-related, but so far only Workman has made it a priority to reschedule (May 8, Bronson Centre). A new date for Crow is to be announced today.
Recent concerts by superstar artists such as Coldplay, Nickelback and Hilary Duff drew well, but there were seriously underattended performances. The most recent example was Rob Thomas, who performed for barely 1,500 people at Scotiabank Place last month.
Even the Tulip Festival has been forced to downsize its concert series from an 11-day marathon to a couple of weekends, an act of fiscal responsibility that nobody is particularly happy about. Don't write it off yet, though, because there are still potentially good weekend shows to catch by Xavier Rudd, Trooper and the Trews.This anecdotal evidence could be a sign that the decline in the North American concert industry is starting to hit Canada. We sailed through the past couple of years, partly because booking agents saw Canada as an opportunity to cultivate new, concert-deprived markets. That's why Pearl Jam stopped in Thunder Bay and the Stones and U2 finally included Ottawa on their tour schedules last year.
Some say this year's downturn is part of the natural cycle, the inevitable hangover following a U2- and Stones-gorged year. Others speculate the phenomenon is a direct result of declining revenues by the record companies, who then trim their financial support for touring acts.
You can also point to escalating ticket prices and pressure from other forms of entertainment. I can understand the temptation to stay home and watch Coldplay on the big-screen TV rather than fight Queensway traffic, pay for parking and compete with thousands to see them live. (But I'm glad I didn't succumb, because it was a great concert).
Last year's bountiful crop of shows in the nation's capital also included Green Day, Pearl Jam, Aerosmith and an amazing Bluesfest lineup that featured Black Eyed Peas, Kid Rock and ZZ Top. Any slump is going to seem especially dramatic.
Glancing at the upcoming concert calendar, the immediate outlook is less than spectacular. Rumours persist regarding Paul McCartney, Madonna and AC-DC, but so far the only major acts of note confirmed for Ottawa are the Strokes, Black Crowes, George Strait and Gordon Lightfoot. While those will be decent shows, I'm waiting for something monumental.
Well, what about Bluesfest? What can we expect from Ottawa's biggest summer music festival, only three months away? If it's tough for the multinational promoters, it must be really tough for a community-based festival that strives to attract the same major acts.
"From what I've seen so far, the concert business is pretty scary," admits executive director Mark Monahan, who has less than three weeks to finalize the lineup. Details on the 2006 Cisco Systems Ottawa Bluesfest are to be announced on April 26. The festival runs from July 7 to 16, with four stages on the grounds of City Hall and a satellite stage at the Casino du Lac Leamy.
"A lot of shows have not done well. What happens is, everybody starts out with the same intent.
"We're going to spend the same amount on artists. If the artists aren't available, then the artists that are available start charging more ... suddenly, you can pay too much."
For a festival with set dates, the artist also has to be available during the required time frame. Plus, financial situations are often precarious in the festival world, where success or failure can hinge on factors such as the weather, ticket sales, corporate sponsorships and measly government funding.
The only rumours I've heard so far concern Blue Rodeo, Great Big Sea, Etta James, Bonnie Raitt and possibly the Tragically Hip. Fine acts all of them, but they're not going to blow the minds of the younger demographic the festival is trying to cultivate as an investment in the future.
But don't forget that Monahan has expert help in the programming department. Again he is assisted by Black Sheep Inn proprietor Paul Symes, who's been part of Bluesfest artistic direction for three years, and this year's two new recruits -- punk/indie-rock guru Shawn Scallen and Zaphod Beeblebrox impresario Eugene Haslam. Both men are veterans of the Ottawa music scene and plugged into the North American touring circuit.
"Given the input from people like Paul and Eugene and Shawn, I think it's a pretty well-rounded approach to the programming, and I think you'll see that reflected in a lot of the shows," says Monahan. "I'm pretty happy with how it's shaping up. We just need the last few pieces of the puzzle."
He's reluctant to address the rumours, but there is one act Monahan is happy to talk about. It's the Grammy-nominated Cuban flautist Maraca that Monahan discovered on a recent trip to a jazz festival in Havana. Maraca brings his group, Maraca y Otra Vision, to Ottawa for the first time, dividing their Bluesfest time between the casino's Havana Nights series and the acoustic/Cuban stage on the festival grounds.
"It's a big-band salsa show with the flute player as the leader," Monahan says. "They're phenomenal. Fantastic. The energy is amazing."
Rest assured, there are no intentions of downsizing the festival. In fact, Monahan is jockeying for more space. Negotiations are under way that would allow the festival to use Lisgar Collegiate's sports field, thereby expanding the space available for the Roots stage.
Still, one Bluesfest-related endeavour facing financial challenges is Blues in the Schools, the festival's do-good program that brings blues artists into schools for educational sessions with the students. A five-year provincial government grant ran out last year.
"We now have to fundraise for 100 per cent of it," says Monahan. "The board feels strongly that we should continue Blues in the Schools at the level we're at, so my job is to try and make that happen. It's just unfortunate there isn't government help at this point."
To cut down on travels costs, this year's edition, which is set to run from April 24 to May 5 in city schools, features more local artists. Along with out-of-towners such as Rick Fines and Ellen McIlwaine, resident artists include Ottawa gospel singer Sharon Riley, guitarists Drew Nelson and James Cohen and drummer-percussionist Steve Lund.
To raise more money, a new Hyundai Tuscon will be the grand prize in the annual raffle. The traditional offering of an autographed guitar will be the second prize.
More funds are raised at other events through the year, including a golf tournament and silent auction. In addition, net proceeds from a Sunday-night talent showcase at Zaphod Beeblebrox are earmarked for Blues in the Schools.
The showcase, which runs from May 7 to June 25, is aimed at discovering Ottawa-area bands worthy of performing at Bluesfest. Bands representing all musical genres are invited to participate. Promo kits should be submitted to Haslam by e-mail ([email protected]) or regular mail (27 York St., Ottawa, K1N 5S7). Deadline for entries is April 21.
Source: canada.com
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