Old Man Luedecke

Barney Danson Theatre, LeBreton Flats, Ottawa ON, July 11

Photo: Jessica Deeks

BY Daniel SylvesterPublished Jul 12, 2013

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Tucked away inside the Canadian War Museum, located upon the grounds of LeBreton Flats, the beautifully chic Barney Danson Theatre doubles as an Ottawa Bluesfest stage for its ten-day run, typically housing smaller singer-songwriter and left-field acts.

On day seven of the festival, hardcore fans, curious passers-by and those killing time before the Tragically Hip hit the Main Stage packed the theatre see Chester, NS banjoist Old Man Luedecke perform in what he would call, "this bunker-like room." Joined by mandolin and sometimes-fiddle player Joel E. Hunt, Luedecke greeted the audience with his warm and congenial demeanour, cracking jokes and opening the floor for requests.

Picking through a set that covered material from all five of his albums, including quirky fan-favourites like "The Joy of Cooking," "Yodelady" and "I Quit My Job," Luedecke switched over to acoustic guitar to play a trio of tracks from his new, Paul Simon-influenced album, Tender is the Night. Coupling his amiable songwriting with a good dose of "dad humour" and quaint pre-song monologues vis-à-vis fast food restaurants and Ian Tyson, Luedecke made it fairly easy for the audience to fall in love with his radiant persona, musical and otherwise.

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