Eventful Capital’s Weekly Picks: From the New Constellations Tour and the Dreamworks Animation Exhibition to Murda Beatz and Chocolat

From the badlands of southern Alberta, musician Joe Vickers will be hitting up Bar Robo this Tuesday, December 5 as part of his Cowboy Coffee Tour. For the occasion, the folk musician will be playing live with Ottawa folk/country band Big Neon and Ottawa folk singer-songwriter JD Wilson.

Austrian blackened death metal band Belphegor is performing live at Mavericks this Wednesday, December 6. They’ll be sharing the stage with Montreal tech death metal band Cryptosy, Toronto black metal group Panzerfaust, Ottawa death metal crew A Scar For The Wicked and Ottawa death metal project Gland.

Do you still have any of your childhood or teenage writing? Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids is an open-mic evening of book reports, poetry, diary entries, letters from camp, etc. — all read out loud by adults to a room full of strangers. The event is being held this Wednesday evening at the Gladstone Theatre. Sounds like a whole lot of laughter and awkwardness!

Local director Matt Miwa and producer Lesley Marshall invite you to the premiere of their short silent horror film “Murder at the Circus”. The screening, which is a pay-what-you-can event, will be held at the ByTowne Cinema this Wednesday, December 6.

There’s a night of “mega jazz action” going down at House of Targ this Wednesday. The show will feature live performances by Ottawa groovy jazz ensemble Super Awesome Club, as well as the Carleton University Fusion Ensemble, that will perform compositions by Weather Report, Carla Bley, Allan Holdsworth, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Mike Stern, Eric Dolphy, Chick Corea and more.

The Canadian Museum of History is opening a new exhibition that delves into the world of animation. Titled DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition, the exhibit reveals the art, technology and storytelling that has made DreamWorks Animation the world’s largest animation studio. This special show is being presented from December 8, 2017 to April 8, 2018.

Montréal rockabilly/hillbilly/rock n’roller Bloodshot Bill is bringing his one-man show to House of Targ this Thursday night. For the occasion, the self-described greasy Canadian that travels on his own, will be sharing the stage with Ottawa rock n’rollers Casa Lagarto and Ottawa alternative country musician Chris Landry.

Montréal indie rocker Little Scream is returning to Ottawa this Thursday, December 7 as part of her current tour. This time around, she’ll be joined by Ottawa indie rockers The Heavy Medicine Band and Ottawa indie band Plastic Farm.

On Thursday at Pressed Cafe, you can catch Ottawa garage rockers The Tenenbaums, Toronto alt punks Blankscreen and Ottawa punk rockers No Fuss.

Anishinaabe MC/singer-songwriter Leonard Sumner will be performing live at the NAC this Thursday, December 7. The hip hop/country/r&b artist, who’s from the Little Saskatchewan First Nation located in Manitoba, will be sharing the stage with Ottawa alternative folk/rock musician Jack Pine.

If you’re up for a little road trip to Wakefield to kick off your weekend, head over to the Blacksheep Inn this Friday night to check out Carleton Place roots/folk/rock singer-songwriter and storyteller Brock Zeman and Ottawa soulful country musician Julie Corrigan.

Ottawa folk/punks The Fays are celebrating 20 years of music this Friday with a show happening at Pressed Cafe. The event will also feature live sets by Ottawa musical poet King Kimbit and Ottawa newcomers Bloody Murder, who’ll be giving their first show ever.

Toronto punk rockers The Flatliners and Massachusetts hardcore punks A Wilhelm Scream are celebrating 10 years of musical existence on the road together. To mark this milestone, they’ll be performing The Great Awake and Career Suicide, each album in its entirety.

Metal heads take note: this Friday at Targ, metal band Norislk is having an album release party and they’ll be playing live with Boston metal band Replacire, Ottawa thrash group Mangler, Ottawa metal project Messora and Montreal tech metal act Pronostic.

Following his appearance at the Mercury Lounge this past August, Kenny Glasgow is back this Friday and he’ll be giving a live set in celebration of DJ Balu’s birthday. You can expect another round of tech house and underground vibes from the Toronto DJ as well as an opening set from the birthday boy and Jeff Dougler.

The Canadian hip hop producer behind numerous hit singles like No Shopping by French Montana and Drake and 4am by 2 Chainz feat. Travis Scott, Murda Beatz will be in Ottawa this Friday, December 8 to give a DJ set at Babylon. This will be his first time in Canada’s capital and it’s sure to be one of the city’s biggest nightclub events of 2017.

