If you have an interest in Canadian music and the Polaris Music Prize, then you definitely want to head to the National Arts Centre this Tuesday to check out the Polaris Prize Long List Announcement Live Podcast. Alternatively, you can also listen to the podcast live starting at 7:30 p.m.

Over at Pressed Cafe this Tuesday night, there’s an all-ages show featuring Bloomington, Indiana indie pop trio Hoops, Halifax indie pop rockers Nap Eyes and Philly indie pop band Joy Again.

The second Wednesday of every month at Bar Robo, DJ Trevor Walker aka Lifeboogie brings you Prestige, a new night that explores various grooves with jazz as the common thread. This Tuesday, he’ll be joined by DJ Chris International and together they’ll be playing jazz, funk, latin, afro, electronica and more, all on vinyl.

The Viree Blues series, now sponsored by Moosehead, is back at the Petit Chicago this Wednesday, June 14. For the final show of the 24th season, there will be a live performance by Ottawa-based swampy roots rock trio MonkeyJunk. It’s bound to be a great night of live music!

This Wednesday, June 14 you can rock out at Babylon as Dine Alone Records presents Toronto punk rockers The Flatliners, Dundas punk rock band The Dirty Nil, and Toronto rock n’rollers Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs.

Ottawa’s first Switched on Synths Fest is going down June 14-18 at House of Targ. The popular electronic music series is bringing you a four-day festival celebrating all-things synths from Germany, Iceland, France, Toronto, Montreal and of course Ottawa. Guaranteed good times!

Ottawa Explosion 2017 runs from June 14-18 at various locations across Ottawa-Gatineau including Club SAW, House of Targ, Le Temporaire, and the Minotaure. This niche music festival, which features underground punk, rock, garage, indie psych pop bands from the region and beyond will present over 75 groups, several of which you’ve probably never heard of, but that you should definitely discover and encourage if you’re into these genres. This is what Ottawa Explosion is all about: a really loud, really fun celebration of underground music. Check it!

Ottawa electronic music artist Hard Science will be celebrating the release of his debut album Dreaming in Stereo this Thursday, June 15 with a free event happening at Bar Robo. The record listening party will also feature a live set by DJ Sweet Cheeks.

No Gravity, a new audio-visual experience featuring art installations presented with a refreshing approach, is going down at Babylon this Thursday night. The event will feature live music by Ozzie, as well as Frayd and Neesh from Ottawa.

The 42nd Festival Franco-Ontarien kicks off this Thursday, June 15 and runs until Saturday, June 17. This year again, the family-friendly festival, which celebrates francophone music and culture, is being held at Major Hill Park and will present popular Francophone musicians and bands including Montréal indie rock musician Louis-Jean Cormier, internationally-renowned French four-piece Tryo, Montréal rock singer-songwriter Yann Perreau, Saskatoon indie pop/rock trio Ponteix, and local punk/rock/pop musician Mehdi Cayenne among others.

Ottawa singer-songwriter and pianist Megan Jerome will be performing live with the Together Ensemble this Friday, June 16 at Bar Robo in Chinatown. Join the charming musician and her band as they transport you through a night a music drawing from traditional gospel, stoner jazz and meditative classical sounds.

If you’re into metal and hardcore, head over to Cafe Dekcuf this Friday night to check out Placate the Masses who’ll be performing as part of their “Born Into War” EP Tour. The trashcore group will be playing live with thrash/death metal band Kruhl, thrash/speed metal formation Exo-Vedate and post hardcore project Kill No Albatross.

American hip hop artist Freddie Gibbs will be making a return to Ottawa, this time to perform live at Barrymore’s on Friday, June 16. If you’re into gangster rap and dope beats, you’re gonna want to check out this show as Gibbs is one of the best rappers in the game right now.

TIMEKODE, Ottawa’s longest-running monthly dance party is back at it this Friday night inside D’Afrique Restaurant & Bar. The popular funk, soul and hip hop dance party that has been keeping Ottawa funky fresh for 12-years strong will once again be held down by resident DJs Zattar and Memetic. Get your dancing shoes ready and see you on the TK dance floor!

GlowFair is back for a fourth edition and building on last year’s success. The festival’s 2017 installment, once again free to attend, will feature art performances, vibrant music shows, GlowYoga, a silent disco and state-of-the-art light projections, which will make a stretch of Bank Street come to life on June 16 and 17. Be part of the action and experience the core of Centretown like you’ve never seen it before!

Bastid’s BBQ is back in Ottawa this Saturday, and this time around, the annual summer party has teamed up with Carivibe. For the occasion, Nova Scotia born/Toronto-based DJ Skratch Bastid will be giving a live set alongside guest DJs Puffy, Bear Witness & NDN of A Tribe Called Red, DJ Mace and more. This outdoor, family-friendly BBQ promises good vibes, solid beats and tasty eats.

Carivibe, the festival celebrating Caribbean culture in the Nation’s Capital, is back at Petrie Island on Saturday, June 17 and organizers invite you to reach the beach. This annual family-friendly beach party, which offers a diverse array of tropical rhythms, cuisine, carnival and culture, will celebrate the 2017 edition with performances by DJ Puffy, Lindo P, the Afro Caribbean Drummers, Ritmo Baile, and several others.

Happening at Zibi this Saturday is the Bike-In Film Series, which presents a screening of the classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail. You’re welcome to bring a chair and refreshments, and you’ll be able to buy popcorn on site, as well as rent inflatable couches.

At the Petit Chicago in the Hull sector of Gatineau this Saturday, there’s a metal show. The bill includes Ottawa metal band Ominous Eclipse, Ottawa metal group Fumigation, Brossard, Quebec outfit Evertrapped, and Toronto project Creatures.

Hometown faves The Souljazz Orchestra are performing live at the Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield this Saturday, June 17. The Ottawa-based six-piece, known around the world for its contagious soul, jazz and afro-latin sounds, always deliver solid live performances. If you’ve never been to a Souljazz show, you’re in for a treat, but get there early as their concerts tend to sell out.

Bangarang is going down this Saturday night at Happy Goat Coffee. If you love the sound of Studio One and Trojan Records, then this night featuring music selections by DJs Magnificent and Longshot is for you. The focus is on early reggae, rocksteady and ska from Jamaica’s exciting 1966-1975 period with a heavy focus on 1968-1971. It’s a real good time, take my word for it!
