Photo by Thomas Purves

Just like video killed the radio, MP3 might have killed the LP. Granted that doesn’t hold true for a lot of purists out there, but you have to wonder when iTunes recently exceeded over 5 billion downloads sold.

Either way you cut it, the web has done a lot of good for music too. Freeing artists from their labels, popularizing others that might otherwise have gone unnoticed and providing yet another resource for music heads to find their next favorite tracks.

Photo by fernando

Here are a few resources you might like. Use these tools wisely.

1. Peel program:

With Peel, add your favorite music blogs to the interface and each day the program will go through and literally “peel” (get it?) all the mp3s from your blogs onto one easy-to-use menu.

You can browse the music, listen to the tracks, and download the ones you like straight into your Itunes library. You can’t Peel every blog.

And you will find yourself sifting through a ton of tracks if you add several blogs, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, is it?

2. The Fader:

The Fader has expanded its magazine publication to a super, all-inclusive site where these arbiters of good taste have a little something for everyone. Videos, free music, and mixtape downloads, good articles on your favorite artists or the ones you just discovered you like: you can find all of these on the Fader. Check it every day!

3. Fully Fitted:

Contributors xxxchange, Pase Rock, Mr. Devlin and Darko are dope, full time artists who blog this site in their spare time when they aren’t killing it all around the world.

One of my favorite tracks is xxxchange and Darko’s remix of Kenna’s “Out of Control”. Dig on through older posts to download other great music. Learn more here.

Photo by ming2046

4. Mad Decent:

Mad Decent is Diplo’s label and this site is a home base of sorts. Go here to download some of his latest remixes, as well as other soulful, international burners that serve as inspiration for some Mad Decent tracks and muse for us normal folk.

5. The Hype Machine:

This site aggregates pretty much every MP3 that is posted on the web. Sign up for an account, pick the artists and/or blogs you want to keep an eye on watch the tracks stream in. Find out what you like, then go buy it!

6. Stereogum:

A oldie but goodie, Sterogum has been around for a minute. Broad tastes from Cut Copy to Flying Lotus keep me tuning in to snag a track here and there.

7. Gorilla Vs. Bear:

From new Sigur Ros to a J Dilla cut I had never heard….throw this one your Peel.

8. RCRDLBL:

This site releases exclusive tracks from emerging and established artists in a clean way. By clean I mean you can find some great stuff for free and not feel dirty about downloading it. It’s a good site model.

9. Mojo:

Mojo is an Itunes sharing program where you can dig through other users’ libraries and download anything you want straight into your library.

10. Other blogs that I have on my Peel:

Fluxblog, Certified Banger, Disco Workout, Big Stereo, Foe Weel and on and on and on. Start with one, and you will find others that you like.

There you go. Off and peeling new music. Now, while you’re out there discovering new tunes, what blogs do you recommend?

Photo by crashmattb

Let’s be clear: This is not a guerrilla guide to Nashville’s secret underground indie-rock haunts or its little-known hipster underbelly.

No. This is a guide to the Nashville you’ve always known existed, but probably never thought was worth visiting. It’s a Nashville full of corny cowboy merchandise, country music at full blast, and middle-aged RVers from Indiana. It’s also a helluva good time.

The Pitch

Once upon a time, country music was officially known as “hillbilly music” on the Billboard charts – and the reputation has stuck. Making an occasional exception for suitably counter-cultural types like the Dixie Chicks, hipster music critics won’t touch the stuff – and in the same way, too-cool travel types don’t often make the trek to country’s mecca, Nashville, aka Music City, USA.

But country has a rich heritage and a vital modern scene. It’s also quite possibly the greatest drinking music of all time. Frankly, Hank Williams Jr. is to beer-guzzling what Bob Marley is to ganja-smoking.

So come on down, hit Nashville’s finest honky-tonks, and throw back a Bud or three. Soon enough, you too might have some new friends in low places.

Where To Go

“They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway,” the old song goes. “They say there’s always magic in the air.”

Sure, the song’s about a musician trying to make it big in New York City, but it might just as well be about Nashville. Broadway forms the heart of the downtown scene. Live music spills out of several blocks worth of bars; the party gets going early and doesn’t stop till “early” comes around again.

Most places have no cover; the bands play for tips only, and no one pressures you to keep buying drinks non-stop – though if you’d like to, no one will stop you, either!

