By night two, the new CityFolk grounds at the RA Centre were beginning to feel a little more familiar. That perfect early-fall combination of sunset and cool summer air was back. A few more floodlights wouldn’t hurt, but the festival is starting to find its rhythm in its new home.
My night began on the Westside Stage with Montreal’s Fine Food Market, the folk dream-pop project of multidisciplinary artist Sophie Perras. Her music draws on folk, country and indie influences. Her set was fairly subdued for me, although one early song about being stalked certainly grabbed my attention. It was an intriguing and very personal piece, even if the rest of the set didn’t quite pull me in the same way.
Over on the TD Stage, Sam Drysdale had the look and sound of someone who could become a festival mainstay. The Toronto-based singer-songwriter, originally from Guelph, blends folk, Americana and pop, and his breakout song “Only The Strong Survive” has racked up millions of streams. His voice was strong and his songs were polished, but he still has some work to do commanding the stage. Give him some time to develop that presence and he could be one to watch.
Back at the Westside Stage, The Codas delivered another mellow set. Their laid-back sound clearly connected with some of the crowd, although it wasn’t quite my cup of tea. I could see myself enjoying their music at home, preferably with a glass of wine, but I was ready for something with a little more punch.
Stella Lefty was one of the night’s most anticipated acts, and her fans made that clear. The 24-year-old Nashville-based singer has had a meteoric year, including an appearance at Osheaga earlier this summer. Fans sporting her signature “Lefty” camo caps sang along enthusiastically as she bounced around the stage. There has been considerable online controversy surrounding her beginnings and songwriting similarities involving several of her songs, including “Boston,” which now credits Noah Kahan for an interpolation of “Stick Season,” and “Summer You Were Mine,” which retroactively added the writers of The Chicks’ “There’s Your Trouble.” Whatever the Internet may think, there was no shortage of enthusiasm from the crowd in Ottawa.
The White Buffalo, aka Jake Smith, has been here before and has built himself a loyal CityFolk following. After a few technical hiccups, Smith and his band finally got rolling, delivering the raw, gritty Americana that his fans came to hear. By the end, the tent was moving, with people dancing and singing along.
But the real highlight of the night was Cameron Whitcomb. The Nanaimo-raised singer-songwriter has had an extraordinary few years, going from pipeline worker and Reddit karaoke videos to a Top 20 finish on American Idol and a rapidly growing music career. His songs draw openly on his experiences with addiction and recovery, giving his lyrics an honesty that is hard to fake.
He opened with one of the backflips his fans have come to expect, and the energy never let up. Whitcomb is an absolute ball of motion onstage, but underneath the frenetic performance is some genuinely thoughtful songwriting. His fans turned out in force, and when he brought a young boy onto the stage to sing with him—complete with tattoos that appeared to mimic Whitcomb’s own—the crowd ate it up.
Then came the moment that really defined the night. Whitcomb spotted two separate medical emergencies in the crowd and stopped the show until medics could reach them. Once the situation was under control, he resumed and praised the Canadian crowd for looking out for one another. The response was immediate and huge. It was a fitting moment for a festival built around music and community.
And we’re back tonight for Night 3, with Third Eye Blind headlining!
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