CityFolk Fest 2016: X Ambassadors
Where do I even start with X Ambassadors? These guys are beyond creative in so many ways. From their dynamic mix of soulful alternative rock, hip hop, passionate ballads, and electronic-based pop, these four young men cannot stay off the charts, and I can’t see them moving off anytime soon.
The first time I heard X Ambassadors was in 2013 when I bought their album “Love Songs Drug Songs.” This EP only had six songs, but it was enough to grab a lot of people’s attention and keep it, including me. Since then I have bought and shared every album/ single released with friends and family. There is something for everyone in every album, whether you like hip hop, rock, or even a little bit of pop, they twist many genres into their work but they also stay true to their alternative sound. 
Heading into “Naked”, lead singer Sam Harris took a moment to give us some insight into the song, “Opening up to someone, loving yourself and digging deeper than you usually would.” “Naked is from their latest album VHS which was released in June of 2015. Every album tells a small story of them growing up individually as kids, teens, young adults, and now growing up at this stage of their lives, together as a band. “Naked” is one of my favourites off this album, mostly because it explains both the sad and happy parts of love in our relationships and also in others
The second I found out they were performing at Ottawa’s City Folk Festival I knew I was in for a memorable evening. Sam is extremely energetic when he performs, he shows so many emotions throughout every song, and while using every inch of the stage. There wasn’t a single part of the stage he didn’t touch, he even showed some love by diving into the crowd towards the end. 
While socializing with many people at Ottawa’s City Folk Festival I could tell the fan favourite was going to be X Ambassadors. A young lady told me she arrived 5 hours before the show because she wanted to get a good spot. Whether you were up close or far at the back everyone was having such a great time! From the sound and captivating lights, all angles of the grounds were touched.
The X Ambassadors have for sure made it into my “Top Must-SeeSee Concerts”. This show was one for the books, I can’t wait to see them again and I’m looking forward to new collaborations in the future.
Photographer and fan of live music that spans genres, cities, and stages!
