Eventful Capital’s Weekly Picks: From House of PainT and Les Deuxluxes to LaVolley and the Ottawa Craft Beer Fest

So it’s basically the last week of August. I don’t know about you, but it feels as though summer has just gone by in a flash. That alone should be enough to get you out of the house and into some of the coolest events happening over the next few days in the National Capital Region. Here’s a selection of fun things to check out in Ottawa-Gatineau in the days ahead.

If you’re in the mood to start your week with some loud music, check out Brazilian metal band Hibria live at House of Targ this Tuesday night. The heavy metal group, who’s currently on a 20th Anniversary World Tour, will be performing live in Ottawa alongside local metal band Death Wish and local glam rock band Thruster.

Mi’kmaq hip hop artist Shift From Tha 902, from the We’koqma’q First Nation in Nova Scotia, will be performing live at the Rainbow Bistro this Wednesday night. For the occasion, the up and coming rapper, producer and DJ will be sharing the stage with L’Nu Joker, Devon Paul and Kloud n9.

Over at Avant-Garde Bar this Wednesday, dance the night away with Charlie The Kid, Balaclava, The Nighttime, Right Shitty, and Holy Christopher.

Not Normal, the new experimental music series launched this Spring, is going down this Thursday night at Pressed Cafe. For this latest instalment, there will be a live set by Intangerines as well as DJs Jason Skilz of Low Noise Productions and Pierre Richardson of Bruised Tongue Recs.

On Thursday, August 25, head out to Bar Robo for an intimate night of live music. Presented by the good folks at Ottawa Showbox, the show will feature sets by Ottawa synth pop collective Scary Bear Soundtrack, Regina electro pop band Moonriser and Kingston folk project Slow Man Tofu.

If you enjoy experimental sounds, be sure to make your way over to House of Targ on Thursday to catch Toronto dark industrial post gaze project Odonis Odonis, Ottawa bedroom r&b artist PIPPA and Ottawa analogue techno musician Ruth Grader. It’s bound to be different and perhaps a bit unsettling, all in a very good way of course.

When it comes to celebrating urban culture in the Nation’s Capital, no one does it better than House of PainT (HoP). The annual festival, which serves as a vehicle to elevate and celebrate urban arts and culture, has become instrumental in bringing forward the four elements of hip-hop to audiences who are curious about the culture and for those who simply want to be a part of the movement. For its 13^th edition dubbed “Decolonize”, HoP organizers invite everyone and anyone with a love of hip-hop and community to join together between August 25-28, and take in graffiti art, breakdancing, emceeing, slam poetry, deejaying and more under Dunbar bridge in Brewer Park as well as other venues across the city. Legendary hip hop duo EPMD will be headlining this year and we’ll be giving away a pair of VIP festival passes this week on Indie City Madness so be sure tune in to tomorrow’s show on CKCU 93.1 FM for your chance to win.

The 2016 Canadian DMC Battleground is presenting the Ottawa regional DJ competition in partnership with and as part of House of PainT this year. Going down at Brewer Park under Dunbar Bridge this Friday, the competition will see some of Ottawa’s top DJs battle it out for a chance to represent the Nation’s Capital in the next DMC rounds.

Beer lovers won’t want to miss the 5th Ottawa Craft Beer Festival taking place this weekend at the Aberdeen Pavillion at Lansdowne Park. The annual festival, which has grown into the largest craft beer festival in Ontario, allows you to discover the wide selection of craft brewed beers available across the National Capital Region. The programming also features culinary creations prepared by artisanal eateries, a speaker series focusing on craft beer and artisanal food, and live musical entertainment presenting regional talent.

Montreal garage rock/rock n’roll duo Les Deuxluxes will be making a return to the National Capital Region this Friday night and this time around they’ll be playing live at House of Targ. For the occasion, the power couple will be rocking the stage with Boston garage rock band Muck & The Mires and Ottawa folk punk solo artist Patrick Shanks. A guaranteed good time when Les Deuxluxes are on the bill!

The August edition of Hip Hop Karaoke is going down this Friday night at the Elmdale with your usual hosts DJ So Nice and Atherton. If you want to perform and impersonate Eve by rapping that track you spent hours memorizing in front of the mirror, now’s your chance to show the world Ottawa what you’re capable of.

An urban beach in the heart of downtown Gatineau? That’s essentially what LaVolley promises to deliver this weekend in the Vieux-Hull. The free annual event will feature outdoor sports like beach volleyball and dodgeball as well as games, contests, and DJs in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Check it out if you’re in the area!

This Saturday, August 27, Makerspace North is having an open house that’ll take the shape of a community showcase of makers. The all-ages free event will highlight the projects, interest groups, tech, tinkering and creative happenings that abound in the National Capital Region in an effort to celebrate the local community of makers, shakers, creators and innovators. Makerspace North is opening its doors and will also be launching a new Community Membership as well as announcing new programming.