Be sure to hit Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, a historic dive that can claim legends like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Patsy Cline as past customers. Live bands play upstairs and down, from the early afternoon to the wee hours. The place draws a mixture of country music pilgrims, curious tourists, and die-hard locals, and can morph from a quiet sit-down scene to a foot-stomping dance floor almost without warning. It’s at 5th and Broadway.

Next on the strip is Robert’s Western World, a more laid-back place with an older crowd and talented cover bands playing traditional country: think more Hank Williams Sr. and less Lynyrd Skynyrd. It’s between 4th and 5th on Broadway.

Take a left on 2nd to hit the Wildhorse Saloon – one of the few places to charge cover. It’s got more of a nightclub vibe, with a young crowd, new country on the stereo system, and free line-dancing lessons on the floor.

Across the street from the Wildhorse, the Buck Wild Saloon is a karaoke joint, and a great place to end your night. Had enough liquid courage that you want to take your own shot at “Folsom Prison Blues”? This is the spot to do it. Be forewarned, though: On most nights there’s enough undiscovered talent rocking the mic in this place to fill an American Idol episode.

These are just a few of Broadway’s party possibilities – take a wander and see which honky-tonk is the happeningest on the night you’re in town!

Photo by mlsj_photos

Practicalities

Most of the live music venues serve food, too. There’s a Pita Pit on 2nd for a quick bite to go, and a BB King’s across the street for the chain-restaurant take on classic Southern dishes. Big River, at 1st and Broadway, is another decent dining option with great local microbrew.

As you might expect, downtown Nashville’s hotels are pricey, the usual bland big-name chains. They’re well-located if you can split with friends, though. The city’s official tourism site has info on special offers, and a booking system.

There are also a couple of hostels around the fringes of downtown – Music City Hostel is within striking distance of the Broadway bar strip.

You can take your pick of the cheap motels on any of the highways coming into town, but you’ll need a DD or a couple of steep cab rides. Demonbreun, one street over parallel to Broadway, has plenty of parking lots between 12th and 8th – you can pay around $10 and leave your car overnight, only a few blocks from the main strip. Another option is to check out Couchsurfing for well-located locals.

For the truly bad-ass budget party hound, Nashville’s Greyhound station is in the heart of the city, at Demonbreun and 8th. So if you’re really worried about blowing too much cash on cabs and hotels, you can roll into town in the early afternoon, party through the night, and stagger back to the bus station with the sunrise.

Feature photo by Marcus Correa. Photo above by carf.

Where to Stay

In Lapa, you’ll pay a fraction of the price that you would pay at one of the Ipanema or Copacabana high-rises and you’ll be close to the best all-night party. This way you can bus it to the beaches during the day. Otherwise, you’ll end up taking a taxi to Lapa at night.

You can prebook a hostel, like Brazil Hostel or Rio Hostel. If you like to travel by the seat of your pants, drop into one of Lapa’s love motels. They are cheaper than hostels, have private bathrooms, and you don’t have to book a package if you’re not staying all four nights.

Check out the Nova Mundo. It’s got balconies, radios, TV’s and big mirrors. Note there is also an upscale Hotel Nova Mundo in Flamengo, so if you hop in a cab, make sure you specify Motel Nova Mundo in Lapa.

Where to Party

If you want to watch Carnival, go to the Sambadrome. If you want to be in Carnival, stick to the streets. Keep your ears open for blocos, foot parades in which locals dance up and down the street to the beats of a truck top samba band. Beer carts follow.

Some good ones go up Rio Branco, the main street of downtown Rio, as well as Lapa and Santa Teresa. Copacabana has a wild one and Ipanema has a great gay party.

Samba Cheap Seats

You’re going to want to check out the Sambadrome at least one night. Plan to go when Mangueira or Beija Flor parade, but don’t buy expensive tickets ahead of time. Show up around 6:00 PM and get them from a scalper. They shouldn’t be more than 15 reais per ticket. Say “Mais barato possível.”

Banda Beija-Flor percussionist. Photo by carf.

Eats

Try açaí (Ah-sai-ee) from corner side juice stops. Order açaí na tigela com banana e granola. It’s a great energizing food on a hot day. If you don’t like it the first time, eat it two more times and I guarantee you’ll be addicted.

On the street, eat meat on a skewer dipped in farofa, ground flour from the manioc root. Other good snacks to fill your belly between drinks are misto quentes (grilled ham and cheese),presunto e queijo joelho (ham and cheese wrap), or frango com catipury (chicken and creamy cheese), and pastel com queijo (fried pastry with cheese).

