9 July 2012 / #bluesfest #festivals Saturday night photos from Bluesfest: Alice Cooper, Marcia Ball, Marc Martel_ All photos by Jean Labelle / Labelle Photo . Click any image for full size. _ [  ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/JPL_5570.jpg) An hour before he started, the multi-generational crowd waiting at the Alice Cooper stage was bigger than the crowds at the stages where live music was being played. As soon as they started, Alice and his top notch band had the crowd singing along as they swayed and rocked under the sweltering sun. A twelve foot Frankenstein monster roamed the stage during Feed My Frankenstein then Alice impaled a pesky paparazzi on his microphone stand while his band belted out Wicked Young Man. The crowd roared their approval as Alice was punished for his crime by being beheaded by a guillotine that was rolled onstage by masked executioners. He came back to life to get the large crowd heartily singing along to School’s Out. When the fifty minute set ended, the crowd stayed in place, hoping it was another of Alice’s tricks as his crew began to dismantle the stage, and that he would return to rock out another “classick”. Even though it didn’t happen, the crowd was undoubtedly satisfied by the performance. _ -- David Alexander _ [  ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/JPL_5649.jpg) [  ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/JPL_5670.jpg) [  ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/JPL_5675.jpg) *** International media love Marcia Ball, with Rolling Stone proclaiming "Rollicking, playful, good time blues and intimate, reflective balladry . . . her songs ring with emotional depth." With the Ottawa River as a backdrop and the setting sun cooling things down, Marcia delivered her infectious and deeply emotional brand of southern boogie that had the audience swaying and singing the blues. _ --Jean Labelle _ ** ** [  ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/JPL_5692.jpg) [  ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/JPL_5702.jpg) [  ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/JPL_5715.jpg) ** ** ** ** ** *** ** Formed by Bible College roommates Marc Martel and Jason Germain in the late-'90s, Downhere is a Juno Award-winning Christian rock band from Canada. Marc Martel, you may remeber, gained attention on YouTube for his cover of Somebody to Love by Queen, auditioning to be part of the Queen tribute band. Martel was noted for his vocal and visual resemblance to Freddie Mercury. Sticking to their Christian rock roots, their devoted crowd sang along to every song. And yes he did play Love by Queen to the delight of the crowd. [  ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/JPL_1913.jpg) [  ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/JPL_5723.jpg) [  ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/JPL_5771.jpg) ** ** ** ** ** ** ** See also: ** [ Ottawa Bluesfest Guide ](http://ottawastart.com/bluesfest.php) If you liked this post, please consider [ subscribing ](http://ottawastart.com/subscribe.php) to our blog via email, Twitter, Facebook or RSS. Thank you.