Hundreds of fans set up nice and early at Ottawa Bluesfest Saturday for a good spot to watch hard music legends Alice Cooper and Iron Maiden.
While the No More Mr. Nice Guy singer was leaving a morning round of golf at Rivermead in Aylmer, his fans were braving the high temperatures near the main stage after doors opened at noon.
“Mysterious, tough, masculine,” said Tanya Villeneuve, who was in place five hours before his 7 p.m. set. “Alice Cooper invented Lady Gaga . . . he was the first to do that.”
“It’s definitely worth the wait because I missed him last year,” said another fan.
Cooper's 7 p.m. set included his signature mock beheading and snake, closing with a medley of School's Out and Another Brick in the Wall while wearing a #18 COOPER Senators jersey.
The focus then turned to metal icons Iron Maiden, their logo-laden black shirts the most popular fashion statement of the day.
"It's a good stage show," said one fan. "Lots of theatrics, they go all out . . . they're in their 50's, that's what's impressive."
"They've always been more than sex, drugs, and rock and roll," said A.J. Ermenc. "Usually when I'm going through stuff . . . it helps me get my mind set on what I need to do."
Music fans coping with hot weather
With humidity making temperatures feel like they were in the high 30s, festivalgoers were keeping both on-site water stations busy.
“It is boiling hot outside,” said one of them.
The weather was just a little bit cooler than Friday, where workers had to struggle through a humidex above 40 C.
“I’m sweating like crazy, can’t help but sweat,” said Chelsie McQuade, hard at work making burgers. “A cold towel on the head (helps), drink lots of water and a lot of ice.”
Also performing Saturday were The Bright Lights Social Hour, Marcia Ball and MSTRKRFT.
Sunday’s performers include Keek, The Wooden Sky, Seal, Down With Webster and Norah Jones.
With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Stefanie Masotti