In a restaurant, try isca de peixe com molho rose (fried fish pieces with mayo and ketchup sauce) aipim frito (fried yucca), and picanha, or filet mignon, the best cuts of meat.

Digs

Skol is the Carioca favorite. To order, just twirl your finger in a circular motion.

Only we, as foreigners, really drink more than one caipirinha–cachaça with sugar, lime and ice. They will put you down. Caipivodkas, made with vodka instead of cachaça, are a little smoother.

Capetas are devilishly delicious—vodka, condensed milk, vanilla, guaraná powder, and cinnamon shaken with ice. Batidas are fruity and creamy. I like guaraná soda and vodka. Hydrate with água de coco beachside from a green coconut.

How to Be and How Not to Be

Dance. Don’t worry if you can’t samba; just move your feet, work up a sweat and smile. Brazilians want you to enjoy their culture.

Don’t be afraid to participate in what I call “the kissing game.” All year long, visions of Carnival dance in Brazilian boys’ heads, the one time of year when they will get to kiss—a lot. Boys, that goes for you too.

Pre/Post Party

In Rio, the party doesn’t stop, especially between November-March. If you happen to be in Rio the months leading up to Carnival, go to a Samba school on a Saturday night. Mangueira, Beija Flor, and Sangueira are the most well-known, but don’t overlook the small ones, like Princesa Isabella.

If you miss the floats during Carnival, the winners parade once more the following Saturday. This is when most Cariocas go. And sunrise from Copacabana is always good to go.

Community Connection

Visiting Brazil but not during Carnival? Check out our guide to the best venues and shows in Bahia.

Studying (or thinking about studying) in Brazil? Check out the Best Places to Study in Brazil.

Finally, for dozens of blogs, plus feature articles, local experts, travelers currently in Brazil, as well as volunteer opportunities and more, check out our Brazil page at Matador.

Feature photo by larskflem. Photo above by spinlab

When I went to my first summer musical festival few years back I was unprepared and could’ve used a little guidance. Over the last few years as I’ve covered Lollapalooza, Pitchfork Music Festival, moe.down, and other summer festivals, I’ve acquired a checklist of sorts that I wish I’d had before embarking on my first festival.

Seasoned veteran or festival novice, I hope these tips can make your experience more rocking, relaxing and fun.

Picking a festival

One of the best places to start is going to Jambase.com, an aggregator of all things involved with music festivals and concerts. Check out the history of each particular festival via its website or third party music blogs or websites.

Each festival tries to set itself apart by creating a particular slant through a combination of line-up, location, and overall vibe. Generally, festivals will be teaming up with local and regional media and artists to offer unique side shows ranging from improve theater to art exhibits to on-site record stores and activist booths promoting voter registration and green initiatives.

As you do your research, think about the following:

Festival passes can range anywhere from $50 to $250 (US Dollars) or higher, depending on venue, location and who’s headlining and promoting the festival.

M.I.A. rocking Coachella. Photo by SToppin.

Musical tastes are pretty diverse these days as most people enjoy several genres and the festival line-ups show. Though there are festivals that are genre exclusive, most festivals showcase acts playing everything from bluegrass to hip hop.

For festivals like Bonnaroo, Coachella and Rothbury, much of the experience is all about pitching your tent and camping out for the weekend. Some of the camping festivals do offer luxury cabins or tents at higher ticket prices.

Most festivals offer a map before you get there so you’ll want to know where the camping sites are in relation to the parking and the music stages. If the camping sites are far you’ll want to keep your gear light or invest in a small pull wagon or cart.

Depending on how much sleep you want to get or how close you want to be to the action, as many of these festivals run 24/7, you’ll want to know if the camping sites are near the stages, scattered across the grounds or both.

Bring the usual camping gear–tent, sleeping bag, etc.—and in the age of texting and cell phones, you’ll want have some type of alternate power source like a car charger.

If you’re attending a festival located in a city or metropolitan area such as Lollapalooza, Pitchfork Festival in Chicago or All Points West in New Jersey, getting a hotel room for the weekend on your own is an option or you can take advantage of the festival’s package lodging deals.

Some cities also have affordable hostel locations available, or you can connect with a friend in that city and work out a set up to stay with them during the weekend and maybe even go to the festival together.

Learn the local history before you go.

As with any travels, having a cultural awareness of where you’re going can enrich your festival experience and take you beyond just enjoying the music. The uniqueness of many of the best festivals is rooted in their locality. For example, Glastonbury in the UK occurs on festival grounds that go back for centuries.

