Sunday July 22, 2018 Kemptville Live Music Festival @ 1200 pm

Kemptville Live is very excited to announce our final headliner, Downchild! Catch them live on Thursday July 19 2018 at 9pm. For Tickets: https://www.kemptvillelivemusicfestival.com/tickets https://youtu.be/FQ0FUcFMMB8 It’s tempting and not altogether far-fetched to apply an engine metaphor to the mighty Downchild, one of the planet’s foremost, most fêted, longest-running blues outfits with quite possibly the best back story ever told. Roaring through bracing, high-octane performances since 1969, the band founded and continuously steered by harmonica and guitar ace Donnie “Mr. Downchild” Walsh is as vibrant today as when Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi were inspired by Downchild for their brilliant Blues Brothers venture back in the 1970s. The pair elevated Downchild’s “Shotgun Blues” and Walsh’s “(I Got Everything I Need) Almost” to smash status on their 1978 Briefcase Full of Blues record. Actually, the 2017 iteration of Downchild — with each member boasting a minimum of 20 years of service — might be the most electrifying yet. For proof, simply check out the sextet’s towering, lid-lifting, juke-joint–jumping 18th studio album, Something I've Done, a bona fide group effort and a sonic highlight in a 50-year career spilling over with them. Internal combustion certainly describes scorchers like the swaggering, harp-goosed “Mississippi Woman, Mississauga Man,” the thundering piano-pummelled title track, and opener “Albany, Albany” which contrasts a singalong chorus with sharp melody forwarded by Pat Carey’s marvellously skronking sax. Indeed, if Downchild didn’t exist, the blues world would have to invent them. Who else could so clearly serve as contemporary torchbearers for riveting original music firmly rooted in tradition while acting as a thriving spiritual link to past greats like Sonny Boy Williamson II, James Cotton, and B.B. King? But don’t take our word for it. Downchild’s epic reputation has been reaffirmed time and again. Witness their 2014 Blues Album Of The Year Juno Award for their last studio effort, Can You Hear The Music — their second Juno win overall. Their boatload of Maple Blues Awards. Their marquee billing on the globe’s most prestigious stages. And, of course, their inimitable 1973 reading of Big Joe Turner’s classic "Flip, Flop and Fly" which placed Walsh and band co-founder, late brother Richard “Hock” Walsh on the charts and in the souls of music fans worldwide. https://www.kemptvillelivemusicfestival.com

Our last headliner heavily influenced the creation of these two trouble makers on a mission!

Hi everyone, we have one last headliner to announce for the 2018 Kemptville Live Music Festival. Announcement coming Monday March 5th at 9:00 am.

Tickets on sale March 3rd! Kemptville Live Music Festival is a 4 day music festival held outside on the grounds of the historic Kemptville College, just a 30 min music drive from downtown Ottawa! Food trucks, craft beer, camping and music!

