The Pairs, a folk trio from London, Ont., delivered an intimate and emotionally charged performance at Ottawa Bluesfest on July 15, drawing an attentive crowd into the Barney Danson Theatre for a quiet reprieve from the festival’s larger stages.
The group, made up of identical twins Renée Coughlin and Noelle Frances Coughlin, along with Hillary Watson, filled the venue with layered harmonies that had the audience snapping along in unison. The room fell nearly silent during their songs, with applause erupting only after each number ended.
“Are we having a good Bluesfest? What a lineup tonight, eh? Yeah?” Watson asked the crowd.
Between songs, the trio spoke about the importance of connection in an increasingly online world, comparing the isolating pull of a phone to the value of coming together in person to listen to music.
Renée Coughlin grew emotional addressing the audience partway through the set.
“It’s truly a dream come true to be able to share these songs and stories. If I say much more, I will cry in front of all of you. We’ve played on some pretty big stages this week and it’s a new set for us. It’s incredibly nerve wracking and we feel so lucky to have had experiences like this with all of you. That has helped us to step into what is happening for us now,” she said.
Watson, also a twin herself, shared the origins of the group and the lifelong bond between the Coughlin sisters.
“Noelle and Renee are identical twins. I’m a twin as well. Our moms and dads were, and are, best friends and had us two months and two days apart from each other. We’ve been in each other’s lives our whole lives. This started as campfire and kitchen jams, where we were just learning how to sing and play guitar. We have been doing this now for about a decade, trying to be a band,” Watson said.
The set also touched on more serious themes, including a call for rain for the people, animals and trees affected by dry conditions and wildfires in northern Ontario, mixed with lighter, cheekier moments between the three performers.
At one point, Noelle Coughlin joked about her sister’s pre-show nerves, crediting a boost of caffeine before taking the stage.
“Red Bull makes you cry,” she said.
Audience members appeared visibly moved throughout the performance. At one point, a voice from the crowd called out, “You guys are awesome.”
The trio performed songs from their latest album, Together On A Rock, which was released in October of 2025.
Photo credit: Landon Entwistle