Being clued in on local culture and history will also help if you plan on venturing away during the show to give your ears a rest or plan a pre or post festival mini-excursion to visit other locations nearby.

Push slightly outside of your cultural and comfort zone.

One of the best parts about the summer music festival experience is observing the meshing of different cultures and being around a new group of people. As more and more festivals incorporate different genres, I’ve seen an increasingly diverse cross-section of fans at festivals.

Take the opportunity to interact with other festival-goers, and don’t be afraid to ask for that camping tool you forgot. chat about the last night’s set of a commonly admired band, or join in a game of Frisbee.

Be smart about using drugs and alcohol.

I don’t include this tip to be a killjoy, but only as a word of caution. I’ve seen festival experiences come to an early end and create a complete nightmare for everyone involved because of drug and alcohol abuse.

Even though music culture and drug culture overlap, especially in a live music setting, be wise about bringing drugs or large amounts of alcohol into the festival. At most festivals you’re going to get searched inside and out before you even get though the gates. Security will either confiscate prohibited materials or ask you to leave with no ticket refunds.

Make time to chill.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to plan out a few intervals of rest and not run yourself ragged and become ornery by trying to see every band. If you’ve done initial research on the area, take a short trek to one of those spots you learned about and give your cochleas a break.

Many festivals have also begun featuring morning yoga classes, offering a chance to recharge the mind and body. I can’t stress this enough. However you do it; whether it’s reading a book, taking a nap or journaling in a quiet spot, make time to give your ears and other senses a rest. Knowing the festival ground layout and scheduling in time to relax is the most important tip I can give you.

Community Connection

Heading to a festival this summer? Link up with new friends on your way there by posting to matador’s forum.

For more on music festivals, check out our Top 10 Music Festivals Worldwide.

Feature photo by fortes

Photo by jongos

Everyone wants to party on the road but with a million hostels in the world, where should you go?

I’ve searched high and low, drank with the best of them, and endured sleepless nights by the toilet to find the best party hostels out there.

Here are twenty that will keep you drinking, dancing, flirting, and hugging the porcelain goddess until the sun comes up:

Surf N’ Sun

Location: Gold Coast, Australia.

With a swimming pool and open courtyard, the Surf N’ Sun packs the young, the wild, and the alcoholic.

Bar Crawls take place every night and the hostel offers punch and free club entry. Boxes of goon start flowing late afternoon when people come back from the beach.

The Clown and Bard

Location: Prague, Czech Republic

With a 36 person dorm room, this place is always hopping. There’s a bar downstairs with a two for three happy hour beginning at 7pm and a live band filling the air.

Music gets blasting and four deck games of Kings have been known to break out as people forget there’s a city outside the hostel. If you’re in the 36 bed dorm, bring earplugs as this place does not follow any of the hostel sex rules.

The Flying Pig

Photo by fatalfuj

Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

With its bar and pillow lounge, the Flying Pig is the spot for those looking to channel their inner Bob Marley. There’s a constant cloud of smoke seeping out into streets at all hours of the day and night. Don’t worry if you run out- there are two coffeeshops across the street!

Base

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Base features a downstairs club that pumps out music every night. You won’t get any sleep as the music filters up the floors and entices you to come down and party until dawn.

The young and the restless fill the dance floor after drinking pitchers of beer and cheap, colorful shots. There’s usually theme and karaoke nights that let you embarrass your self all night long.

Loki

Photo by obvio171

Location: Cusco, Peru

Located in a 450 year old building, Loki is known throughout South America for its parties. With regular events, an open lounge, and theme nights, I wouldn’t expect any sleep here either. The bar is regularly packed so tight, you’ll be practically grinding against your neighbor.

#11 Happy Guesthouse

Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Why: Located by the lake in Phnom Penh, #11 Happy Guesthouse features a huge patio, two big screen TVs, a pool table, and one dollar beers. Always packed, this hostel is filled with the party seekers who spend their days sightseeing and night drinking beer before heading to the infamous Heart of Darkness.

St. Christopher’s Inn

Location: London, England

A bar, karaoke, cheap drinks, and a license to go until 4am all means that this hostel is bursting with partygoers and one the busiest in London. After you drink it down, you can take it off at the rooftop hot tub. People here know where the action is and if you play your cards right, it just might be your room.

Kabul

Photo by foraggio

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Located in the center of Las Ramblas, Kabul has a very open second floor where all parties happen. Happy hour officially begins at 7, which is usually a few hours after everyone wakes up.

