Bluesfest is over. We’re already halfway through summer. This shit is depressing so enjoy it while you still can, Ottawa-Gatineau. In a nutshell, here’s what’s happening this week around the National Capital Region if you’ve still got energy left in you/aren’t recuperating from Bluesfest madness.
Canadian rock legends The Grapes Of Wrath will be performing live at Mavericks this Tuesday night. For the occasion, they’ll be sharing the stage with Ottawa rock n’ roll band Still Winter Hills and Belleville alternative folk rock group New Age Soldier.
Over at Raw Sugar Cafe this Wednesday night, local musicians Kristine St-Pierre and Cody Allen will be sharing the stage with Newfoundland folk artist Ian Foster for an intimate night of live music.
Fredericton, New Brunswick’s Hard Charger will be making a stop in Ottawa this Wednesday, July 22 as part of their tour of Canada and the US. The group will be giving a live show alongside Ottawa stoner metal band Swarm of Spheres, Ottawa rockers Slumlord and Ottawa punk/rock’n roll outfit Chloroform.
Ottawa alternative pop/rock outfit Silver The Young is releasing their debut EP Skeletons and to celebrate they’re having an album launch party at Avant-Garde Bar this Thursday night. For the occasion, they’ll be joined on stage by Ottawa emo/punk project 12 Main, Ottawa acoustic emo musician Ryan Fitz and Ottawa acoustic emo/punk band Suburbia.
The heavy music fans may want to check out Pressed Cafe this Thursday night for Greber’s “Kiln Hardened Psalms” LP release. The show will include performances by Ottawa heavy rock/metal band Black Oak Decline and newcomers They Greave (Alaskan/Stay Here debut).
This Thursday night, Calgary psych pop project Astral Swans will be giving a live set at Raw Sugar Cafe. Joining him for the show will be Trails (Allie from Weed Mom). It’s an all ages show and licensed so everyone is welcome.
Toronto-based pop/soul/r&b singer-songwriter Iskwe will be performing live at the Mercury Lounge this Thursday evening. The Irish/Cree/Dene artist originally from Winnipeg, will be sharing the stage with Nunavut indie synth pop project Scary Bear Soundtrack for the occasion.
SAW Video is having a Summer Screening and Picnic this Thursday evening starting at 6pm. The event will kick off with a sonic picnic featuring DJs Cloak & Dagger, and will be followed by the panel Art Making after the Internet – A conversation with media artists Lorna Mills (Toronto) and Matthew Williamson (Ottawa), moderated by independent curator and critic Anna Khimasia (Ottawa). The event will culminate with the screening of the first 3 episodes of Canadian artist Lorna Mills’ “Ways of Something” , a four-part remake of John Berger’s television show.
The Kafé-Karamel Festival is back once again and this year it’s being held from July 23 to 25 on Laval Street in the Hull sector of Gatineau. This free family-friendly festival will showcase an eclectic variety of artists hailing from the region and beyond including local hip hop artist and slam poet D-Track, Bam Percussions and the Mexican Aztlan Ballet troupe.
Venice, California punk rock/hardcore project Lucidial (members of Suicidal Tendencies) will be performing live at Mavericks this Friday night. The DC Jam Records signees will be rocking out on stage with Toronto hardcore punk band Wildcard, Ottawa hardcore punk project Sketchy Poutine, Ottawa punks Upheaval Of Outcasts and Ottawa pogo punk outfit Shootin’ Blanx.
Nuit Blanche Ottawa-Gatineau is having its annual bed-in Artist Party this Friday evening. Hosted by PDA Projects, the event will officially announce the countdown the 4th edition of Nuit Blanche Ottawa Gatineau and will allow people to meet the artists and everyone that will be part of NBOG 2015 HYPE/FRÉNÉSIE. The Fau Mardi crew will be on site to spin great tunes throughout the evening, and there will be fire spinning pyrotechnic animation by Nick Olas Killback.
Over at Le Temporaire in the Hull sector of Gatineau this Friday night, catch Victoria, BC band Freak Heat Waves play alongside Ottawa’s Bondar, Halifax band Special Costello and Toronto group Baby Cages.
This Friday night at the Avant-Garde Bar, Ottawa Music Index presents Pittsburgh garage rock band The Semi-Supervillains as well as Ottawa garage rock band Gnarly Brown and Toronto funk rock group The Lipstick Junkies. Only $5 at the door for 3 great bands! 
From July 24 to August 2, check out Agwata, the new multimedia aquatic show happening at the Ruisseau de la Brasserie in the Hull sector of Gatineau. This free audio-visual projection show inspired by the history of the Vieux-Hull is a first of its kind in the area and it will animate downtown Hull and promises to deliver an immersive experience.
For the beer lovers out there, Brewfest is going down at Hintonburg Park this Saturday, July 25. This family-friendly Summer celebration will feature local craft beer from Beyond The Pale, Kichesippi Beer, The Covered Bridge Brewing Company Inc., Clocktower Brewpub, Mill Street Brewery, and new kids in town, Nita Beer Company among others. Cheers!
This Saturday afternoon at Pressed, there will be an interactive panel dubbed One Girl, Five Babes created out of the need for a safer space within a small local music community in which folks of colour & marginalized genders are often underrepresented and mistreated. The panel will feature 5 accomplished & accomplishing panelists who are active in the local music and arts community from musicians, to poets, to bloggers and more. The 5 panelists each have their own unique experiences and will discuss the different barriers and sites of violence perpetuated within this community. A very important conversation to have for the Ottawa-Gatineau music scene!
Over at Raw Sugar Cafe this Saturday, there will be a live show featuring Brandon, MB’s The Shotgun Jimmie Band, Vancouver group Adrian Teacher And The Subs and Winnipeg project Human Music.
Reel Big Fish anyone? The Orange County ska rock band will be live at Mavericks this Saturday night and for the occasion, they’ll be performing alongside Ottawa ska punk group Suits N’ Toques and Ottawa ska/reggae/rocksteady outfit The Sentries.
Trap enthusiasts will want to head over to Ritual this Saturday, July 24 for The Cool, a night entirely dedicated to trap music and its sub-genres.
Over at Babylon this Saturday night, Off Beat will be taking over with DJs Dan Valin and Kitty Funk and visual projects by Gifstream. This monthly party is always a guaranteed fun night of dancing!
This Sunday, July 25, POP Montreal and Debaser present beach party punks Nancy Pants live at Pressed Cafe. The Montreal-based band will be giving a live show with Montreal electro pop project Look Vibrant and Ottawa dance punk outfit Street Meat.
Toronto hip hop artist Tory Lanez, aka Argentina Fargo will be celebrating his birthday with a live show at Ritual this Sunday night. The emerging emcee/vocalist will be performing live in concert with special guests Maurice Moore, KingsCollege, Juvi Da Gemini, and Cashtro among others.