Montreal/Ottawa Brazilian musician Rommel Ribeiro is back in the region following a year studying abroad and travelling and he’ll be performing live at the Mercury Lounge this Saturday night. The composer/singer-songwriter, who’ll be joined by a full band, will be presenting music from his latest album “Nada Direito” as well as other material from his repertoire. Phil Motion will be warming up the night with a special DJ set featuring rare Brazilian grooves.

Over at Pressed Cafe this Saturday night, there’s going to be a pretty sweet bill of live music presented by Debaser. You ca catch Victoria experimental electronic/ambient noise project Psychic Pollution play alongside Ottawa garage noise formation Slow Dawn, and Ottawa synthpop project Lovecraft.

Monday I Retire invites you to join them as they celebrate the release of their new EP this Saturday night. The Ottawa-based pop/blues/jazz/soul 5-piece will be playing new material live at the Rainbow Bistro and they’ll be sharing the stage with local pop/soul group Harea Band.

Kitchen Party is bringing the fun to a new location this month: Bar Robo. The monthly dance party presented by DJs Hobo & Sweet Cheeks will feature nothing but the best in funk, soul, disco, hip hop, electro, techno, house and everything in between. A little bit of this and a little bit of that for your dancing pleasure.

If you’re into electronic music, don’t miss the Outdoor Electronic Music Festival happening this weekend at the Parc des Portageurs in the Vieux-Hull sector of Gatineau. It’s a great occasion to check out free electronic music live. Friday will feature a vinyl DJ party, Saturday will be all about the dance party and Sunday is reserved for an experimental picnic.

Ottawa-based soul-infused pop duo leMeow will be performing live at the Blacksheep Inn in beautiful Wakefield this Sunday and they’ll be sharing the bill with local rockabilly surf/country band Dang Guilty. It’s an afternoon show and a great way to end the weekend.

Ottawa garage punk/psych/lo fi project Pet Defective will be live at Pressed this Sunday night and they’ll be playing alongside local alternative folk rock musician Claude Munson and Halifax synthpop/r&b/soul band Loveland. So what if you don’t know any of these bands, get out there and discover something new.

 

From the Art Battle Regional Finals and Canada Day Festivities to David Bazan and Seaway

June is already almost over, and it was a great month, so hopefully you were able make the most of it. July is now just around the corner, and if you’re around Ottawa-Gatineau these coming days and looking for some fun stuff to do, take a look at Eventful Capital’s weekly picks below for a variety of events that are worth checking out.

Those of you who enjoy visual arts should check out the Ottawa Art Battle Regional Finals this Tuesday evening at Arts Court. The unique event organized across Canadian cities, brings 12 local painters together for a live painting competition. The regional finals will crown the Ottawa champion who’ll go on to represent the Nation’s capital at the annual National Championship going down later this summer to crown the top Canadian painter of the year.

If you enjoy all sorts of music and want to support the local scene, head over to House of Targ this Wednesday to catch Ottawa emo rock band Safekeeping, Ottawa alternative group The Stringers, Ottawa indie project Lost At Sea, Ottawa alternative rockers Abstraction, Ottawa indie rock outfit Hugh Harrington Band a nd Ottawa pop/post-punks The Weak Attractions.

Mathieu Trudel, also known as Mawt Trood in the artistic community, tragically and suddenly left us in May. The VJ and urban illustrator, who was a passionate history buff, was known for illustrating mom and pop storefronts located in neighbourhoods he loved. To celebrate his body of work, Daimon Gallery is hosting “Where is Mawt Trood?” the first posthumous retrospective that explores the career of the beloved local artist. The vernissage happens this Thursday with a lineup of local DJs and VJs who were friends of Mawt and the exhibition runs until July 31.

There’s a new experimental music night dubbed Not Normal and its second edition is going down this Thursday night at Pressed Café. The latest instalment will feature a live set by ambient/noise/electronic duo Au Vol as well as DJs David Jackson and others that have yet to be announced.

Vancouver funk/latin/ska/rock band Five Alarm Funk will be making a returning to the national capital this Thursday as part of their “Live” In the Moment Tour 2016. The band, known for its energetic live shows, will be sharing the stage with local alternative hip hop artist Drae and DJ Acro.

Wanna party like it’s the 80s this Thursday night? Then be sure to make your way over to House of Targ for a dance party featuring an eclectic selection of songs and videos from the 80s,with maximum Can Con of course pre-Canada Day. The party will be hosted by Remi Royale with DJ KJMaxx in charge of the tunes.

At the Mercury Lounge this Thursday, June 30, there’s going to be a pre-Canada Day multi-level celebration. The annual 2-room party  will feature music by Return of the Jaded, Joe Juarez & Disko, Rick Laplante, Space Cadets, Ryan Dunlop, Plush, and more.

