Wether you want to explore Hintonburg, catch some live music, attend a beer bottle art show or check out tulips, be sure to get out there and enjoy some of the fun things happening this week in our National Capital Region.
Hintonburg Happening is a nine day festival that celebrates local artists, designers, musicians & businesses. The 2016 fest runs from May 6-14, with Happening events throughout the neighbourhood and a closing party including yummy food, a beer garden, music, art and children’s activities. Check out the full programming at http://hintonburghappening.ca.
If you’re into punk rock, there’s going to be an all-ages show at Mavericks this Tuesday night that will feature live sets by Toronto pop punk band Harbour, Ottawa grunge group Lees Avenue, Ottawa punk rockers Splintered Fate, Ottawa punk rock outfit Free Refills, Ottawa punk rock project Below 6 and Ottawa acoustic punk musician Rich Chris.
For the young and the young at heart, the Ottawa Children’s Festival is taking place from May 10 to 15 at LeBreton Flats and inside the War Museum. The 2016 edition will feature a wide variety of shows, activities, workshops, face-painting, storytelling, an instrment petting zoo and more. Check out the full programming by clicking on the event poster below.
Another all-ages show happening this Tuesday night, this one at Black Squirrel Books & Cafe. The show, presented by Debaser, will feature performances by Winnipeg shoegaze/dream pop/noise project Basic Nature and Ottawa rock/shoegaze band Baberaham Lincoln.
The 12th edition of J’Adart, the Ottawa School of Art’s annual fundraiser, is being held this Wednesday night at the GCTC in Hintonburg. This year’s theme for the evening is “Dress as your favourite artists or artwork” so that’s bound to be fun. For the occasion, there will be live and interactive art installations, live music as well as a silent auction and some tasty bites from Thyme & Again.
Over at the Mercury Lounge this Wednesday evening, there’s going to be a live performance by Brazil’s own Lu Horta as part of Canadian Music Week. The artist, who’s currently working on her second solo album”Paraiso Eu”, is also touring North America and hitting Mercury Lounge with her soft and fresh Brazilian tunes. Expect to hear pop melodies mixed with electronic flavours and rich poetry.
At Avant-Garde Bar this Wednesday, you can check out Newfoundland indie rockers Bleu alongside Ottawa alternative rock band Trees and Montreal electro pop/jazz artist Ms Holmes.
The Canadian Tulip Festival is being held from May 12 to May 23 this year at several locations including the new indoor garden inside Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park. There, you can catch events, art displays, and live performances, as well as a licensed area to savour the tastes of international beer, wine, and cuisine. There’s also going to be lots of other animation including fireworks on opening night.
If you’re a fan of the local brewery Beau’s and a graphic design lover, you’re going to want to check out the Beau’s Label Art Show and Q&A happening at Brew Donkey this Thursday, May 12. Being held as part of Hintonburg Happening, the event will include sampling of some stellar beers from Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co. and as well as light snacks.
Hardcore and punk fans won’t want to miss Bleak Life Fest happening over 3 days this weekend. The third edition of this underground festival will be taking place at Club SAW, Pressed and House of Targ and will feature bands such as Occult Burial, C.H.U.D.s, Asile, Metalian and Barrow Wight among others. Sure to be a ragin’ good time.
This Thursday, CKCU 93.1 FM, Beau’s All Natural and Mercury Lounge present the May instalment of RadioActive Underground, a monthly live music and DJ series. At this edition, there’s going to be old school soul and reggae thanks to Slimmoore and the NewSoulProject as well as DJs JFUN and Trevor Walker, spinning before and after.
Hip hop heads aren’t going to want to miss Royce da 5’9 live at Ritual this Thursday, May 12. The Detroit rapper, who’ll be in Ottawa for the first time as part of his Layers Canadian Tour, will be sharing the stage with Doug Crawford, Prehistoric, Alex Lost, Gutta King Chris and Dopekiid.
Kick off camping season this Friday, May 13 at Maker House Co at a free family-friendly event hosted as part of Hintonburg Happening. Local artist/historian Andrew King will present an evening of long lost Ottawa ghost stories with historic artifacts from the Kitchissippi Museum, pictures from Lost Ottawa, and even old home movies. Between stories, enjoy live music, free beer and cocktail samples and tasty smores-on-a-stick.
At Pressed this Friday night, there’s going to be an intimate night of live music with a nicely stacked lineup. The all-ages show presented by Babely Shades and Debaser will feature Toronto experimental electro/pop/jazz duo LAL, Ottawa multi-instrumentalist and eclectic musician Melody McKiver, Toronto ambient psych/pop project Zones, and Ottawa synthpop artist Lovecraft.
Pittsburgh punk rockers Anti Flag will be making a stop in Ottawa this Friday the 13th as part of their Canadian Tour Spring 2016. This time around, the Spinefarm Recs signees will be playing alongside Toronto punks Black Lungs, Vankleek Hill punk band Audio Visceral and Ottawa punk rock group Pistols At Dawn.
This Friday, May 13, BlakDenim is having its official album release show for their new project Complexus. For the occasion, the 9 piece hip-hop, funk, rock, soul, and jazz act that brings together clever lyricism and smooth vocal harmonies, will be performing live at Mavericks alongside local hip-hop duo Flight Distance, local rapper Cashtro Crosby, DJ Roc Steady, Rita Carter and more. This is bound to be a good time, BlakDenim knows how to rock a crowd!
The Rap Queens Edition of Grillz & Glam is going down this Friday night at Bablyon. For the occasion, the Grillz & Glam fam is welcoming special guest DJs Internet Daughter from Toronto and Danya D, Ottawa bred/Montreal-based. DJ Illo will also be joining them to help provide the soundtrack to your Friday night.
In the mood for a low-key morning jam? This Sunday, May 15 at Impact HUB Ottawa, join DJs JFun, Ollie Kav and Ashley Gauthier as they play good-vibe tunes to get you dancing and moving your body to sweet grooves. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is PWYC.
This Sunday night if you’re in the mood to listen to some loud music, make your way over to the Rainbow Bistro, where you can catch American soulful punk rock band City Mouse alongside Scotland punks MurderBurgers, Ottawa punk group Shootin’ Blanx, Ottawa hardcore punk project Sketchy Poutine and Ottawa power pop/punk trio Holy Christopher.
