While the Ottawa Bluesfest isn't exactly where you'd expect to find some of hip hop's biggest names, head there this year and you'll see Migos, Lil Yachty, Fetty Wap, 50 Cent and DJ Mustard all performing as part of the ten-day soiree. While the festival has moved away from its blues roots to welcome many mainstream pop and rock acts in recent years—including Future, Schoolboy Q and Nelly last year—the 2017 lineup definitely takes things to new levels of bad and boujee, with Twitter reacting accordingly to the announcement.
Migos, DJ mustard, and lil yachty at #Bluesfest .. Well alright then. pic.twitter.com/IeMNLMRrqZ
MIGOS AT BLUESFEST GET TF OUT
People saying bluesfest is trash this year?? Lol Migos (with the #1 album) and 50 Cent a legend. That's pretty lit fam.
According to festival director Mark Monahan, the main objective is to create a festival experience that includes something for everyone, especially with Canada's 150th birthday celebrations expected to be at an all-time high around Canada Day and early July. Monahan made sure to book "some big names that will attract some out-of-town folks to the festival.” In addition to the star-studded hip-hop lineup there are big names representing basically every genre: Flume and RL Grime for electronic; Tom Petty, Muse and Melissa Etheridge for rock; and Toby Keith and Jake Owen for country. Oh, and there's blues of course, being that it is still Bluesfest, with the likes of Gary Clark Jr., the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Sugaray Rayford, Slam Allen and Thornetta Davis set to grace the stage at LeBreton Flats.
The full budget is estimated at close to $20 million—a $5 million increase over last year's—with about half of that going towards talent. Another change this year is the introduction of weekend-only passes, which will be a welcome change for tourists who may only be in town for a few days or to see a specific act. The pre-sale begins tomorrow, Thursday February 23, when Youth Festival Wristband, Adult Festival Pass Club VIP Pass will all go on sale before the general sale for all tickets begins on Friday. Full lineup and ticketing information is available on ottawabluesfest.ca.
Now here's to hoping Migos makes it through our famously-unfriendly border security.