New Constellations, a nation(s)wide tour of music and arts featuring Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, is making a stop in Ottawa this Saturday, December 9. The event, which aims to address reconciliation through the arts, will feature a stellar lineup including A Tribe Called Red, Leonard Sumner, Lido Pimienta, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Jeremy Dutcher, Jason Collett, Jim Bryson, STARS, Shad, Narcy, Vera Wabegijig, Tracy Lindberg, and La Force.

Montreal indie rockers Chocolat are back in Gatineau this Saturday night to play at the Minotaure. The 5-piece band who’s been around the Canadian music scene for over 12 years will be presenting its excellent album Rencontrer Looloo alongside Montreal indie punk rockers Corridor.

Ottawa/Toronto duo Kamancello will be playing live at the intimate Pressed Cafe this Saturday night. For the occasion, the East-meets-West band that blurs musical genre conventions and cultural boundaries will be joined by Ottawa instrumental composer and guitarist Nathanael Larochette, a talented member of Musk Ox and The Night Watch.

If you want to play some pinball and check out a show on Saturday night, head over to House of Targ to catch Ottawa punk rockers The Creeps, London, Ontario hardcore band Wasted Potential and Ottawa pop/new wave group The New Calling.

In the Christmas Market department, there’s one happening this Sunday, December 10 at the Moussette Park Community Centre in the Hull sector of Gatineau. This 5th annual market organized by the Marché de l’Outaouais will feature a variety of local artisans, a choir, a craft corner for kids and tasty eats.

Eventful Capital’s Weekly Picks: From Amos The Transparent and Troy Ave to Targ’s Seasons Beatings and Music Feeds

Wether you like it or not, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Ottawa-Gatineau. Minus the snow. Cause the snow’s taking it’s time this year in the National Capital Region, and that’s just fine. That being said, there’s plenty happening this week to put you in a festive mood and kick off the holiday celebrations. So get out there and enjoy what the city has to offer.

Metal heads rejoice, Mavericks has the perfect holiday show for you. This Tuesday night, check out the second annual We Wish You A Metal Christmas with live performances from Lord Dying, Greylights, The Thirteenth Floor, The Aphelion, Vesuvius, RUIN and WKFLD. starting at 7pm. Tickets are $12 at doors $10 if you bring a non-perishable donation. What’s more, there will be an ugly holiday sweater contest and a milk & cookie eating competition so if you plan on attending, dress for the occasion.

Over in the Hull sector of Gatineau, for the closing of the exhibitions Zabriskie of Michel Archambault and They Might be Brainless of Beatriz Herrera, AXENÉO7 and DAÏMÔN invite you to a special gathering to celebrate the holiday season. Theres going to be music with DJ M. Caffrey, Jean-François Laporte, tasty eats and festive surprises. Oh and it’s free admission and parking.

There’s music for a cause happening this Wednesday night at the Avant-Garde Bar. It’ll be an evening of live tunes to raise money to welcome new residents to Ottawa and there will be sets by Goodnight Boy, Andrew Johnstone, Emily Howard as well as Jesse Dangerously and Young K. Check it.

Zaphods wants to spread some holiday cheer and say thanks to all their patrons for another great year so they’re having a Christmas Tree Decorating and Star Wars Special Appreciation Night this Wednesday. For the occasion, the Star Wars Holiday Special will be shown on the big screen and afterwards DJs Matty + DeckTheBalls will play party jams while people decorate the Zaphods tree and enjoy the treats Santa will be delivering throughout the night. 

Ottawa alternative folk singer-songwriter and musician Claude Munson will be performing live at the Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield this Thursday, December 17. For the occasion, he’ll be sharing the stage with a full band as well as Toronto-based singer-songwriter Pat Maloney

Massachussetts melodic-hardcore/punk band A Wilhelm Scream will be performing live at House of Targ this Thursday night as part of the #WinterIsCummingTour. For this show, they’ll be sharing the stage withNew Orleans hardcore/punk group PEAR, Toronto punks Brutal Youth and Ottawa punk rockers Pistols At Dawn.

Local musician Claude Munson is hosting a special live music show this Friday, December 18 to help raise funds to help a family of Syrian refugees that his immediate family and friends are sponsoring. The event, happening at Flapjack’s Pancake Shack, will feature live performances by Maxim “banjo man” Cossette, Chris Landry, The Minor 9s, Daemon & Ayrdri, and Sean Tansey. There will also be a box for donations at the door for those who feel extra generous.

