http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/09/08/...et-at-folkfest
There’s just something about hearing Gordon Lightfoot’s Sundown — at sundown, in the great outdoors, and sung by Gordon Lightfoot.
That’s the kind of summer’s end celebration it’s been at the Ottawa Folk Festival, where the Canadian folk forefather was shining like the sliver moon as the festival marked a milestone, attracting 50,000 fans to Hog’s Back Park over the five-day festival.
“Hi, I’m Gordon Lightfoot... and rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated,” said the venerable songwriter, cracking back at a false report that surfaced about his demise, a tragedy that would have only been compounded by such onstage evidence of life in the 74-year-old.
Kicking off an hour-plus journey through a formidable catalogue, there were clearly a few familiar faces in the crowd for Lightfoot, who usually enjoys the controlled comfort of the NAC stages when he passes through town.
“I thought we just left Ottawa. But here we are filling in for Neil,” he smiled, looking spry for his vintage.
Lightfoot was made a late addition to the festival after Neil Young pulled out, but by closing night, few were left lamenting the absence, especially after such memorable festival sets by the likes of Emmylou Harris, The Avett Brothers, Vampire Weekend, Kendrick Lamar, City & Colour and Patti Smith.
It was only fitting, then, in a festival full of such positive vibrations, that festival closing duties were left to reggae legends The Wailers — but leave it to Lightfoot to put the fans in the mood to sway.
Carefree Highway achieved that early on, with tender turns through Sea of Tranquility and the sentimental Heaven Don’t Deserve Me.
The festival wasn’t all smiles, as some fans still complain of sound bleed between stages — an ever-evolving challenge in the outdoor multiplex era — and Lightfoot’s set was breached briefly by a pungent sound check wafting over from the neighbouring Wailers’ stage.
The recovery was swift and complete, though, by Lightfoot’s colourful tale of A Painter Passing Through.
While the crowd wasn’t as big or boisterous as the night before — when The Avett Brothers put on a show for the ages — they hung on every word and subtle turn of phrase on Gord’s golden Sundown, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and If You Could Read My Mind, with Lightfoot sending the fans off smiling with the gentle boogie of Baby Step Back.
With all stages in full-swing all weekend — three main stages and another three on the free side of the park — there was plenty to choose from for the discerning festivalgoer Sunday, with World Party, Galaxie Award-winner Mo Kenny, locals Go Long!, Sheesham and Lotus, Lynn Miles and Carolina Chocolate Drops among the closing night highlights.
Twitter: @OttSunHelmer
Ottawa Folk Festival-Sept.8-2013
