• Tuesday 8 July, rising Ottawa and upcoming international star, Becky Abbott, will début between 6 and 7 pm at the Rogers Stage with her own band at Bluesfest. She's over the last couple of years toured cross-country and internationally with David Gogo, one of Canada's hardest working blues-rock great artists. Should be a stellar night if you plan to be there.

• Leslie Rohonczy and The Runes and Lou di Milo with The Wiseguys a little later that evening, 8th July have volunteered to help a certain blues and jazz guy celebrate at Bass Line Station that night a 70th birthday party of all things.

• Bluesfest, although it has some nights this year with what one might call a 'blues smattering' at most, it comes much closer in my personal view on two days this week to being a blues festival. One is on Wednesday 9 July (my actual birthday) so thanks to Bluesfest for that added celebratory opportunity for me. It also has one more blues significant day in my view and experience, Saturday 12 July.
  
  For more detailed blues opportunities at Bluesfest and locally, check out Liz Sykes' Ottawa Blues This Week for her 'don't miss' recommendations. For jazz opportunities, check out Ottawa Jazz Happenings.

• If you're into the more 'Musicfest' aspects of this festival, then there's probably plenty more music to enjoy on those other days that relate more to the non-blues or blues-minimal days of the fest.

• Thursday 10 July:

• If you're in the Renfrew area, there's a new open blues jam hosted by Grant Tomkinson with this week's guests, Peter Newsom and John Steele at Coco Jarry's, 314 Raglan St. S., Renfrew, Ont. (613) 432-3310.
  
  For many other live music possibilities posted by Ottawa local musicians and venues, they're on the Ottawa Blues, Jazz & Swing Guide DIY calendar,

• Also check the links on the DIY calendar posted by musicians and venues with links to their web sites for more details.
  
  There's also more detail on the individual venue web sites for those not posted to the calendar. Click those web links for info.

In other music news, now posted an the Ottawa Blues, Jazz & Swing Guide Group on Facebook if you're a Facebook member check out what else is going on.