Looking for an affordable family-friendly thing to do on Canada Day? Look no further than the Canadian Museum of History. An official Canada Day site for the first time this year, the Museum is offering a free, fun-filled day of indoor and outdoor activities for everyone, including free access to CINE+ screenings. What’s more, the Museum grounds are the best place to catch the fireworks!

Feel like browsing through some vintage fashion and making tie-dye while eating BBQ this Friday? If that sounds like your type of Canada Day, make your way over to A Vintage Collective down in the Byward Market to join the fun. DJs Mes and Atherton will also be there to take care of the music.

This Friday at Arts Court, there’s going to be a Canada Day party dubbed Dominion Day brought to you by the Dominion City Brewing Co. You guessed it: there will be lots of beer (and local at that), ther will be plenty of tasty food, and there will be music by DJ Acro, Melodrama, The Adam Saikaley Quartet, Tapas featuring DJ 2Creamz & Jeepz and The String Masons. Sounds like a great time!

On Canada Day, enjoy a free family-friendly party at Petrie Island by day brought to you by the good folks at Bananas Beach Grill & Rum Shack and an adult-only dance party at Kinki Lounge by night with DJs Scratch, Mace, Eazy El Dee, Kane, Kam, Selekta Shellz and more. Love, family, friends, good music, good DJS, good times!

Over at House of Targ on July 1st, there will be a CanCon Canada Day Bash benefit for CHEO. For the occasion, some of Ottawa’s best musicians will be covering Canada’s best punk, metal and rock bands all night long.

This Friday, the Rainbow Bistro invites you to celebrate Canada Day with PleasureCraft at the smoothest party in the city. The dance floor will be grooving to the sounds of the best of ’75-’85 soft rock hits by the likes of Hall & Oates, Fleetwood Mac, Ace, Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Toto, Lionel Richie, Phil Collins, Sade, and Elton John among others.

This Canada Day, Babylon brings you We The North Dance Party, an all-Canadian night featuring a live Raptors mural by Fall Down, Raports highlight reels all night, a free throw competition, a raffle and music by DJs Jimmy C and Adam Saikaley.

Looking for a night of dancehall and reggae this Canada Day? Look no further than Higher Level. DJs Magnificent and Select have got the perfect party for you at City Nightclub this Friday night. The two Ottawa friends are joining forces to bring you a solid dancehall/reggae/soca dance party mixed with a little bit of hip hop and r&b that’s sure to have a bumping dancefloor.

If you’re into pop punk you’re going to want to head to Ritual this Saturday, July 2 to catch Seaway. The Oakville pop punk band will be performing live in Ottawa as part of their 2016 Canadian Tour and for the occasion, they’ll be sharing the stage with Oakwill pop punks Coldfront, Hamilton rockers Rarity, Ottawa pop punk band Bearings, Niagara emo group Heavy Hearts and Ottawa pop punk/post-hardcore project Remember The Arcadians.

At Bar Robo this Saturday night, Ottawa Showbox presents post punk/shoegaze project Traces live. The Montreal-base band will be releaseing their second EP “Imaginary Life” and for the occasion they’ll be playing with Ottawa lo-fi gaze project Doves.

Gatineau acoustic folk band Bitterly Healed will be back on stage at the Minotaure this Saturday night and this time around, they’ll be sharing the stage with Ottawa-based alternative folk rock band Jonathan Becker & The North Fields as well as Ontario acoustic folk musician Nick Sherman.

Fans of David Bazan will be happy to know that the Seattle indie folk musician will be giving an intimate live performance at Pressed Cafe this Sunday, July 3. The Barsuk Records signee will be sharing the stage with Oregon folk label-mate Laura Gibson.

Over at Black Squirrel Books this Sunday, you can check out some live music featuring Wyoming emo band Medicine Bow who’ll be playing alongside Ottawa alternative rock/grunge trio Elementals, Ottawa shoegaze project Wood Lake and Ottawa power pop/rock outfit Holy Christopher.

Eventful Capital’s Weekly Picks: From the Ottawa Jazz Festival and La P’tite St-Jean to the Dragonboat Fest and Tropikalo

Another week, another jam packed lineup of shows and events happening in and around the National Capital Region. Make the most of this busy time and catch some of the fun over the next seven days.

Over in Gatineau, Francophones will be celebrating the Saint-Jean Baptiste from June 23-26 with a series of activities, rides, fireworks and live shows at the Des Cèdres Park in Aylmer. This year’s lineup will feature headliners Jean-Pierre Ferland, Ariane Moffatt, Les Cowboys Fringants, Louis-Jean Cormier, and Dumas among others.

This Thursday starting at 5 p.m., House of Targ and CHUO present the Wizard Werks Craft Show featuring some of Ottawa’s craftiest vendors selling unique and handmade and repurposed items.

