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.
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.