Eventful Capital’s Weekly Picks: From Classified and the 7 Inches of Pleasure Tour to the FOÉ and Gypsy Kumbia Orchestra

If you’re an Algonquin College student or alumni, you get to see a free outdoor concert being presented on campus this Tuesday, September 6. The show will feature sets by Canadian acts Walk Off the Earth, Dear Rouge, Featurette and DJ Katrella.

There’s an all-ages show happening at Pressed Cafe this Tuesday night and the bands playing are Ottawa power pop group Creep Wave, Portland, Oregon project Honey Bucket and Ottawa band Shoe Blog.

The fans and supporters of Canadian hip hop will want to be at the Bourbon Room thisTuesday night to check out East Coast rapper Classified live. The Juno Award-winning Halifax-based hip hop artist will be performing with Ottawa rapper Prehistoric as part of his The Beautiful Escape Tour.

Local musician, artist and photographer Jamie Kronick is releasing a book of photos taken on the road while on tour and to mark the occasion he’s having a book launch and vernissage of said photos this Thursday at Arlington Five.

The Festival Outaouais Emergent, affectionately called the FOÉ, kicks off this Thursday, September 8 and runs until Sunday, September 11. The 9th edition of this eclectic annual festival continues to celebrate local emerging artists and to feature a variety of artistic disciplines. On top of music, visual arts, and comedy, festival-goers will also have the opportunity to enjoy dance, theatre and slam poetry. This year’s festivities will go back to their initial headquarters and take place at a few different locations in the heart of the Vieux-Hull neighbourhood of Gatineau. Festival-goers can expect to pay a ridiculously cheap $2 admission fee to see performances by VioleTT Pi, Pandaleon, La Bronze, Okies, Maggie’s March, Alex Silas & The Subterraneans and many others. To get the full program, just click on the event poster below.

At Boar Robo this Thursday night, Casual Hex, Fan Club & Debaser present an all-ages show featuring Montreal/Edmonton garage punks Renny Wilson Punk Explosion, Ottawa punk newcomers DJ Smoke Weed Guy and Ottawa punk band Dark Plains (instead of Walrus who had to cancel).

Vertigo Records is celebrating its 13-year anniversary this Thursday, September 8 with a birthday party at House of Targ. The event will feature live performances by UK Subs, Ape City and more.

From Friday, September 9 to Sunday, September 11, the Ottawa Asian Festival presents another edition of the Night Market, this time in Chinatown. This outdoor event will feature the best in Asian cuisine and allow attendees to enjoy classic and creative cuisine from some of the best chefs from both Ottawa and Toronto. Come hungry!

Ottawa garage surf band The Boreds are having an album release party this Saturday at Zaphods for the their debut Saved By The Boreds. Ironically, it’s also going to be the band’s last show ever since the members recently decided to disband. Last chance to see them play live!

Over at Venus Envy this Saturday, there’s going to be a vernissage for One Last Ride: An Erotic Bicycle Themed Art Show. The exhibition, by visual artist Cute Kink, brings together the artist’s love of biking with her love of beautiful women.

The 4th annual 7 Inches of Pleasure Tour will be making a stop at Kinki this Friday night and this time around the lineup will include DJ Scratch from EPMD, DJ Illo, Mat the Alien, and Vinyl Ritchie. This is a strictly vinyl only dance party and it’s a guaranteed good time.

Ontario rock n’roll band Big Jeezus Truck will be performing live at the Rainbow Bistro this Friday night as part of the Dirt Road to Hell event. This time, the classic/old-fashioned rockers will be sharing the stage with Ottawa’s Lucky Ron and the Hillbilly Hepcats.

Ottawa’s colourful and lively The PepTides will be having an EP Launch at Live on Elgin this Saturday, and they figured they’d go big or go home by having not one but two shows to release their new album. The first will be a matinee at 3 p.m. and the other an evening show at 8 p.m.

The Garden Party, a one-of-a-kind outdoor patio event, is taking over Kinki this Saturday from 3 p.m. to late. The free party, that will turn the Kinki patio into a lovely garden, will feature music by DJs Ryan Labelle, Joe Juarez Paulo Cardoso and more.

Over at Bar Robo this Saturday, Ottawa bands Holy Christopher, Sparklesaurus and Gravelines will be playing a small show. Check it out if you’re in the mood for some live music.

Local indie rock n’roll duo Riishi Von Rex will be making a return to the House of Targ stage this Saturday after being absent for a little while. The gypsy rock band will be sharing the stage with Ottawa indie garage pop/rock band Saint Clare and Ottawa post punks Coastal Pigs.

If you’re feeling up for some live afro-latin percussion and balkan brass section with some choreography dance thrown in, head to Mercury Lounge this Saturday night to see Gypsy Kumbia Orchestra. The high-energy group that’s very interactive with the crowd will be joined by resident DJ Trevor Walker who’ll be spinning music before and after.

This Saturday Deep Therapy takes you Deeper by exploring the potential of an all new unique location, St. Brigid’s Centre for the Arts. For this special edition, the Floorplay crew bring you a dance party that showcases the sounds of deep and cutting edge house music in a unique and inviting atmosphere that defies the ordinary. It’s your remedy from the mainstream, so get your prescription, let loose and dance.

 

Eventful Capital’s Weekly Picks: From the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival and Red Rails to Latin Sparks and the Mackenzie Rhythm Section

Another week, another line up of noteworthy events happening in the National Capital Region in the next few days. August is coming to an end sadly, so if you’re sticking around this week and for the long weekend ahead, be sure to hit up at least one of these awesome events if the plans call for fun.

