Not many people spend their Thursday evening getting thrown around by a red-eyed beast named Jed.
But that was what Quinn Meeker and Jaden Scott-Lucas lined up to do first thing on Bluesfest’s opening night.
While the couple were initially there to greet friends who work at the saloon and to see headliner Lainey Wilson and the Red Clay Strays, they were quickly drawn to Jed the mechanical bull. With two massive horns and a large saddle, Jed was hard to miss.
“It’s always fun to ride the bull,” Meeker said. “I’ve ridden dozens of mechanical bulls. They’re so much fun.”
But it was the first time for Scott-Lucas. She said she had been to the Crazy Horse saloon in Kanata several times, but had never mustered up the courage to ride the bull.
“It’s less crowded at a place like this early on than it is at Crazy Horse,” she said. “I’ve always been too scared to get on the bull.”
Scott-Lucas said the large tent behind Bluesfest’s RBC stage made it feel just like the bar in Kanata. The tent was decorated with wooden barrels, loud country music and a Western-themed bar. The couple wore their cowboy hats and boots to stick to the theme for the show.
When asked if they would get on the bull again later in the evening, the couple, who just celebrated their four-year anniversary, said they would.
“The more tequila I get, the better I will be on it,” Meeker said.
Since Crazy Horse opened in 2009, Kyle Louvelle has operated the bull every Wednesday night to provide entertainment for the crowd it brings in. “There’s a lot of excitement (riders) get right away,” he said. “It’s a unique experience.”
For first-time riders, Louvelle tends to start off slow and ensure they can adapt to the bull’s movements before turning it into a real show. The mechanical bull is also surrounded by a soft inflatable cushion, so riders can fall off safely.
“As the night progresses, if they’re really good, I crank (Jed) up and turn it into a real bull,” he said. “It’s nothing but enjoyment for them. All together, it’s a brand-new experience.”
Mike Labreche, one of Crazy Horse’s owners, said the Bluesfest set-up provided great exposure for the business, which was back at the event for the second year in a row after a “phenomenal” run in 2024.
The tent is fully staffed with Crazy Horse employees, including DJs, and different drink options that Bluesfest wanted to offer for its audience. Labreche said they tended to cater their music to who the main acts were.
“Tonight’s Lainey Wilson, a country act, so it’s gonna be very busy tonight,” he said.
Labreche said he was excited about the exposure and opportunities that being at Bluesfest opened up for the business, especially being closer to the downtown core.
“It’s just nice to see a lot of familiar faces that are going to Bluesfest because we are a live-entertainment venue,” he said. “We’re around bands all the time.”
The mechanical bull always draws in a crowd no matter where it is and at Bluesfest is available to people of all ages, as young as nine, Labreche said. “It draws a lot of attention because everybody wants to try it. It’s all ages and that’s the key part.
“It’s not to hurt anyone or buck you off. You go at your own pace.”
Crazy Horse and Jed the mechanical bull will be open to the public every night of Bluesfest.
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