Indigo Girls @ City Folk Ottawa
Indigo Girls, Junkhosue, Rum Ragged, and Amble came to City Folk in Ottawa on September 11, 2025.
Indigo Girls jamming on the Main Stage before Melissa Etheridge’s set, where they came back out to perform alongside her.
Indigo Girls owned the night with their steadfast love all. Their songs rang true and were celebrated by their loyal fans. Supporting and joining Melissa Etheridge, the band gave Ottawa City Folk a full set of their own. What a talent packed line up!
The Folk-Rock group from Atlanta gave Folk-Rock fans from Ottawa a real authentic show. With graphics focused on their rooted message to love all, a clear message for what they have and always stood for, the crew began their set. Starting off with songs like “Shame on You”, “Least Complicated”, “Devotion”, “Get Out The Map”, and “Faye Tucker”. Indigo Girls rocked it out. The dynamic duo, Amy Ray and Emily Sailers, jammed with their talented band. Their full band gave us strings in so many ways, song bird like vocals, beatings of drum, and the chimes of keys.
“The Rock Is My Foundation” featured a solo by our beloved Amy Ray. What more could one ask for? How about a spoken word poem during “Go”. What about an encore performance, or Melissa Etheridge coming onto the stage with band for the encore? Well the Indigo Girls gave us all that and more!
Even before the Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge took the Main Stage at the Ottawa City Folk Festival, Canadian Classic’s Junkhouse performed.
Junkhouse gave us all the good good junk we love and never realize how much we need.
The mood, blues, and attitude that we love to see rand out on the Main Stage. Their sound was loud, unapologetic, and all that good junk!
Looking towards the Fasken Stage, Irish Folk band Amble, could be seen… and heard!
Irish Folk band, Amble, brought their culture, their sweetness, and even a little bit of their rowdiness to this Ottawa Crowd. Sounding fantastic in the process.
Budding up band, Amble, gave us a folk show. A rhythm all their own. Amble showed up with style, charisma, and a wonderful sound. Throughout the show, the band shared stories of their time together. A few teachers leaving their day jobs to chase their dream, their dream of singing to people around the world, to sing to those folks in Ottawa at the City Folk Festival. It all came “Full Circle” with songs like “Schoolyard Days” and “Mariner Boy”. Giving us some new music to get even more excited about, Amble filled our hearts with joy and love. Many laughs were had with comments that they played a 50,000 stadium opening up for Hozier the night before. Standing in front of a packed crowd under the Fasekn Stage tent, still seemed like their preferred way of performing. The lads took full opportunity of the closeness with their audience and truly talked to us while in between songs. It felt like you were at the best Irish Pub in town who secured the best Irish Folk Band every Thursday. Which in my opinion, are some of the best shows to attend. On the topic of Pubs, the story for “Mary’s Pub” which was shared before that tune began. After that story, and that touching ballad of a song, next time I go to an Amble show (because they will absolutely be on my radar from now on) I will make sure to carry a lighter in my pocket. Igniting the second night of the Festival, Amble gave us quite the show to their Canadian patrons.
Irish Band Amble on the Fasken Stage.
Continuing view of the Fasken Stage, you could find the musical group of East Coasters known as Rum Ragged.
Rum Ragged transported us to Newfoundland and Labrador in a blink of an eye. Their folk songs brought all those listening together. Their melodies, harmonies, and spectacular way of being so cohesive and together, were captivating. Rum Ragged’s raw talent, voices, and rhythm had us all tapping our feet and singing along. Closing out the second night on the Fasken Stage, Rum Ragged had us all looking at getaways to the Coast.
Rum Ragged at Ottawa’s City Folk Festival, 2025.
September 2025