Another week, another blog post featuring hand-picked events happening in and around Ottawa-Gatineau over the next seven days. If you’re in town and wondering what’s happening this week, check out the sample of great ideas below.
Want to check out a hardcore/punk show this Tuesday night? Hamilton post hardcore/emo band Downstream, Halifax post hardcore group Sleepshaker, Ottawa alt rockers Slip, Ottawa pop punks The Great Diversion, Ottawa solo emo project Caves and Ottawa newcomers Swim Team will all be giving live sets. The venue? It’s not Pressed, so just ask a punk.
Brooklyn-based band Beirut will be returning to Ottawa this Tuesday, July 26 to play at the Algonquin Commons Theatre. The indie folk/world/baroque pop band will be sharing the stage with Montreal indie folk musician Little Scream who’ll take care of opening the show.
Local powerhouse Bella Cat will be performing live at Kinki Lounge this Wednesday, July 27 and the show is entirely free to check out. The soul/blues singer-songwriter with the incredible voice will be sharing a special night of music with those in attendance.
This Wednesday night, over at the Petit Chicago in the Hull sector of Gatineau, there will be a live show featuring Toronto melodic punk/rock band Broomfiller, Ottawa/Gatineau ska punks Taco Bandits (best band name ever) and Ottawa punk rockers Pop Culture Icons. Check it.
Halifax’s Cousins is back in Ottawa and this time it’s to perform solo at Bar Robo this Thursday night. This time around, the garage rock project will be sharing the stage with Ottawa new-wave psych pop/rock band How Far to Mexico.
Another big show happening at the Algonquin Commons Theatre this week is going down on Thursday, July 28. This one will feature Australian jazz/ska/rock group The Cat Empire who will play alongside Canadian new-wave indie pop/folk artist Sarah MacDougall.
For something more mellow and intimate, head over to Cafe Dekcuf this Thursday night to catch Saskatchewan indie alt/pop band Friends of Foes live. The group, who’s on a cross Canada tour, will be playing with Gatineau indie folk outfit Bitterly Healed and Ottawa indie alt/rock project Bitter North.
This Thursday night, House of Paint presents Retr-O Graff, a special tribute night dedicated to highlighting some of the National Capital Region’s best graffiti artists over the years. Find out about the city’s grafitti history while you take in some live art by FallDown, Venise, Dom Laporte and Coblou.
Gatineau-based r&b/blues/soul band Majortom is back after taking some time off. The 5-piece group will be making a return to the stage this Friday, July 29 at the 4 Jeudis in the Vieux-Hull and sharing new material with those in attendance.
This Friday evening at Maker House Co., there’s going to be a special event to celebrate the beauty and style of the classic bicycle. With free beer samples from Bicycle Craft Brewery, a demo by Right Bike, handmade bike accessories and live music among other things, this free event promises to be good times for bike lovers.
Are you a fan of ska, reggae and rocksteady? If so, be sure to make your way over to House of Targ on Saturday night for Voice Of The People’s 1-Year anniversary party. This fun monthly that was launched last year will feature music selections courtesy of DJs Longshot and Lord Snappy as well as a live performance by Ottawa’s own The Sentries and Toronto ska/jazz band Sound One.
At Gabba Hey this Saturday, there’s an all-ages show featuring Philly’s own Alex G live. The lo-fi beach artist will be sharing the stage with Stouffville, Ontario dream pop artist Nicole Dollanganger, and Ottawa dream pop project Herons Wake.
Montreal instrumental post rock band Appalaches are returning to Ottawa this Saturday, July 30 and for the occasion they’ll be performing live at Avant-Garde with local post rockers Clavius Control and local ambient post rock artist Jean-Mo.
If you’re looking for a night of rock n’roll with some hints of country this weekend, head over to the Minotaure on Saturday night to check out Montebello/Gatineau punk/rock/country 4-piece Les Chiens Sales. The local veterans will be joined on stage by Montreal blues/stoner rock group Machines Géantes.
Toronto’s tex-mex chainsaw rock n’rollers White Cowbell Oklahoma are back in Ottawa this Saturday and this time it’s to play House of Targ in an effort to promote their latest album and new stage stunts. The guys will be sharing the stage with Ottawa sleaze rock band In Heat and Ottawa psychobilly punk band Hot Snake Handlers.
An entire night dedicated to the 6 God? Drake fans rejoice, you read correct. The 1-year anniversary of this popular dance party, at which you can expect to hear nothing but Drizzy jams and tracks from OVO affiliates, is going down this Saturday night inside Babylon. Happy birthday Drake Night!
This week is the Ontario civic long weekend, so if you’re looking for a club party to hit up on Sunday, look no further than City Nightclub for the Rewind Sundays party featuring DJ RayRay, who’s bound to get the club bumping by playing a mix of old school hip hop and r&b and new club anthems and bangers.