Dedicated Fans Sprint to the Front at Bluesfest’s RBC Stage

A dedicated group of music enthusiasts has perfected their strategy for securing front-row spots at the RBC Stage during Bluesfest, a prominent music festival held annually in Ottawa. This year, the group showcased their commitment by arriving hours early, ensuring they have the best view for headlining performances.

Donald Neville, a public servant with the Department of National Defence, has been attending Bluesfest for approximately 20 years. Initially attending solo, he soon found himself connecting with other festival-goers who returned year after year. “Over the years, different people have joined our group and we’ve all just kind of morphed to each other,” Neville reflected. “It developed friendships.” The core group consists of about ten members, with others joining intermittently throughout the festival.

The group makes it a priority to be present for the main headliners, which in the past have included renowned artists such as Shania Twain and Def Leppard. To secure their places in front of the RBC Stage, they often forgo attending other acts. “In order to save your spot for the headliner, you have to be there for the first show,” Neville emphasized. “If you think you’re going to show up at 8:30 p.m. and be front row, forget it, it’s not going to happen.”

Neville adjusts his work schedule to ensure he can leave the office by 3 p.m. each day of the festival. He typically heads to the Canadian War Museum for parking, waiting until the gates open at 5 p.m. to rush through security. To streamline entry, he avoids bringing a bag, while some group members, who are retired, can position themselves closer to the front of the gates. “There’s no real big secret behind it,” Neville explained. “Having a network of friends that can be there at one or two in the afternoon to make sure they’re right at the front of the gate helps.”

Friendships Forged Through Music

Among the group members are Jennifer Diotte, 48, and Julie Hanes, 63, who became friends after meeting at a Bluesfest concert around 12 years ago. Their bond has grown stronger over the years, with Hanes recalling, “It was like, ‘I’ll meet you there tomorrow,’ and it never stopped.”

This year marked Diotte’s first Bluesfest concert since undergoing treatment for bone cancer. Diagnosed in April 2025 after a previous breast cancer diagnosis in 2021, she expressed the significance of the festival in her life. “I’ve already missed five days, and that really hurt,” she said. “Bluesfest is something that I look forward to every year. It’s my happy place. Music has saved my life a million times.”

Diotte attended her first Bluesfest around 14 years ago after moving to Ottawa. In contrast, Hanes has been attending since the festival’s inception at Major’s Hill Park. Their shared passion for music led them to Neville and the rest of the group, with Diotte noting their past experiences lining up for hours before the gates opened.

“We’d be the first ones through the gate, and I would give Julie all my stuff and run, and she would follow not too far behind,” Diotte recalled. “Now that it’s a big group of us, we all just run, and whoever gets there stands with legs and arms open until the rest of us show up.”

Despite their busy lives, the group maintains contact throughout the year, eagerly anticipating the festival. Diotte highlighted the group’s support during her health challenges, stating, “They’ve done whatever they can to support me and they’re always checking to make sure I’m good.”

Hanes, dedicated to the festival, purchases her full pass as soon as tickets go on sale and takes time off work to experience as many shows as possible. With her birthday falling on July 4, she sees Bluesfest as a personal gift. “That’s my gift to myself every year is the gift of music, Bluesfest,” she said.

As the festival continues to attract crowds, these fans embody the spirit of community and dedication that makes Bluesfest a cherished event in Ottawa’s cultural calendar. Their shared experiences and love for music keep them returning year after year, making front-row access just one part of their unforgettable journey.