Bluesfest, Ottawa - July 11, 2008

By DENIS ARMSTRONG - Sun Media

Meanwhile, over at the Rogers Stage, another local band, Brothers Chaffey, was cranking out country-rock to an older crowd of partiers.

The two siblings Matthew and Curtis, accompanied by Adam Puddington, entertained their hometown fans with an hour-long set of their vintage country-pop tunes, including Thrill on the Hill, Jolene, Wreck Out on the Highway, Bending the Rules and their Tex-Mex hit Who Were You

Thinking Of, from their album Harbord Street Soul.

Like George Jones and Waylon Jennings, this is swinging, sad music to drink beer to. Throw in a pool table and the afternoon would have been perfect.

The boys' high spirits were infectious, as was their set of fat country-rockers with lots of Texas atmosphere.

Anytime I daydream about Bluesfest in January, it's always this setting -- wasting the afternoon away, drinking beer and listening to salty songs at LeBreton Flats. Which is what I would have done if I didn't have to cover the show. The Brothers Chaffey couldn't have caught the mood of this year's festival any better.