With a reputation for partying, this place keeps drawing those who start partying at 2 a.m. and sleep until 2 p.m. This place gives new meaning to the term “late night.” I was called a quitter for sleeping at 5 a.m.

The Rising Cock

Location: Lagos, Portugal

The Rising Cock is infamous for its parties and it’s well deserved. Two things happen at the Rising Cock: drinking and drinking.

Start your day with the hostel’s booze cruise on which the majority of people get naked, and then keep the partying going with drinking games at the hostel. If you can’t handle 24 hour partying, this hostel is not for you.

The Pink Palace

Location: Corfu, Greece

The Pink Palace is one of the world’s most famous party hostels in the world and with good reason: toga parties, cheap shots of ouzo, happy hours, and theme nights. After a day at the beach (which is just minutes away) or their booze cruise, you’ll be spending the night dancing at their club, Palladium, until the sun comes up.

The hostel has over 300 beds- there’s a good chance, you might not end up in yours!

The Treehouse

Photo by prufrock27

Location: Ko Chang, Thailand

Every night is a bucket night at the Treehouse, and it’s the perfect blend of a relaxed hippy vibe and partying with a very active dance floor and a lot drinking. This place has all the ambiance you need and you don’t have to stay there to party there. People trickle in from all over to have fun, making this a hotspot on Lonely Beach.

The Yellow

Location: Rome, Italy

With a bar downstairs and semi-nightly pub crawls, it’s pretty easy to meet people at the Yellow. It’s not a huge hostel either making the close quarters also convenient for meeting fellow travelers.

Ostello Archi Rossi

Location: Florence, Italy

This place has been popular for a long time as evident by the walls covered by the names of past guests. A big courtyard and common dining area keep people mingling and drinking vino rossi.

There are some clubs down the street and, when they close, you can move back to the courtyard to keep the party going. The rooms are a little away from the action so you can actually get some sleep if you want.

Wombats

Photo by gpwarlow

Location: Berlin, Germany

Known for its partying, Wombats rarely sees anyone over 25. With an ultra-chic bar, everyone breaks out their best attire and pickup skills here. Cheap drinks keep travelers mingling all night long. If you can’t meet anyone here, you can’t meet anyone anywhere.

The Jazz on South Beach

Location: Miami, Florida USA

Located right near the beach, The Jazz on South Beach has an excellent bar that hosts the bold and beautiful of South Beach. This is the place to stay if you’re looking to be seen in South Beach.

Carnival Court

Location: Capetown, South Africa

There’s no chance of a good night’s sleep at Carnival Court. Located near a lot of bars (there’s also a bar in the hostel), this place is a hangover waiting to happen.

It’s wild here and everyone is looking to break a new drinking record. The staff will point you in the direction of the parties but you just might have trouble walking there as the fun here starts well before the sun goes down.

Millhouse Hostel

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

The music is on 24-hours a day at the Millhouse and the atmosphere is extremely social! Each night has a different activity such as dance party, karaoke night, and tango lessons.

Definitely a hostel for those that want non-stop fun and excitement right at home! Most commonly heard line: “Were those moans from the porno shop next store or did you get lucky last night?”

Auckland Central Backpackers

Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Located right down town, this hostel draws upon the fact its part of the Base chain. That means all the craziness of Melbourne spills over with people getting down and dirty all night long. It will give you another reason to keep staying longer in Auckland. !

India House

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

A funky converted house that was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, the India House features eccentric local characters and travelers who just can’t leave. Maybe it’s Bourbon St. Maybe it’s the jazz. Maybe it’s the beer vending machine in the kitchen. Whatever it is, people here know how to have a good time.

Tina’s Backpackers

Location: Caye Caulker, Belize

Located right on the beach, Tina’s Backpackers keeps people in close quarters. Everyone here is into island living – sun by day, drink by night.

Though the crowd tends to be a bit older (30ish), you wouldn’t know it by the way people party here. It is way off the beaten path but it’s worth it.

Feature photo by marfis75. Photo above by paalb

Here’s a bit of trivia to impress your friends with: Did you know that Canada’s low-profile capital city hosts one of the largest music festivals in North America?

I bet you didn’t, and your friends don’t either.

Hey, you know what will make that little gem even more impressive? Dropping the factoid, and then adding: “And I’ve been there.”

What It’s All About

Ottawa’s annual blues festival (officially known as the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest) takes place for ten days in early July – this year’s runs from July 3 to July 13 – and brings in some huge acts.