The popular Ottawa International Jazz Festival kicks off this Wednesday, June 22 and continues until July 3. One of Ottawa’s longest running festivals and a recognized household name that’s been around since 1980, Jazz Fest will present another eclectic lineup for festival-goers. This year’s bill includes headliners Sarah McLachlan, Brian Wilson, Michael Franti, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Trombone Shorty and the SFJAZZ Collective among others. Organizers have also included a handful of local acts to the programming namely LeMeow and The Mackenzie Rhythm Section. As per usual, all of the performances taking place on July 1 offer free admission. Check out Eventful Capital’s Top 10 must-sees here.

This year again, the Ottawa Jazz Fest has teamed up with the Mercury Lounge to bring you a series of nightclub shows including Toronto-based calypso/reggae-inspired band Kobo Town. The Juno Award and Polaris Prize nominees will be performing live at the club this Thursday, June 23 and you can expect nothing but feel-good tropical vibes.

This Thursday night marks the return of Open Air Social Club at 73 North Resto Lounge on Sparks Street. The summer outdoor dance party will feature musical selections from resident DJ Matt Tamblyn as well as DJs Foster and Laocapone.

The Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival is celebrating it’s 23rd edition at Moonie’s Bay Park from June 23 to 26. North America’s largest dragon boat festival will feature a children’s area filled with family-friendly entertainment, the classic dragon boat races and a free concert series. This year, festival-goers will have the chance to see local faves A Tribe Called Red along with headliners July Talk, Mother Mother, and Alvvays among others. This is such a treat, make sure you take advantage of all these amazing and accessible events!

Have you ever wondered what some of Ottawa’s most creative men can do with jewellery? Well this Friday, June 24 is your chance to see some of their original works. Hard Metals, happening at Heist Jewellery, is an art show of sorts exploring wedding ring designs and concepts by some of the 613’s favourite contemporary artists that will give centre stage to their completely unconventional rings. Sounds interesting!

Over in the Hull sector of Gatineau this Friday, there will be a small Saint-Jean Baptiste celebration to mark Quebec’s birthday. As of 8 p.m. on Laval Street, there will be live music featuring Funk-A-Tron 5000 as well as a headlining performance by Rap Queb supergroup Alaclair Ensemble. What’s more, it’s entirely free to attend!

Over at Zaphods this Friday, there’s going to be a fundraiser for Fort McMurray. The live music show will feature performances by local bands The Superlative, Metronome Jones and Missioner.

In beautiful Wakefield, at the Blacksheep Inn this Friday, you can catch Toronto/Kingston indie folk band Wild Rivers, who’s self-titled album came out earlier this Spring. For the occasion, the four-piece will be sharing the stage with Toronto/Kingston indie rock group Lost Cousins and Ottawa funk/pop/soul outfit Harea Band.

Ottawa duo leMeow invites you to join them for their York St debut album release party this Friday night at the Rainbow Bistro. For the occasion, the group will be performing two sets: one of original material found on the album and another one featuring a mixed bag of fun tunes. Check it out!

Tropikalo’s back baby! This super fun dancefloor affair, that had gone into hiatus, made a long-awaited return in January and good times are bound to roll once again this Friday night at Happy Goat Coffee. Tropikalo is the perfect dance party if you’re looking for afrolatin caribbean vibes. Just put on your dancing shoe and let DJs Zattar and Trevor Walker take care of the rest.

Double Barrel, one of Ottawa’s funnest monthly dance parties, is going down inside Mercury Lounge this Friday night. Resident DJ Magnificent will be gracing the 1s and 2s as he does best and this time around he’ll be joined by special guest DJ Ruby Jane. An all-vinyl funk, soul, Motown and vintage reggae dance party you won’t want to miss!

This Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25, Amnesia presents the 11th annual Rockfest in Montebello, Quebec, just 45 minutes away from downtown Ottawa. The festival promises performances by 150 groups including headliners Blink 182, Rise Against, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Ice Cube, NOFX, Billy Talent and many others. The organizers offer an on-site camping option for those who wish to attend both days and stay overnight.

The Ottawa Makers Market is back and this time around it’s happening this Saturday at the Rideau Curling Club. The modern craft fair will feature 75 local makers, artists and entrepreneurs. It’s not your nana’s craft fair, trust. Dare I say better? Yes way better!

The House of PainT festival is having a community jam at the Science and Technology Museum this Saturday. It’ll be fun-filled day of breakdancing, skateboarding, music, science, art and food to celebrate the completion of the largest joint mural ever painted in the nation’s capital.

This Saturday night, the Ottawa Jazz Festival and the Mercury Lounge present  NYC DJ Hector Romero live. The internationally-acclaimed DJ/Producer will be giving a set inside the club alongside guest DJs Trevor Walker and Luke McKeehan. On top of that, Matt Cameron will be there to take care of visual projections.

The Escapade Music Festival, dedicated to highlighting electronic dance music in its many shapes and forms, is being held on June 25 and 26 beside the Rideau Carleton Raceway. Now in its 6th year, this 2-day festival attracts electronic music enthusiasts from the National Capital Region and beyond. Headlining acts this year include Diplo, Martin Garrix, DVBBS, Dash Berlin, Bassjackers, Borgore and more.

