Let Them Dance & Sing: bbno$ at Ottawa Bluesfest

July 12th, 2026, at the Ottawa Bluesfest. Words & photos by Edie Olender

My friend Maegan swears by the “Let Them” theory, popularized by Mel Robbins. The idea is that when someone or something upsets you, you tell yourself let them. This releases your grip on trying to control things that are out of your control. Then you tell yourself, let me take control of this situation by applying for a new job, let me reach out to the friends that went on a trip without me because we haven’t talked in ages, let me prioritize my own hobbies. Watching bbno$ perform at Ottawa Bluesfest, all I could think was that he is a perfect embodiment of the theory. 

The set started off with DJ Tip, who led a PowerPoint presentation on how to party. Rules like keeping your hands in the air and “dancing like a foo” set the humorous tone for the night. To keep the party energy up and the party people energized, he started tossing out Oh Caramels and Twinkies into the crowd. 

After the scene was set, bbno$ came on stage in his spiffy blue flame button-up and backwards cap. There is something very refreshing about his music because it doesn’t take itself seriously. Seeing his live performance, you can tell that Alexander Leon Gumuchian is just a guy who wants to live his life and have fun doing it. Let them judge all they want, bbno$ will dress up in groovy outfits. Let them judge all they want, bbno$ will sing ridiculous lyrics. Let them judge all they want, bbno$ will dance like a fool. 

bbno$

His quirkiness does not stop there. In addition to throwing out sweet treats to the crowd, he also announced a contest for being the person who parties the hardest. The prize? The Tastes Like Schitt cookbook, signed by bbno$ himself. As the crowd danced and screamed, bbno$ kept an eye on them throughout the night and awarded the cookbook to an overjoyed fan at the end of the show. 

It is not simply a stage persona or performance, but it’s a cultivation of community. By letting himself be fully free from others’ judgement and opinions, he is creating a space for others to let themselves be exactly who they want to be. 

Note: Leif Volleback, Hazlett, Dijahsb, and Summersets also performed unapologetically authentic sets at the various stages earlier during the day. 

Leif Vollebekk

Hazlett

Summersets

Dijahsb