The Kemptville Live Music Festival is extremely pleased to welcome Award-Winning Canadian singer-songwriter Jann Arden to headline Sunday, July 22, 2018. Get tickets: https://www.kemptvillelivemusicfestival.com/tickets https://youtu.be/lc_oPIO_FaM Jann Arden is a Canadian born, singer, songwriter, broadcaster and author. The much celebrated multi-platinum award-winning artist catapulted onto the Canadian music scene in 1993 with the release of her debut album “Time For Mercy” featuring the hit single, “I Would Die For You”. A year later with “Living Under June”, she would have her career breakout hit, “Insensitive” that would solidify her position in the music world. Arden has released 14 albums with 19 top ten singles. Her most recent recording “These Are the Days” will be released in March of 2018. Once again Grammy Award winning producer Bob Rock was behind the console of what could arguably be Jann’s most personal and poignant offering to date. Last year, Arden completed a highly successful 27 date Canadian tour, previewing two of the newly recorded songs, “A Long Goodbye” and “Everybody’s Always Pulling On Me”. On November 21st of 2017, Arden released the Canadian best seller “Feeding My Mother – Comfort and Laughter in the Kitchen as My Mom Lives with Memory Loss” (Penguin Random House Canada). The book shares insights, loss, irony, and yes humour, as mother and daughter face the journey together. In her career to date, Jann has received 8 Juno Awards including Female Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year and in 1997 and again in 2016, she hosted the Awards ceremony. Arden is also the recipient of 10 SOCAN Awards, 4 Western Canadian Music Awards, a Much Music Video Award, 3 Prairie Music Awards and an Alberta Recording Industry Association Award. Arden is the proud recipient of a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame; she has been inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and has been given the Vantage Women of Originality Award. In 2012 she was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and in 2013 was inducted into the Western Canadian Music Alliance Hall of Fame. In addition to being a singer/songwriter, Arden is of course an author of note. Her previous releases include “If I Knew, Don’t You Think I’d Tell You” and “I’ll Tell You One Damn Thing, That’s All I Know” and her bestselling self-penned memoir “Falling Backwards”. In past Jann has written a monthly advice column for Elle Canada – a feature that ran for a year. She is also a much in demand speaker, peppering her words of wisdom with her signature humour. In 2010 Jann took on broadcast duties as of the host of “Being Jann”, an hour-long talk show on CBC Radio and a year later she sat in the judge’s chair for Canada Sings (Global TV). Jann has also been a guest host on the Social (CTV) over the course of the past five years. A well-known advocate for animals Arden narrated the popular program, ER Vets and she has also produced two documentaries “Free” and “Jann Takes Manhattan”, both of which were met with favourable reviews. Never one to settle into one discipline, Arden has made appearances in television sitcoms – Ellen in 1997, Corner Gas in 2005 and several guest appearances on the CBC’s Rick Mercer Report. This year Jann has been involved in “Working Moms” and “The Detour”. Not to be left out, the theatre stage also called the versatile artist when in 2000, she took part in The Vagina Monologues when it toured Canada. Arden’s philanthropic work has included World Vision, she performed in Live 8 and the MAC Cosmetics Fashion Cares AIDS benefit. In recent years Jann has also supported Gilda’s Club in Toronto. Whether she is captivating audiences with her heartfelt music, entertaining them with her quick wit or sharing her written word in a boldly honest voice – Jann Arden is a Canadian original – a brilliant multi-dimensional talent! The 4th Kemptville Live Music Festival takes place July 19-22 on the grounds of the historic Kemptville College, just a 25 minute drive from downtown Ottawa. Tickets are on sale online now at www.kemptvillelivemusicfestival.com.

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2017 International Blues Challenge Winner of Best Self Produced CD JW Jones will join the Saturday line up at the 2018 Kemptville Live Music Festival. Get Tickets https://www.kemptvillelivemusicfestival.com/tickets JUNO Award Nominee and Billboard Top 10 Blues artist JW-Jones tours constantly, and is known for his high-energy live shows. Jones has released nine albums, and performed in twenty-three countries and four continents. JW plays over 100 shows per year, and has been invited six times to perform alongside Buddy Guy, and twice with Woodstock legends, Canned Heat. Last year, George Thorogood & The Destroyers' management specifically requested Jones to open several of their tour dates including standing ovations at Massey Hall and Ottawa's National Arts Centre. JW's latest release 'High Temperature' was named the Hot Shot Debut on the Billboard Top 10, and was nominated for a Maple Blues Award. From the liner notes: "Acclaimed Nashville producer Colin Linden takes Jones into new territory with warm, analog-driven tones, and a wide-range of material. His evolution as a musician and vocalist shine through on this record like never before. Real songs, real playing by real people, and JW is the real deal." – Chuck Leavell (The Rolling Stones)

Firebelly represented the Ottawa Blues Society at the 2013 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn. and on Saturday July 21st they will kick off the day at Kemptville Live Music Festival . Get tickets https://www.kemptvillelivemusicfestival.com/tickets Firebelly is a Modern Soul ensemble outfit dedicated to fostering Blues & Roots music into the future, while respecting its rich & timeless traditions. Its members are fueled by a collective passion to make great music. Formed in 2012, Firebelly they quickly garnered attention and praise on both sides of the border. Two Songs from their E.P Heavyweight, including their hit song Father to your Son, have appeared on over 40 Fm Radio Stations across 5 continents. After several repeat performances at Mont Tremblant International Blues Festival & RBC Ottawa Bluesfest, as well as many other festivals and live music venues the band took a semi hiatus of almost 2 years while it’s members focused on other projects. Firebelly is coming back this spring with a fresh batch of new songs and are excited to share them with their loyal fans. The music of these four gifted improvisers is pure, raw & spontaneous & no song is ever played exactly the same way twice. Firebelly’s fresh sound is also infused with elements of Funk, Swing, Folk, Zydeco, Roots and Country, resulting in a rich & unique blend that energizes the spirit & soothes the Soul! https://youtu.be/iMPuLdX-jcw