How about a night of garage punk/noise to start the week? If that sounds like your idea of a Tuesday night out, make sure you go to Avant-Garde Bar this August 26 to catch a live show featuring sets by Toronto noise/punk group Toque, Toronto noise-rock/garage band Dead Broke, Ottawa drone/noise project Merdarahta, and Windsor grind formation Uncle Ray.

The Fau Mardi gathering, which happens every Tuesday at the Petit Chicago over in Hull, gives a platform to local audio-visual artists in an effort to support the Ottawa Gatineau electronic scene. This week, the Fau Mardi crew will be featuring special guests DJ AOM of The Latest Artists / André & Michèl eand Jason Skilz of Spins & Needles / Transmit.

This Thursday evening, the Metropolitain Brasserie & Restaurant presents Sup & Shuck: Oysters 101. If you’re a foodie and love oysters, but don’t know much about them this is a great opportunity to learn a thing or two, including how to shuck and eat them. There are limited spaces available so if you’d like to attend the event, be sure to reserve your spots ahead of time to avoid disappointment. 

In late July, Ottawa Bluesfest organizers launched a series of showcases called The Bluesprint Series. Held at the Bluesfest School of Music and Art, the series highlights up and coming local musicians who will have the opportunity to perform in an intimate setting and potentially win $1000. This Thursday, August 28, it’s alt rock band Farewell Davidson’s turn to give a live set as part of the series. 

Art Uncorked presents Sail Into the Sunset this Thursday, August 28 at Pressed Cafe. If you enjoy painting and want to create in a group environment, this event is right up your alley. An art instructor will provide a 2-hour workshop, art supplies and a glass of wine to get your creative juices flowing. Once the event wraps up, you get to go home with your new painted canvas and new skills to boot. 

The 27th annual Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival is being held from Thursday, August 28 to Monday, September 1, 2014. This annual festival, which celebrates hot air balloons of different colours, shapes and sizes, also offers a slew of on-site activities for everyone including shows, a classic car exhibition, buskers, fireworks and an amusement park. This year’s musical headliners include Jason Derulo, Shawn Desman, Phillip Phillips, and Kaïn among others.

Over at Avant-Garde Bar this Friday night, Toronto pop/rock n’ roll band The Lost Chord will be stopping in Ottawa to perform live. For the occasion, the 4-piece group will be giving a set and sharing the stage with Ottawa disco/funk space/rock/punk fusion band The Ven Dreddies, Ottawa jazz punk trio Slick Nick and the Bandits, and heavy blues folk musician Doc Yates. 

If the plan is to go out dancing this Friday night, the Mercury Lounge has got you covered. DJ Chris Endo will be spinning live on the top level as part of the Locally Grown Series and for the occasion he’s ready to play the best in house music to get you moving. And if there’s so much house that you can dance to, the Collection on the middle floor and Overkill on the bottom level guarantee a mix of styles to ensure that you have a stellar night out in downtown Ottawa.

If you’re into photography, music and local culture, you don’t want to miss The Songwriter, an exhibition of photographs by artist Jamie Kronick being presented at the Ottawa Art Gallery Annex inside City Hall. Kronick’s work will offer a unique look at Ottawa songwriters in the spaces where they write, and act “as a documentation not only of persons, but also as a visualization of the relationships that take place among person, place and process”. Although the vernissage is only taking place on September 4, the exhibition will be up as of August 30. 

Ottawa-Gatineau’s favorite soulsteppers, the energetic Mackenzie Rhythm Section, are performing live at the Chelsea Pub this Saturday, August 30 starting at around 9pm. If you want to see a live show and dance the night away at the same time, these pretty boys and great musicians are just what you need. Don’t even think about standing still if you go, it’ll be impossible, and that’s a promise. 

Over at the House of Targ this Saturday night, Spectrasonic and punkottawa.com bring you Ottawa alt-rockers The Red Rails. The local trio, currently on an Eastern Canada Tour, will be joined on stage by Ottawa rock n’ roll group Eagleson and Ottawa rock project Bristol Hum. 
The International convenes latin lovers to party outdoors with Latin Sparks this Saturday, August 30. Taking place along Sparks Street, the block party promises to offer a night of dancing under the stars with complimentary workshops, latin music, latin cuisine and live percussionists and entertainment. There’s only one other Latin Sparks night remaining for this season, so be sure to take advantage of it if you plan on attending.

Chances are you’re off on Monday, September 1, so if you’re in town you should definitely take advantage of the Sunday night to get out of the house and check out some live music. Those of you who enjoy indie pop and/or stoner blues may want to head over to the Petit Chicago to take in some Dalhousie Grooves, Downside Kid and The Feather. Why not? 

 

This Sunday, August 31, Nationless Nights presents Displaced, a night of music interspersed with guest poets and random affiliates. The show will feature live performances by local hip-hop artists City Fidelia, Flowtilla, flamenco hip-hop musician Balam the Bloodstone Jaguar and r&b singer Jersey Light. Beats for the night will be provided courtesy of the local DJ duo Tribal Threat. Deliberate acts of freedom that engage your subconscious will ensue.

The close off the long weekend in a big way, Straight Goods Music and Kapacity Entertainment are bringing a big producer to the nation’s capital. Oslo, Norway’s Cashmere Cat will be making his Ottawa debut this Sunday, August 31 at Ritual. For the occasion, the 26-year old DJ/producer/turntablist will be giving a live set alongside local heavyweights Iggy Smalls, So Durand and Tom Thanks. Much anticipation for this one!