Arboretum rings in new island home
Sadies, New Swears and more Arboretum Festival on Albert Island Reviewed on Friday night
Braids’ atmospheric pop, the Sadies’ psychedelic surf-rock and the daredevil shenanigans of Ottawa’s New Swears were among the eclectic sounds that ushered in a new era for Albert Island on Friday as part of this year’s Aboretum Festival.
The fourth annual edition of Ottawa’s boutique music and arts festival actually started Wednesday, but Friday was the first night at the new site on Albert Island, a former parking lot in an all but deserted industrial complex that’s been off limits to the public for decades.
In fact, Arboretum was believed to be the first public gathering on the island in more than 200 years, since the days it was considered a sacred gathering place by the region’s aboriginal communities. It’s one of three islands adjacent to the Chaudière Falls, considered the second mightiest waterfall in the province before a dam went up in 1908.
Like all of the Ottawa-Gatineau region, the islands are part of the territory that the Algonquins say was never surrendered.
On Friday, however, a diverse crowd of more than 1,000 adventurous music fans found its way to the strip of asphalt tucked between two decrepit buildings, just off the Chaudière Bridge over the Ottawa River. Outdoors was the mainstage area while a second stage was set up in one of the warehouses, complete with exposed beams, concrete floors and peeling paint.
Although there wasn’t a tree or even a blade of grass and you could barely see the river in the daylight, the gritty zone came to life after dark, thanks to skilled lighting design that placed coloured lights in strategic locations (thankfully even illuminating the interior of the portapotties). Instead of being a place to avoid at night, Aboretum organizers transformed Albert Island into a fantastic spot for a party.
Early highlights included the raucous set by Ottawa’s punk-fuelled New Swears, a four-chord workout that was punctuated by plenty of confetti and a jubilant cover of Springsteen’s Dancing in the Dark, and the slick electric guitar picking of the twangy Ontarians in the Sadies, who were one of the older bands on the bill.
The main stage also featured Montreal-based Braids, who are up for this year’s Polaris Prize, in the headlining slot, and Ottawa’s Scattered Clouds kicking things off in the opening segment. Between mainstage sets, there was a roster of warehouse performers, including the garagerock swagger of Nightshades and a top-volume showcase of Milk Lines’ barnburning bombast.
The night was so much fun that people soon began wondering about the future of the site. Will Arboretum return next year?
“I don’t know,” replied the festival’s creative director, Rolf Klausener, with a shrug. “We’ll see how it goes. We have other options.”
Although the area is slated for development, demolition is not expected for a while.
“We could stay here for five more years,” Klausener added. Whether or not Arboretum returns, here’s hoping for more gatherings of a festive nature on Albert Island.
In the meantime, Arboretum resumes at noon Saturday on the island, with back-to-back panel discussions on the history of Ottawa-Gatineau’s unceded territory and the importance of responsible development, plus a mainstage lineup that features Austra, U.S. Girls, Hayden and more.
On the warehouse stage, you’ll find performances by Kings College, Petra Glynt, Pipahauntas and Del Bel.
Also appearing Saturday is Ottawa-area musician Jeremy Gara, best-known as Arcade Fire’s drummer, who brings his old band Weights and Measures to Arboretum for a one-off reunion. They play an alley party at Place Aubry in Gatineau’s Hull section. The music there starts at 7 p.m., running at the same time as the music on Albert Island.
For more information, go to arboretumfestival.com.
I don’t know. We’ll see how it goes. We have other options.