As I keep repeating to all of the haters out there who say Ottawa-Gatineau’s a boring place, open your eyes and get off your couch and you’ll see that the national capital has got plenty to offer to fulfill your entertainment needs week after week. Here’s a sample of events happening this week in and around the capital city.
For the metal and hardcore fans out there, there’s a live show this Monday, November 16 at Cafe Dekcuf featuring live performances by Columbus, Ohio metal band Death Of An Era, American hardcore/metal group Brightwell, Montreal rockers White Fox Society, Ottawa hardcore/metal gang Black Oak Decline, Ottawa melodic hardcore project Inherent and Ottawa progressive rock formation Elevenstar. 
Also this Monday at Mavericks just below Dekcuf, you can check out death metal band Kataklysm perform live. For the occasion, the group will be sharing the stage with Gatineau metal band Insurrection, Ottawa death metal project Diabholico and Ottawa groove/death metal formation Venator.
If indie/alternative rock is more your thing, you can make your way over to House of Targ this Wednesday night to see Florida alternative rock band Surfer Blood perform live. As part of the show, they’ll be joined on stage by Ottawa lo-fi indie rockers Kings Quest who’ll be taking care of the opening set.
The Ottawa Jazz Festival is holding its 18th annual benefit concert this Thursday, November 19 at Library and Archives Canada in an effort to raise funds for the 2016 edition. As part of the popular event, there’s going to be a live auction animated by the CBC’s Alan Neal as well as a special performance by Toronto indie folk/pop/soul singer-songwriter Basia Bulat.
California metal band Bermuda will be making a stop in Ottawa this Thursday, November 19 as part of their Canadian Moose Knuckle Tour. For the occasion, they’ll be performing live at Mavericks alongside Montreal deathcore group Obliterate, Toronto down-tempo band Weston, Cornwall metalcore project Through Lucid Eyes, Ottawa metal formation Ominous Eclipse and Ottawa metal outfit Trentia. A packed bill of loud and heavy music!
This Thursday at House of Targ, you can catch Stratford, Ontario punk band Jon Creeden & The Flying Hellfish as well as Vancouver punks Jesse Lebourdais and band, Ottawa punk group Fresh Hell and Montreal punk project Mansbridge.
Another show not to be missed this week for all you metal heads and hardcore fans: Whitby progressive metal band Protest The Hero will be live at the Bronson Centre this Friday night to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut album Kezia X, which they’ll be playing front to back for the occasion. Joining them on stage will be Guelph progressive metal band Mandroid Echostar, Ottawa progressive metal group We Were The Fires Of Rome and Ottawa screamo project Daisy.
Over in Gatineau this Friday night, there’s going to be a live performance by Montreal folk musician Alexandre Poulin who’ll be in town in an effort to promote his third album “Le mouvement des marées”. Happening at the St-Mathieu Church, the show will kick off with an opening set by Gatineau native singer-songwriter Philippe Gaudreault, who’s working on an new EP set to come out in 2016.
Ottawa art rock/indie pop band Loon Choir will be performing live at the legendary Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield this Friday, November 20. For the occasion, the 9 piece group will be joined by Guelph fuck pop/psychedelia 6-piece The Folk and Ottawa fuzzy pop rock outfit Saint Clare.
This Friday November 20, SPOOR presents the latest edition of The Deep End at Ritual. At these parties 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 for you if you’re open to exploring the scenes of techno, house, and electronic music.
Moncton rockers The Motorleague will be making a return to Ottawa this Friday night in support of their latest album “Holding Patterns”. The group, who’s currently on a cross Canada tour, will be performing live with the excellent Toronto post punk/rockers The Dying Arts, Ottawa rock band Thunder Uncle and Ottawa post punks We Fled Cairo.
The November edition of 90s or Bust is going down this Friday night at Babylon. The popular monthly, that features the best in 90s and early 2000s hip-hop and r&b jams is the perfect event to attend if you’re looking for a old school vibe dance party.
This Saturday at Maker Space North, check out the Capital Pop Up! Handmade Show in support of the Shepherds of Good Hope. As part of the event, there’s going to be some standout food vendors from across the city to make sure your bellies are full and happy as you shop and browse around.
R.A.P.S.Ody, Ottawa’s only monthly event where urban artists compete in a classic “cypher” hip hop format, is having its final regular season show this Saturday evening. Happening at the Flava Factory, the event will feature cyphers including spoken word artists, rappers, dancers, beatboxers, singers and a live performance by special guest rappers Shario DeVonte and Nakeim The God who’ll be doing a special set as part of the event.
This Saturday at the Gainsbourg Bistro in the Hull sector of Gatineau, local favourites the Mackenzie Rhythm Section will be having their album release show for “Brand New Dances”. For the occasion, the founders of the soul step and makers of the feel good are giving a free performance to thank their fans and supporters. If you haven’t seen these guys live, do yourself a favour and get out there, they’ll rock your socks off.
This Saturday night, the Mercury Lounge and the NAC present the fourth instalment of Wolf Gang Sessions, a night of music with a wild side where classical meets funk. For this event, the NAC takes part of its orchestra out of its traditional space and puts a special spin on DJ Trevor Walker’s set. This promises to be a very special night of live music.
Hamilton indie/math rock band WTCHS will be back in the capital city this Saturday night and this time around they’ll be giving a show at Black Squirrel Books alongside Ottawa experimental noise 4-piece Bondar (previously known as Roberta Bondar). Sick poster, eh?
The hip hop heads won’t want to miss Toronto rapper Jazz Cartier this Saturday night at Ritual. The rising artist, who’s debut album “Marauding in Paradise” was long-listed for this year’s Polaris Music Prize, will be sharing the stage with guests Vnchy, Yusso, Morris Ogbogwu, Drae and SWIFTcrew.
Ottawa indie emo band PINE, who’s been on tour in the States and parts of Canada for the past little while, will be back home to perform live at Ritual this Sunday night. For the occasion, they’ll be sharing the stage with their emo label mates Dead Leaves from Ohio as well as Toronto indie rockers Lust, Ottawa emo/rock group Tensile and new Ottawa rock outfit Slip.
