As the anticipation grows for the 2018 Ottawa Bluesfest schedule, let’s breakdown the top five line-ups ever.
*drum roll please*
5. 2010 
Headliners: Iron Maiden, Keith Urban, Arcade Fire, Weezer
Could have seen em’ before they blow up: Drake, Passion Pit, Arcade Fire
Hindsight rare music festival appearance award: Iron Maiden, Drake
Fun Fact: The same year Drake would go on to create the inaugural OVO Fest in Toronto. Back in 2010, Drake used to close his shows with “Over”.
4. 2014
Headliners: Lady Gaga, The Killers, Blake Shelton, Journey
Could have seen em’ before they blow up: Zedd, St. Vincent, Childish Gambino, Action Bronson, Charlie XCX
Hindsight rare music festival appearance award: Childish Gambino
Fun Fact: Snoop Dogg wore an Erik Karlsson jersey while performing.
3. 1998
Headliners: Ray Charles, Coco Montoya, Colin James, Bernard Allison
Fun Fact: 1998 saw the beginning of the boost in attendance with over 80,000 visiting Confederation Park. In 1999, the festival moved to LeBreton Flats.
2. 2007
Headliners: Van Morrison, The White Stripes, Bob Dylan, Kanye West
Could have seen em’ before they blow up: Kanye West, City & Colour
Hindsight rare music festival appearance award: Van Morrison, Kanye West
Fun Fact: In 2007 the Ottawa Bluesfest was moved to LeBreton Flats Park, a change from Festival Plaza in 2006. The new site offered five stages in and around the Canadian War Museum. This was the first year the stage set-up featured twin main stages, similar to Osheaga, which allowed audiences to transfer between headlining acts.
1. 2015
Headliners: Kanye West, Skrillex & Diplo, The Tragically Hip, Keith Urban
Could have seen em’ before they blow up: Chance the Rapper, Run the Jewels, Future Islands, G-EAZY, Logic
Hindsight rare music festival appearance award: Kanye West, Chance the Rapper, The Tragically Hip
Fun Fact: This was one of Kanye West’s only tour performances in North America in 2015. The schedule had a back to back performance of Chance The Rapper and Kanye West to close out July 10th. ‘Ye said during his performance that Chance the Rapper was “one of the most talented young new artists.” Chance The Rapper would go on to collab with Kanye on his The Life of Pablo album.
2015 should have the ultimate hindsight rare festival for The Tragically Hip, given that it was their last outdoor festival show ever.