Ottawa Bluesfest kicks off Thursday night, here's what you need to know

Approximately 30,000 people packed LeBreton Flats to see Shania Twain on the opening night of RBC Ottawa Bluesfest 2023. (Aaron Reid/CTV News Ottawa)

Ottawa Bluesfest's 30th anniversary kicks off Thursday night with a "star-studded lineup worthy of the occasion," according to its organizers.

The headliners on the RBC stage include Nickelback, Maroon 5 and 50 Cent joining the previously announced Mötley Crüe, Mother Mother, Zac Brown Band, Tyler Childers, and Nas.

Neil Young and Crazy Horse were to be the headline act on July 11 at the Ottawa festival, but the group has cancelled upcoming tour date due to illness, say the organizers.

Here’s the 2024 lineup:

July 4: Mother Mother; Orville Peck; Tokyo Police Club; Leith Ross; The Dip, Priyanka; Campbell & Johnston; Country Club Pool Boy; Funeral Lakes; LH Express; OK Naledi; Sandra Bouza; MELO-T

July 5: Nickelback; Warren Zeiders; Noah Cyrus; Ziggy Alberts; Bywater Call; Aleksi Campagne; Danielle Allard; Jaclyn Kenyon; May Davis; Mia Kelly; The Artichoke Hearts; MELO-T

July 6: 50 Cent; Mt. Joy; Killer Mike; Shred Kelly; Etran De L’Aïr; Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers; City Fidelia; Hopper; Lynne Hanson; Nice On; Turbo Street Funk; MELO-T

July 7: Maroon 5; Future Islands; Chelsea Cutler; Pokey LaFarge; Blue Moon Marquee; Hussy Hicks; ALAMUSIC; Cinzia & The Eclipse; Brooke Blackburn; FOG Blues & Brass Band

July 10: Zac Brown Band; Charley Crockett; Matthew Good; Medicine Singers ft. Lee Ranaldo, Yonatan Gat & Zoon; Texas King; Jon Muq; Nicolette & The Nobodies; Caroline Jones; Blackburn Brothers; ALAMUSIC; Murray Kinsley & Wicked Grin; Yarro

July 11: Josh Ross; Corb Lund; Steph Strings; Chambers DesLauriers; ALAMUSIC; Alexa Goldie; Jessica Pearson and The East Wind; John Allaire and The Campistas; Kaya Fraser; Merle Marlow Band

July 12: Tyler Childers; Bahamas; TALK; Jerry Portnoy; Bombino; Annie Raines & Paul Rishell; Brittany Kennell; Empress Nyiringango; Raphael Weinroth-Browne; summersets; Wild Remedy; DJ Eazy EL Dee

July 13: Mötley Crüe; The Tea Party; JJ Wilde; Garret T. Willie; TJ Wheeler; Sean Pinchin; Tony D Band; Blues Harp Blow-Off; DJ Eazy EL Dee

July 14: Nas; Ben Howard; Geneviève Racette; Le Winston Band; JW Jones; DJ Eazy EL Dee

The festival runs from July 4-July 14 at Lebreton Flats. For tickets and more information, visit the festival’s website.

Here's how to get to the festival:

OC Transpo says ticket holders can use the service for free to and from the LeBreton Flats on O-Train Line 1, buses and Para Transpo, three hours before the event and two hours after.

"Simply show your wristband or pass to the bus or Para Transpo operator or use the video chat function on ticket machines at O-Train Line 1 stations to request access through the fare gate," OC Transpo says on its website.

The transportation service notes that O-Train Line 1 will be operating more frequently during the evenings to make sure the festival attendees are able to return home. The service will be extended by one hour to midnight on Sunday, July 7 and Sunday, July 14.

Nearby stations include Pimisi, Bayview, or Lyon stations.

Para Transpo will be picking up and dropping off customers on Booth Street, north of Vimy Place, next to the War Museum.

 With files from CTV News Ottawa's Ted Raymond