After the huge excitement and massive crowds on Friday night, Day 3 of Ottawa Bluesfest 2026 settled back into a more typical festival atmosphere. While many fans packed the RBC Main Stage for country star Hardy, I found myself exploring some of the festival’s other stages, where several standout performances made the day worthwhile.
The performance I was looking forward to the most was Patrick Watson, who headlined the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Stage.
Having been a longtime fan of his music, this was a set I simply couldn’t miss.
Watson delivered one of the most beautiful and emotionally moving performances of the festival, showcasing songs primarily from his 2025 album Uh Oh. Hearing favourites like House on Fire and the title track Uh Oh live was a real treat.
Of course, the emotional peak came when Watson performed To Build a Home and Je te laisserai des mots. Both songs were absolutely breathtaking, and I have to admit they brought me to tears.
It was a powerful reminder of why Patrick Watson remains one of Canada’s most captivating live performers.
Opening for Watson was Luna Li, whose dreamy indie-pop sound filled the evening with warmth and atmosphere.
Drawing heavily from her excellent 2024 album When a Thought Grows Wings, her set was both graceful and mesmerizing.
Kicking off the stage earlier in the day was Montreal-based multi-instrumentalist and synesthete Kat Pereira, who impressed with an engaging performance that set the tone for the evening.
Over at the LeBreton Stage, Mikhail Laxton opened with a blend of Americana, folk rock and soul before Ron Artis II brought his soulful mix of blues and rock.
Closing the stage was cleopatrick, but unfortunately their performance didn’t quite connect with me.
Whether it was technical sound issues or simply an off night, the mix felt unusually heavy and muddy.
I was expecting the energetic alternative rock sound the band is known for, but instead the set leaned more toward emotionally heavy breakup rock. Perhaps I had them mentally confused with another high-energy Canadian band like PUP, but something just felt off during their performance.
I also stopped by the Barney Danson Theatre to catch part of Tiny Horse‘s set before making my way back across the festival grounds.
My time at the RBC Main Stage was brief but worthwhile. Ottawa’s own Aspect showcased an enjoyable fusion of hip-hop, soul, blues and rock, representing the local music scene well.
I also managed to catch a song or two from BigXthaPlug, although I was on a tight schedule while photographing the festival for Exclaim!.
One thing that continues to frustrate me at rap, hip-hop and R&B performances is when the DJ spends an extended period hyping up the crowd before the artist has even arrived on stage. This was one of those moments.
Thankfully, I was able to capture the photos I needed before literally running off to my next assignment.
Overall, Day 3 of Ottawa Bluesfest 2026 may not have had the blockbuster buzz of the previous evening, but it offered plenty of memorable performances. Patrick Watson delivered one of the festival’s most emotional sets, while Luna Li, Kat Pereira and Ron Artis II added to another solid day of music across LeBreton Flats.
Be sure to check out the photo gallery from Day 3 of Ottawa Bluesfest 2026.
