I went to the Ottawa Jazz Festival for the first time—here's why you should, too

The first time I went to the Ottawa Jazz Festival, it was a rainy summer evening in June. BADBADNOTGOOD were the headliners, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the experience.  

I love live music, but I don’t get out often enough to see it. In recent years, the Ottawa Jazz Festival has had so many great artists, and I’ve missed it every time—Laufey, Lord Huron, EmmyLou Harris and more. They've also hosted so many jazz legends since the first festival in 1980, including Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples and Sonny Rollins. 

With BADBADNOTGOOD and so many other incredible artists on the slate, like St. Vincent and WILLOW (performing on June 26), I decided that this year, I couldn’t miss out.  

Stepping into the Ottawa Jazz Festival 

When I walked onto the grounds, I was surprised. Confederation Park is one of my favourite Ottawa green spaces, so it was a bit of a shock to see it so transformed.  

I entered through Gate 3 on Elgin St. (Gate 1 is located on Laurier Ave., across from the parking garage at City Hall) and ended up in the central food court. I spotted restaurants like Gitanes, Paninaro, Thirst Responder and Gburger. There were also plenty of picnic benches, tables and even a Nordik Spa-Nature area with cozy fire pits to chill before the show or between the acts.  

While I attended shows at the OLG Main Stage in Confederation Park, there were also performances at the Château Laurier, the National Arts Centre, the CF Rideau Centre and the Elgin St. Stage (also located in the park). This creates a festival that is a sprawling mixture of sounds and feels, allowing you to slip from artist to artist and experience the full, unique range of jazz and the music it has influenced. 

The performances

I was there to watch BADBADNOTGOOD, a Canadian band with roots in Ottawa, Toronto and Mississauga. They're an instrumental genre-bending group, taking inspiration from jazz, hip hop, neo-soul, rock, Brazilian music and funk to create a sound that is wholly unique.  

BADBADNOTGOOD has built a career that flourishes in collaboration. They've worked with artists like Tyler, The Creator, Kendrick Lamar, Daniel Caesar, Ghostface Killah and Charlotte Day Wilson—a testament to their versatility.  

The BAD have earned five Grammy nods, winning in 2018 and 2021. They've also been nominated for two Junos and were nominated for the Polaris Music Prize four times.  

Their music did not disappoint. Chester Hansen on the bass, Alexander Sowinski on the drums and Leland Whitty on the sax each brought a unique energy that I found myself bopping along to, song after song.  

With so much prestige and so many years in the business, I was expecting BADBADNOTGOOD to be the stars of the night. But the wonderful thing about the Ottawa Jazz Festival is that with the purchase of a day pass, your ticket gets you access to artists you may not already know. 

Opening for BADBADNOTGOOD was another Canadian artist who blew me away, but whom I had never heard of before: the Angelique Francis Band. The eponymous lead singer is from Ottawa and attended the music program at Carleton University. She's a rising star in blues, having picked up a Juno Award for her album Long River in 2023.  

While her music is her own, her band comprises her family: sisters Kharincia, Kira, and Kayla, and her father, Kiran. Watching them perform, it’s evident they’re related; they play with a synchronicity that’s almost telepathic. I know which artist I’ll be popping in my ear next time I need a powerful, soulful blues-fusion track.  

Rain, rain... here to stay? 

The Ottawa Jazz Festival happens regardless of the weather. Friday’s show saw intermittent rain, but that didn’t deter fans—people showed up with umbrellas and rain ponchos, ready to experience the show.  

Normally, I would expect wet weather to really put a damper on a music festival. However, there was actually something quite poignant about being surrounded by the reverberating tones of BADBADNOTGOOD as the rain came down. The gentle pattering added another layer to the complex soundscape as the lights refracted across the venue. It was surprisingly moving.  

But... I would recommend wearing rubber boots if you’re going on a rainy day. It's much harder to enjoy the music when you’re worried about getting mud on your shoes.  

CAA Members save at the Ottawa Jazz Festival 

Did you know? Your CAA Membership can get you 15 per cent off general admission single day tickets and general full festival passes at the Ottawa Jazz Festival.  

You still have time to catch a show—the Ottawa Jazz Festival runs until June 28.