It was a rainy Friday night at the Ottawa Jazz Festival, but that didn’t stop the music from shining through.

On the main stage, BadBadNotGood delivered a captivating set that pulled from across their catalogue, including songs from IV, III, and Mid Spiral, along with a few well-chosen covers.
Their performance balanced moody, immersive grooves with moments of explosive musicianship, reminding the crowd why they remain one of the most exciting live acts around.

About halfway through the set, the rain started coming down, but plenty of festivalgoers stayed put and braved the weather, determined not to miss a moment. Part of the night’s highlight came when Cleo Reed joined the band onstage to sing a few songs, adding another dynamic layer to an already memorable performance.

Earlier in the evening, over at the tent stage, Toronto’s Big Smoke Brass brought a completely different but equally infectious energy.
Their high-octane brass arrangements had the crowd dancing from the start, turning the rainy evening into a full-on celebration.
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