In spite of the name, the festival doesn’t limit itself to blues; in fact, its official mission is to “support and sustain the growth of emerging and diverse musical genres” including world music, jazz, funk, soul, folk, and fusions of all of the above.

Photo by bagels

In the past few years, Bluesfest has seen the likes of George Thorogood, Lauryn Hill, The Neville Brothers, Etta James, ZZ Top, Johnny Lang, and Kanye West hit the stage.

Last year alone, I rocked out with Van Morrison, The White Stripes, Bob Dylan, Manu Chao and George Clinton’s P-Funk All-Stars, all in a matter of days.

While Bluesfest always draws big names from around the world, a huge part of their mission is about encouraging homegrown talent; several of the festival’s seven stages are devoted almost exclusively to Canadian up-and-comers.

It’s also a popular draw for those Canadian acts that have already made it big: Feist, Metric, Stars and Broken Social Scene have all been known to show up, and Canadian rock icons The Tragically Hip are regular performers.

All that, and it’s green, too! Last year Bluesfest introduced large-scale supervised bicycle parking, compostable corn-based beer cups, and bio-diesel generators to power the festival.

The whole show takes place at historic Lebreton Flats, beautifully located along the Ottawa River with great access to public transit, riverside bike paths, and walking distance to downtown.

Convinced yet?

Photo by tcp909

This Year’s All-Star Lineup

The range of acts at Bluesfest this year is as eclectic as ever.

On the hip hop side of things, Fergie, Sean Paul and Wyclef Jean are representing for the big-name, Top 40 scene, and Jully Black reminds everyone that Toronto’s got beats, too.

Boz Scaggs, Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ put the blues back in Bluesfest, while Canned Heat is still going strong thirty-nine years after their appearance at the original Woodstock.

Feist, The Tragically Hip, Metric, Stars, Weakerthans, Hayden and Wintersleep are some of the bigger-name Canadians performing this year. Up-and-coming indie rockers Tokyo Police Club are a local hipster favorite.

Brian Wilson, Don McLean, James Taylor, and Lucinda Williams together represent a pretty influential (and diverse) spread in the great American singer-songwriter tradition, while Widespread Panic have been described as the inheritors of the Grateful Dead’s “road-warrior mantle.”

Photo by jsome1

Did I mention Akon? Joan Armatrading? Steely Dan? Primus? The Black Crowes?

How about Balkan Beat Box, featured recently in this Matador article? Ottawa-based and New Orleans-inspired Mumbo Jumbo Voodoo Combo? Or Southern gospel legends The Blind Boys of Alabama? Perhaps you might remember The Wailers – better known as “Bob Marley and…”?

And that’s just a sample – the best thing about Bluesfest is having the chance to see old-timers you’ve always dreamed of catching live, and then wandering over to a smaller stage and discovering a new local gem.

This festival crosses boundaries of age, genre, language, culture, and nationality. It’s a music festival first and foremost, unfettered by distinctions between rock and country, blues and soul, indie and sell-out.

See the full schedule at the Bluesfest website – you can search by day, by stage, or by performer.

Tickets and Other Practicalities

Oh yeah – and did I mention that you can see all ten days of music for just $200?

Photo by bagels

The full-festival pass is a mind-blowingly good deal. The 4-day ($120) and 3-day ($95) passes for the two weekends of the festival are also extremely good value, while the one-day passes are a little steeper, ranging from $32-$40. Keep in mind that the festival starts rocking in the early afternoon and between all the various stages it never pauses for breath, so even a one-day pass is buying you up to 12 hours of live music.

The Bluesfest site has all the info on buying tickets in advance.

Detailed information on the capital’s greenest eats, accommodation, and activities can be found in The Traveler’s Notebook Green Guide to Ottawa. For more on the music that’s Made in Canada, see my blog, Music For A Canadian Road Trip. And for the inside scoop on O-Town’s culinary claim to fame, the mighty shawarma, check out Shawarma Love in Ottawa.

Community Connection

Bluesfest starts early this year, on Thursday, July 3. If you have the time, hit town a couple days early for Canada Day, on July 1. It’s the one day a year when Ottawa really lets its hair down, with a red-and-white-painted downtown street party 30,000-strong.

Flag-capes, drinking before noon, and strategically-placed maple leaves are de rigueur. Book your accommodation early, find a Couchsurfing host, or just suck it up and party all night long.

Finally, if you’re organizing a roadtrip there and looking for riders, post a notice on our forum and / or blog about it at Matador.