Forest will be having their Flow EP release show at Live on Elgin this Sunday, June 26. To mark the launch of their project, the Ottawa-based experimental progressive rock band will be playing alongside special guests Nessie and Nighttime in Kansas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eventful Capital’s Weekly Picks: From Ottawa Explosion and the Fringe Festival to GlowFair and the Festival Franco-Ontarien

Festival season is in full swing and as a result the National Capital Region is buzzing with events. If you’re in our lively city this week, be sure to check out some of the great shows and festivals taking place in and around Ottawa-Gatineau. Take a look at Eventful Capital’s weekly picks below for a glimpse into some of the cool things that are scheduled.

Ottawa Explosion 2016 runs from June 15-19 at various locations across Ottawa-Gatineau including Club Saw, House of Targ, Ritual, Le Temporaire, and St. Albans. This niche music festival, which features underground punk, rock, garage, indie psych pop bands from the region and beyond will present over 75 groups, the majority of which you’ve probably never heard of, but that you should definitely discover and encourage if you’re into those genres. This is what Ottawa Explosion is all about: a really loud, really fun celebration of underground music.  

Ottawa’s largest theatre festival, the Fringe, is back for its 20th season from June 15 to June 286 at La Nouvelle Scène  among other downtown venues. The 2016 edition will feature over 400 performances, many of which are local-based productions. The Fringe is one of the city’s most accessible festivals with tickets for performances priced at a ridiculously affordable price. What’s more, 100% of ticket sales go directly to the performers, and that alone is seriously amazing and worth supporting. 

Ottawa prog rock/post hardcore newcomers Halfsleeper are having their EP release show at Babylon this Thursday, June 16. For the occasion, the four-piece will be sharing the stage with Ottawa post rock/shoegaze band No Mistakes in Space and Ottawa indie alternative rock band The Haig.

Toronto folk musician Justin Nozuka will be performing live at Zaphods this Thursday, June 16. The artist, known for his soothing minimalist style, will be playing alongside Ottawa folk singer-songwriter and guitar player Amanda Lowe.

The 41st edition of the Festival Franco-Ontarien kicks off this Thursday, June 16 and runs until Saturday, June 18. 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 legendary African artist Tiken Jah Fakoly, Montreal pop singer-songwriter Karim Ouellet, Acadian hip hop duo Radio Radio, and local indie rock trio Pandaleon among others.

The annual Summer Solstice Aboriginal Arts Festival & Powwow is being held from Friday, June 17 to Monday, June 20 at Vincent Massey Park in Ottawa. The family-friendly event, which offers free admission, will feature a variety of traditional powwow dance competitions along with live music shows, a drum contest, a family fun zone, workshops, artisans, crafts, a selection of traditional aboriginal foods and lots more. 

From Friday, June 17 to Sunday, June 19, the Ottawa Asian Festival presents the 2016 Ottawa Night Market at Lansdowne Park. This free admission 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. There will be over 60 vendors and hundreds of delicious dishes to choose from. Come hungry!

This Friday, Zaphods presents an evening of live metal with Vancouver speed metal/hardcore/punk thrash band The Golers as well as Beamsville party metal/thrash group Laid To Rest, Ottawa doom metal/hardcore/noise/sludge project Tongue Eating Louse and Ottawa classic hardcore/prog punk rockers Slim and Popular.

GlowFair is back for a third edition and building on last year’s success. The festival’s 2016 installment, once again free to attend, will feature art performances, vibrant music shows and state-of-the-art light projections, which will make a stretch of Bank Street come to life on June 17 and 18. Headliners include Keys N’ Krates, Dragonette, and Rich Aucoin among other great performers. Be part of the action and experience the core of Centretown like you’ve never seen it before!

This Saturday, June 18, the Freewheeling Curator and Makerspace North present the Urban Picnic Craft Pop-Up happening from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This one day pop-up will feature the best modern makers from the 613 & beyond as well as delicious picnic-inspired food and other fun surprises. Come hungry and support local!

Carivibe, the festival celebrating Caribbean culture in the Nation’s Capital, is back at Petrie Island on Saturday, June 18 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 2016 edition with headlining performances by reggae legend Sanchez, Hypasounds, The Bajan Soca Sensation and several others.

Ottawa based tech-death metal band Killitorous is celebrating 10 years of making music this Saturday, June 18th and to mark the occasion, the group, established in 2006, will begiving a live show at Mavericks and playing alongside tech-death group Teramobil, shred metal project Divine Realm, symphonic black metal formation Endemise and metal outfit Ending Tyranny.

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Ottawa rock n’roll band Ukrainia will be returning to House of Targ this Saturday, June 18 and this time around, the 4-piece will be playing alongside Ottawa rock/soul/blues/folk powerhouse duo Riishi Von Rex. Good times to be had when live music, pinball and perogies collide.

