Annual 2015 Ottawa Bluesfest rumours and speculation post

UPDATE, MARCH 29: Bluesfest says a “major addition” to the Bluesfest line-up will be announced on Monday morning at 10:00am. They posted a teaser video (below) featuring Bluesfest director Mark Monahan. The Ottawa Citizen’s Peter Simpson thinks the major addition will be Kanye West. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZAfQ9YRm8Q

_ ** UPDATE, MARCH 23: Here’s the official press release with the line-up from Bluesfest ** _

** March 23: ** Several media outlets are reporting about a possible leak of the Bluesfest line-up today on the web site http://bluesfest.mediaplusadvertising.ca/ .  Mediaplus is a local ad agency.  Soundcheck Entertainment says they found the information via a Google search .

The Ottawa Citizen reports : “Bluesfest organizers say this list is a few days old and contains out of date information.  They add the some of the acts may not have been signed to appearance contracts.”

Here’s a response from Bluesfest on their Twitter feed:

https://twitter.com/ottawabluesfest/status/580115071986204672 ** The unofficial line-up, as per the leaked/unofficial information: ** [caption id=“attachment_12033” align=“aligncenter” width=“700”]

Unofficial 2015 Bluesfest line-up, posted on March 23 at SoundcheckEntertainment.ca[/caption] ** July 8 ** Full Flex Express (Skrillex and Diplo) ** July 9 ** ** Jason Aldean ** Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires, Hoodie Allen, Kira Isabella, Juan de Marcos and The Afro-Cuban Allstars, Bobby Bazini, Ronnie Baker Brooks ** July 10 ** ** Chance the Rapper ** Marianas Trench, Hawksley Workman, Kim Simmons and Savoy Brown, Parker Millsap, Jungle by Night ** July 11 ** ** Iggy Azalea ** Porter Robinson, Nas, Alvvays, The Growlers, Shakey Graves, Francesco Yates, Skylar Spence, Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real, The Kinsey Report, Family Of The Year ** July 12 ** ** Arkells ** Willie Nile, Richard Thompson, The Glorious Sons, Tribal Seeds, The Obgms, Hat Fitz & Cara, Sticky Fingers, Pony Girl, Joe Gaspar Band, Silvergun And Spleen, The Visit, Bosveld ** July 14 ** ** Lynyrd Skynyrd ** Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros, John Butler Trio, Future Islands, Brantley Gilbert, Operators, Metz, Antibalas, Hamish Anderson, Gold And Marrow, The Haig, New Swears, The Lucas Haneman Express ** July 15 ** ** Chvrches ** Run The Jewels, The Gaslight Anthem, Black Mountain, Walter Trout, Flight Distance, Bella Cat, Grime Kings, Current Swell, Winchester Warm ** July 16 ** ** Keith Urban ** Paul Oakenfold, Mother Mother, Dallas Smith, Donovan Woods, Bluestone And The Memphis Moonshine, Ilan Bluestone, Lurrie Bell, Fet.nat, Hilotrons ** July 17 ** ** The Tragically Hip ** Dropkick Murphys, Purity Ring, Bahamas, Canned Heat, Little Big Town, Lowell, The Yips, Drew Nelson ** July 18 ** ** Deep Purple ** Interpol, Logic, Milky Chance, G-eazy, De La Soul, Lowrider Band, Scott Helman, Buck N Nice, Myers Brothers Band, K.I.D., Brandon Allan, Musk Ox, Nick Moss, TJ Wheeler

We are still months away from when the acts will be unveiled, but we’ve already seen a couple of people asking about Bluesfest rumours. Bluesfest runs from July 9-19, 2015 at Lebreton Flats. ** We’ll leave our comments open here for you to tell us: **

1. What acts would you like to see at Bluesfest this year?
2. Based on tour schedules, what acts are possibilities?

https://twitter.com/ottawabluesfest/status/575388759530700800

 * 
Keith Urban is confirmed, will play on July 16.

 * 
Lynyrd Skynyrd is listed on Pollstar for July 14.

 * 
Weird Al's
[
 tour dates have been confirmed
](http://weirdal.com/tour/)
and he's playing Bluesfest on July 19.
_
 (Thanks Stephanie.)
_

 * 
The Ottawa Citizen's Peter Simpson
[
 notes that U2's tour dates would allow for an Ottawa show in July
](http://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/will-u2-add-ottawa-to-its-tour-bluesfest-td-place-canadian-tire-centre)
... but that most of their tour dates are arena shows. U2 plays Toronto July 6-7 and Boston July 10-11.

 * 
The Foo Fighters play Toronto on July 9, and have a window in their schedule until July 15 when they play in New York City.

 * 
Taylor Swift plays Canadian Tire Centre on July 6, so she's out for Bluesfest.

 * 
In the comments below, Ray Kenkel has identified a few artists with breaks in their touring schedules around Bluesfest: Kenny Chesney, Fallout Boy, Billy Joel, Thousand Foot Krutch.

 * 
The
[
 Big Music Fest in Kitchener
](http://bigmusicfest.com)
runs from July 10-12 and features names like Jane's Addiction, Rod Stewart, Blondie, and Soundgarden.
_
 (Thanks Alex.)
_

 * 
The
[
 Wayhome Festival in Oro-Medonte
](http://wayhome.com)
(near Barrie) runs from July 24-26 and headliners include Sam Smith, Kendrick Lamar, Alt-J, Modest Mouse, Hozier and more.
_
 (Thanks Francis.)
_

 * 
Tim McGraw has a break in his tour during Bluesfest.
_
 (Thanks Riley.)
_

 * 
Blue Rodeo
[
 may have revealed a July 19 Bluesfest date on their web site
](http://www.soundcheckentertainment.ca/blue-rodeo-confirmed-for-ottawa-bluesfest-2015/)
, at least temporarily.

Local musicians take note - the deadline to apply to play at this year’s event is January 31. Details here…