Ottawa indie folk rock band Amos The Transparent is hosting its now-annual holiday concert at Zaphods this Friday night. This time around the local 6-piece, whose latest album “This Cold Escape” has garnered significant attention, will be performing live alongside special guests Mountain Eyes and The Stringers.

There’s a punk rock holiday jam happening at Avant-Garde this Friday night and it’ll feature live sets by Belleville punk rockers ELE, Ottawa rock band The Tenenbaums, Toronto punk rock  group Pseudo and Ottawa party rock newcomers Holy Christopher.

Update: the show has been postponed to January 29, 2016. Troy Ave’s White Christmas Canadian Tour will be making a stop in Ottawa this Friday night. The NYC-based rapper will be performing live at Ritual and sharing the stage with local hip hop artists God Bless, Juvi Da Gemini, Frank Blak and Drae among others.

For two nights this weekend, Ottawa’s low-culture event of the year is back to help set the bar even lower. Friday night will feature a lounge/comedy act with Remi Royale, a country set with Slo’ Tom and the Handsome Devils, weirdo jazz by Super Awesome Club, synth madness of Festive Filters & Merry Modulations. As for the second night, it’ll include Flying Fortress, World War 4 and Blackbread.

Wanna relive the 90s pop craze with the Spice Girls this week? Then be sure to head over to Babylon this Friday, December 18 for 90s or Bust featuring Wannabe: The Spice Girls Tribute Act. Wannabe will bring you as close to the real deal as you can get with costumes, dance moves, glitter, confetti and platform shoes. After the show, stick around for the 90s or Bust dance party and dance the night away to all your fave 90s jams.

There are new bass events coming your way courtesy of Bad Republic, a collective of DJs and promoters that has come together to step up Ottawa’s bass game, both in decibels and in capacity. For this first night happening Friday at Plurr, New York producer Notixx will be dropping some serious bass bangers alongside Montreal dubstep duo the W4rriors, and Montreal electronic music DJ Construct.

This Friday night, SPOOR presents the latest edition of The Deep End at Ritual. Once again, the SPOOR crew brings you a substantial array of furious techno beats all through the night while also bringing a unique experience; intersecting music, lighting and video projection. This is the perfect night to check out if you’re into techno, house, and electronic music. 

This Friday night at Raw Sugar Cafe, DJs Sarita, OHJAY and VJ Big Baby invite you to feel all the feels with them as they spin deep house, dance, nu disco and r&b tunes for your dancing pleasures.

This Saturday night, Zaphods and Hot Buttered Pop Cultured vintage shop bring you Bizarre Baazar, a Pop-Up Day Market with lots of local and independent vendors gathered in one place for some last minute shopping needs/gifts/stocking stuffers. Vendors will be selling vintage pop culture, health products, sexy-time proucts, taxidermy, decorative items and rad locally made stuff.

At the Gladstone Theatre this Saturday, December 19, there’s going to be a Tribute to Phil Ochs featuring Sneezy Waters, Tony Turner, Zachary Stevenson, Ian Tamblyn, Eve Goldberg , Jesse Stewart, Daemon & Ayrdri, Erin Saoirse Adair, Larissa Desrosiers, Elizabeth Riley Band, and Moonfruits as well as a special appearance by Sonny Ochs. 

On Saturday, December 19, Live on Elgin will be hosting ‘Music Feeds’, a benefit show in support of the Ottawa Food Bank. As part of the event, there will be live performances by local alternative hip hop group Alex Silas & The Subterraneans, hip hop artist Aron The Alien, rockers The Bristol Hum, rapper Nick Travis from Lost Kids and experimental hip hop crew wotts. If you attend, please bring non-perishable food donations.

‘Tis the season for ugly Christmas sweaters, sweating & grinding. What? If you want to get down at a dance party this Saturday night, there’s the Queer Mafia’s OhMyJam Christmas Edition being held at Babylon. Hip-hop, dancehall and RnB hits will be provided by DJs Mace and Ken L Jones.

The House of PainT fam and Aunt Thelma’s have joined forced to present a Hip Hop Holiday Lunch this Sunday at Midway Family Fun Park. The family friendly event will feature a hip hop lunch with DJs, a special lunch menu, hip hop workshops for the young ones along with door prizes. Proceeds from this event will support House of PainT’s continued programming in the Ottawa community as we celebrate and elevate hip hop arts and culture.

Gatineau indie folk rock trio Okies will be giving a live performance at the Petit Chicago this Sunday, December 20. The local band, who just released the new single Rolling Thunder, will be joined on stage by alternative folk/rock/grunge duo Blanche & Noir.