Fans of Lynyrd Skynyrd will want to make their way over to the Rainbow Bistro this Saturday night to check out Southbound,Ottawa’s best Southern rock and roll tribute band.

Mother Nature hasn’t been too cooperative lately, so let’s cross our fingers that the weather will get nicer moving forward because Pozativ Vibrationz By Da Beach, a family-friendly outdoor event happening every sunny Sunday, kicks off June 19 at Petrie Island after being postponed twice. What more could you want than a free jam by the beach featuring top notch DJs, tasty eats & refreshing beverages provided by Banana’s Beach Grill & Rum Shack. Positive vibes all around, guaranteed and here’s to hoping the sun shines bright this Sunday!

Eventful Capital’s Weekly Picks: From Westfest and MSTRKRFT to the Canada Dance Festival and BRAIDS

It’s official: festival season in Canada’s National Capital is upon us! The time of year that many of us look forward to is finally here and it’s definitely an exciting time to be in and around Ottawa-Gatineau if you’re into music, arts and culture because there’s plenty to take in. Check out Eventful Capital’s weekly picks to plan ahead and make the most of the coming days.

Progressive metal heads unite: Guelph progressive-metal band Mandroid Echostar will be performing live at Ritual this Monday night. This time around, they’ll be playing alongside Waterloo progressive-metal group AURAS, Boston progressive-metal project Native Construct, Ottawa progressive-metal formation Trentia and Ottawa progressive-metal outfit Isometric.

This June 2nd, the One World Film Festival invites you to attend a special night at the ByTowne Cinema for a one-time-only screening of SONITA, a moving documentary that focuses on the struggle of a young woman – Afghan refugee Sonita Alizadeh – who escapes forced marriage and follows her dream of becoming a famous hip hop star. A talk with special guests Nipa Banerjee and Jamaal Jackson Rogers exploring select themes and issues highlighted by the film, will follow the screening.

There’s a new experimental music night kicking off this Thursday night at Pressed Cafe. Dubbed Not Normal, the series will launch with a live set by Ottawa multi-instrumentalist Mark Molnar as well as DJs Jason Skilz and Pierre Richardson of Bruised Tongue Recs.

Live on Elgin is celebrating its one-year anniversary this weekend with a mini-festival featuring a nice and stacked lineup of local acts. Starting Friday night and going until Sunday, June 5, the festivities will include performances by The Cardboard Crowns, The Stringers, Blve Hills, Dynamite Motel and several others. Happy birthday Live on Elgin!

If you’re into indie rock and rock n’roll, chance are you’ll want to head over to House of Targ on Friday night to check out Seattle indie rockers The Cave Singers live. The band will be performing live with Nashville rock n’rollers Blank Range.

Canadian Legend Marcus Visionary will be giving a live set inside Overkill this Friday, June 3. The Toronto-based DJ/Producer, who’s be in the game for over two decades representing Jungle drum and bass as well as a variety of british bass culture music, will be joined on the decks by supporting DJs Threesixty and Rob Saxon.

Westfest, Westboro Village’s festival of music, art and life is celebrating its 13th edition this year from June 3-5. This family-friendly community festival brings you free concerts and activities in Ottawa’s Westboro neighbourhood and this year the events will be held at a brand new location in Laroche Park.The 2016 festivities, dubbed Homemade Jam, will bring you live performances by a bunch of talented local artists and bands including the Souljazz Orchestra, The Split, Missing Linx, Lucky Ron and Luther Wright and The Wrongs among others. To view the full program, click on the festival poster below.

Toronto DJ/Producer duo MSTRKRFT will be making a return to the nation’s capital this Friday night. This time around, the party rockers will be giving a live set at Ritual alongside Ottawa’s own Frayd and Maro, who’ll take care of warming things up.

Montreal-based blues/soul singer-songwriter Cecile Doo-Kingue will be performing live at the Rainbo Bistro in the Market this Saturday night in an effort to promote her recently-released new album “Anybody Listening Part 2 Dialogues”.

The Canada Dance Festival is being held from June 4 to June 11 this year. This annual festival, which celebrates the many facets of dance and movement, is a great way to experience this art form at an affordable price. The performances, taking place at various locations, will feature choreographies by emerging Canadian choreographers and dancers, short works and other innovative and original projects among others. You can grab the entire program by clicking below.

City of Om is the ultimate yoga event in the heart of Canada’s national capital. Happening On June 4, City of Om is a fresh new festival featuring a full day of yoga classes for the newbies to the experienced yogi and it’s taking place at Lansdowne Park. It’ll also include live music, local artisans and food vendors, ending off with an after party.

The 2016 edition of the Ottawa Zine Fair will be happening this Saturday at the Bronson Centre. With over 4 tablers and zine-makers, it’s sure to be a fun-filled event featuring a bunch of cool and interesting zines presenting a variety of marginalized stories and experiences.

