Another blog post, another week filled with events happening in Canada’s national capital. If you’re in Ottawa-Gatineau this week and have time to check out some stuff out, there’s no shortage of things to do. Take a look at Eventful Capital’s weekly picks below for a glimpse into the number of events happening in and around the National Capital Region in the coming days.
Detroit rapper Big Sean will be making his Ottawa debut this Wednesday, April 8. For the occasion, the 23-year old hip-hop artist who made the #1 spot on Billboard charts with his new album Dark Sky Paradise, will be giving an all-ages show at the EY Centre with special guests Swisha-T and DJ Mes. This Thursday, April 9, The Mix and Colour & Sound present “Fresh” at Babylon with live performances by local artists Sandra Bunga, Kook Krys, Lost Kids, Ivan Ndikuriyo, Cee Craig Thorn, and Bastards. The event will also feature live art by Dems & Doll, Mique Michelle, Pranav and more.
New Jersey indie/punk-rock band Screaming Females, New York indie/rock group Mitski, and Ottawa post-punk outfit Decathlete are performing live at House of Targ this Thursday, April 9. You can never go wrong with live punk rock, perogies, pinball and beer!
Claude Munson is back in the National Capital Region after being away in Europe for a few months. To celebrate his return home, the local indie folk/rock singer-songwriter and guitar player will be performing live at the Blacksheep Inn this Friday night. For the occasion, he’ll be sharing the stage with Saskatoon folk rock band Dumb Angel and Montreal country/folk/pop group SUNFIELDS. Welcome back Claude!
Those of you who enjoy visual arts should check out the monthly Ottawa Art Battle, a unique concept organized across Canadian cities, brings 12 local painters together for a live painting competition. The event is taking place this Saturday evening at Arts Court. An annual National Championship eventually goes down in the summer to crown the top Canadian painter of the year. We’re getting closer to finding out who will represent Ottawa in 2015!
This Friday night at Mavericks, Waterloo Progressive Metal/Groove band AURAS will be giving a live show alongside Ottawa Progressive Deathcore group The Thirteenth Floor, Ottawa/Cornwall Metalcore formation Here Comes Bigfoot, Ottawa Post Hardcore project The Great Diversion and Ottawa Hardcore/Rock outfit Walls of Troy.
If you’re into garage punk rock, you should make your way over to Gabba Hey at City Center this Friday night to check out the live all-ages show being presented there. On the menu, Lethbridge punk pop group Fist City will be performing live with Toronto pop rock band Tough Age, Toronto psych country group Milk Lines and Ottawa garage rock/grunge outfit Sailor Jupiter.
This Friday night at the Daily Grind, Family Industries, in partnership with DreamLoveGrow, is launching the Artist Series. The event format showcases the talents of one visual artist who chooses the type of music that they feel best matches their collection of art. A DJ spins the music of choice, which lead organizers to come up with the tagline, “See the music, hear the art.” This first edition will feature the work of Alexandre Aimee and the music selections of Scratchmarx.
Peter Jackson will be making a stop in Ottawa this Friday night as part of the Since I was 16 Canadian Tour. The Canadian hip-hop artist will be performing at Ritual with his live band “The Nicks” and special guest SESE among several others.
Ever heard of Hervana? The all-girl Nirvana cover band from Toronto will be making a return to Ottawa this Friday night to give a show at House of Targ. This time around, the group will be joined on stage by Ottawa garage punk/rock group Kings Quest and Ottawa garage surf punk band Bonnie Doon.
Surfs up! Soda Shop is back at Mugshots to bring you King of the Beach. DJs Gremmy & Ski Sheik will be providing Soda Shop classics along with the finest surf gems, girl group bubblegum and garage rock. For one night, an endless summer dance party in your hearts and minds.
SAW Video’s inaugural Ottawa Independent Video Awards Gala will be held this Saturday, April 11 at Arts Court Theatre. The first edition of this new event will award 6 local directors for their contributions to Ottawa-Gatineau’s video community in the following categories: Best Director – Documentary, Best Director – Experimental, Best Director – Music Video, Best Director – Narrative, Best Director Under 25, and the Rob Thompson Award. Following the award ceremony, there will be a video dance party with VJ Daisy.
For the metal heads out there, there will be a show at Cafe Dekcuf this Saturday, April 11 featuring live sets by Lose Angeles metal band Phinehas, Gatineau melodic trance metal group Greta Knights, Ottawa metalcore formation Violent Tides, Cornwall metal project Through Lucid Eyes and Gatineau metal band Accretion (which seems to be performing every other week or so lately).
The National Gaucher Foundation of Canada presents the 1st annual NGF fundraising gala “A Rare Night”on Saturday April 11 at Makers Space North. Sample canapes created and executed by top chefs from across the national capital, sip on custom cocktails by the bartenders of El Camino and Union Local 613, enjoy live music by DJ Atherton, as well as surprise live entertainers. Part of the proceeds raised will go towards supporting local charities. Dress code: “unusual formal”.
If you’re looking for an intimate night of stripped down songs this Saturday, head over to Raw Sugar Cafe in Chinatown to see local indie folk duo Gold & Marrow (previously Shannon Rose & The Thorn) perform live. The musicians and lovers will be sharing the stage with Toronto’s The Oxford Wild.
The radical, community-oriented, gender-bending, bike-loving, enviro-humping, queer-diggin, slow-dancing, big dress-wearing affair that is Promdemonium is back this Saturday, April 11. The 7th edition of this unique annual fundraiser, happening once again at the Glebe Community Centre, will feature music by DJs D-luxx Brown, Magnificent and . Space prom wear is mandatory!
At the Avant-Garde Bar this Saturday night, check out a solid lineup of live bands including alternative/garage rock/pop trio Elementals, Hamilton rock n’ roll project Flamingo Báy and Ottawa experimental post punk duo ONFIILM.
Over at the Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield this Saturday evening, there will be a live show featuring Ottawa indie synth-rock nine-piece Loon Choir. The local band will be sharing the stage with Toronto-based indie folk/rock group Beams and Ottawa acoustic musician and singer-songwriter Leonard Youngfoot for the occasion.
CHUO 89.1 FM, CKCU 93.1 FM & Birdman Sound present the 12th Ottawa Community Record Show this Sunday, April 12 at St. Anthony’s Hall. This is the place to go to find LPs & CDs and dig for rare music gems from every genre. A must for music collectors!