Mississippi musician Hardy hosted a Saturday-night bash with the heart of a campfire singalong at Ottawa Bluesfest on July 11, drawing a youthful crowd thick with cowboy hats and denim. However, attendance was noticeably smaller than the previous night's turnout for Limp Bizkit, when thousands packed the plaza in front of the Canadian War Museum at LeBreton Flats Park.
Hardy's Bluesfest Debut
In his first Bluesfest appearance, the country-rocker and his band delivered a set that ranged from solo acoustic singer-songwriter fare to thrashing rock explosions. The 35-year-old artist, who wrote songs for Florida Georgia Line and Morgan Wallen before pursuing his own career, hollered, "It's a Saturday night in freakin' Ottawa." He added, "I heard about this thing for a long time. It's really cool to finally be able to play it. I love you guys, man."
Audience and Atmosphere
The attention of Saturday's Bluesfest audience was divided between atmospheric Canadian rocker Patrick Watson on the Hard Rock Stage and Hardy on the main stage. The main-stage plaza held thousands of lively and devoted fans, all eyes on Hardy, who started out in coveralls but soon stripped down to cutoff shorts and a Sens jersey. Musically, he emphasized the country end of his country-rock spectrum, alternating between electric and acoustic guitars. He demonstrated depth with tender versions of Bottomland, McArthur, and Be Her, a Hardy song made famous by Ella Langley.
Cover Song Highlight
One highlight was a cover of the old Mott The Hoople/Bad Company song Ready for Love, dusted off for a new generation. Hardy said he includes a cover on every tour, choosing one that reflects his passion for classic rock.
Earlier Performance Tension
Earlier in the evening, there was a hint of tension during the main-stage performance by BigXThaPlug, a 28-year-old rapper from Texas. The plus-sized producer faced an audience primarily comprised of young country fans, some of whom yelled at him to take his shirt off. At first he insisted he would only take his clothes off for Ella Langley or Haley Zimmerman, but eventually relented, displaying a web of tattoos on his generous torso.