Legendary UK black thrash metal band Venom will be giving a show at Mavericks this Saturday night as part of their North American tour. The group will be playing a full Classic Venom set and for the occasion they’ll be sharing the stage with American old school death metal band Necrophagia, American heavy metal formation Sunlord, Ottawa death metal project Accursed Spawn and Ottawa black heavy metal group Barrow Wight.

If you’ve never heard of Les Deuxluxes, then you’ve certainly been missing out. The Montreal-based boy/girl rock r’roll duo will be back in the region this weekend to perform at the Petit Chicago in the Hull sector of Gatineau. The talented and energetic band, who gives an awesome live show, will be sharing the stage with Gatineau/Montreal newcomers MUMU this time.

Ottawa’s The Night Watch invites you to join them for an intimate evening celebrating the release of their second album happening at Pressed this Saturday. Two years in the making, “Boundaries” is a 36 minute instrumental epic exploring a wide dynamic range of emotion through sound. The evening will be divided into two sets. The first will consist of a performance of “Boundaries” in its entirety, while the second set will focus on selections of the band’s other material.Attention Ottawa-Gatineau air heads: the Ottawa Air Guitar Championships are going down at House of Targ this Saturday, June 4. The competition will feature a headlining performance by Ottawa rockers Suns of Stone and thamp will receive prizes, mad street cred and then go on to the National Championships in Toronto for their chance to be crowned the Canadian Champ. For more info and to sign-up to compete, just click below. 

If you’re a fan of Slo’ Tom and the Handsome Devils, this Saturday will be your last chance to catch them live in action until the fall. The Ottawa-based country/rock band will be performing live at the legendary Blacksheep Inn alongside local power folk band Steamers.

Montreal experimental electronic pop trio BRAIDS will be returning to Canada’s national capital this Saturday, June 4. This time around, the trio, who just released the Companion EP as a follow-up to their acclaimed Deep in the Iris album, will be giving a live performance with Toronto experimental project ginla, who’ll take care of the opening set.

Happy birthday Blunt Lifestyle! The Gatineau-based event production company, which is celebrating 3 years, is throwing a party this Saturday at Les Brasseurs Du Temps in the Hull sector of Gatineau to mark the occasion. The party will feature an outdoor scene with electronic music as well as an indoor space for the hip-hop heads. Sounds like good times all around!

This Sunday, June 5, come have mimosas & margaritas at Mercury Lounge while you browse through 3 floors of great clothing, shoes, accessories, dresses, hats and much more as part of the Pop Up Market Bazaar. Newly, gently used and vintage unique pieces will available and Phil Motion will be there to provide the tunes while you shop around. Cool concept right?!

Looking for the best summer vibes in the city on a Sunday? Look no further than Pozativ Vibrations By Da Beach, a family-friendly outdoor event happening every sunny Sunday starting June 5 at Petrie Island. What more could you want than a free jam by the beach featuring top notch DJs, tasty eats & refreshing beverages provided by Banana’s Beach Grill & Rum Shack and positive vibes all around?

Eventful Capital’s Weekly Picks: From Dessert Week and The Sword to Lakes of Canada and 90s or Bust

Ok guys, the forecast promises warmer weather this week cause like for real, where the heck are you Spring 2016? So you know, how about checking out a cool event or two, or three in the next few days? Cause Ottawa-Gatineau’s got plenty. Check it!

If you’re a sweet tooth and you enjoy pancakes, you’re not gonna want to miss Dessert Week happening at Flapjack’s Pancake Shack from April 11 to 17. From Strawberry Cheese Cake Pancake Poutine to the Leaning Tower of Nutella, Flapjack’s doesn’t play with this menu. 

Austin rock/metal band The Sword will be bringing its High Country Tour to the National Capital this Monday, April 11. The Razor & Tie records signees will be playing live at Ritual alongside Atlanta rockers Royal Thunder.

This Thursday, April 14, beatbox poet, punk pianist and iconoclast C.R. Avery returns to Ottawa to perform live at the Mercury Lounge. The BC-based artist will be joined on stage by special guest Robert Sarazin Blake and Ottawa’s Rob Reid, who’ll be giving an all-vinyl set.

At Pressed this Thursday night, there’s an event called Be Kind organized in support of KIND SPACE (Pink Triangle Services) and Algonquin College’s Syd Ford Fund. To help raise funds for these two non-profit programs, there will be live sets by Ottawa garage powerpop band Creep Wave, Ottawa psych synth project Spell and Ottawa techno producer Lunokhod Selector.

Toronto circus party punks Mineta are performing live at House of Targ this Thursday night and  they’ll be playing alongside Ottawa rockabilly/surf/gypsy jazz band The Sick Sick Sicks and Ottawa acoustic rockers The Owl Eyes Project. Oh and you know it’s always a good time when there’s pinball and perogies involved.

If you’re into doom and sludge metal, make your way over to Cafe Dekcuf this Friday night to catch Hull-based doom-death/sludge band Norilsk, Saskatoon instrumental doom/stoner metal group Black Tremor and Ottawa doom/sludge/post-metal project Longhouse.

Jonathan Becker & The North Fields are kicking off their Spring Tour at home with a show happening at Live on Elgin this Friday, April 15. For the occasion, the local alternative folk rock band will be sharing the stage with special guests Elsa, Sarah Bradley of Fevers and others.

Centretown be ready! TIMEKODE is back to set off the spring season with an all vinyl, all boogie funk/modern soul soirée happening this Friday night at Backdrop and featuring the Bay Area’s own DJ Mama Bear (Sweater Funk/dublab). This is going to be an intimate party with very limited space so be sure to get there early if you want in on the fun.

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 4-piece will be performing Unplugged in New York front to back and sharing the stage with Ottawa garage rock group Trees Of North America and Ottawa indie rock band Sleepy & the Noise.

This Friday night, SPOOR presents the latest edition of The Deep End at Ritual. Once again, the crew is bringing you a mixed bag of techno beats all through the night while also bringing a unique experience; intersecting music, lighting and video projections. This is an excellent party to check out if you’re into techno, house, and electronic music. 

The April edition of 90s or Bust is going down this Friday night at Babylon. The popular monthly, that features popular 90s and early 2000s hip hop and r&b jams is the perfect event to check out if you’re looking for a old school vibe dance party.

This Saturday, the Freewheeling Curator and MakerSpace North present the Be Wild & Free 2016 Makers Market. The event, meant to celebrate festival vibes and the summer season that’s just around the corner, offers a a festive celebration of creativity, inspired surroundings, interactive experiences, maker goods, artisanal food & drinks, and good times. Sounds like fun!

For those of you who want to check out some experimental indie music this weekend, there’s a show at Pressed that may be of interest featuring Toronto indie/experimental band Moon King and Otawa indie/shoegaze project Baberaham Lincoln.

Can’t decide between alternative hip hop, indie rock/folk pop and garage, then Live on Elgin has got the perfect show for you this Saturday blending all of these genres in one night of live music. The lineup will feature headliners Lakes of Canada from Montreal as well as local bands wotts and Elementals.

After Funk are currently on a Winter Tour and they’ll be making a stop in Ottawa this Saturday, April 16 to perform live at the Rainbow Bistro. The Toronto-based progressive funk/soul band,who’s becoming known across Ontario for its super fun live shows, will be sharing the stage with Ottawa experimental funk metal group Criticull.

This Saturday at Babylon, there’s a dance party called Shake It Off that’s bound to be filled with hits by all the top divas of pop. From throwback anthems to the latest tracks the night will be packed with fun jams courtesy of DJs CLAREA51, SARITA & Matt Tamblyn. Plus, it’s a fundraiser for Girls+ Skate 613, so that makes it even cooler.

Let’s Work! A night of classic house on wax is the perfect party to hit up this Saturday night if you want to dance to house vinyl records. DJs Magnificent & Trevor Walker will be digging through their dusty crates for the killer classics to keep the dance floor hot.

Eventful Capital’s Weekly Picks: From The Sheepdogs and Classified to Switched on Synths and Dead Obies

Don’t know about you, but the countdown to Spring has started over here and that means coming out of hiding for many and getting back out there more often to enjoy the sights and sounds of our National Capital Region. There are plenty of noteworthy events happening this week so check out Eventful Capital’s Weekly Picks below to help plan the next few days.

Salt Lake City deathcore group Chelsea Grin will be giving a live show at Ritual this Monday, March 7. For the occasion, the band will be performing “Desolation Of Eden” in its entirety and they’ll be playing alongside UK metalcore group Oceans Ate Alaska, Florida metalcore formation Wage War, Ottawa progressive deathcore project The Thirteenth Floor and Perth metal band A Scar For The Wicked.

Over at The Observatory on the Algonquin College campus this Monday night, there’s going to be a live concert by The Temperance Movement. The British hard rock, blues and R&B band formed in 2011 will be sharing the stage with special guests that haven’t been announced yet.

Ottawa’s cultural scene strives thanks to the tireless work done by active members of the community. This is why the organizing committee responsible for the 2016 House of PainT Festival is taking time to connect with members of the community this Tuesday evening at HUB Ottawa to consult with the public in an effort to organize a festival that reflects what the people of our National Capital Region hopes to get.

At Ritual this Wednesday, March 9, you can check out Sheffield metalcore group While She Sleeps, Ottawa post-hardcore/metalcore band Of Reverie, Ottawa metalcore outfit Violent Tides, and Ottawa/Cornwall metal project Here Comes Bigfoot.

If you’re into indie electro/rock sounds, head over to Zaphods this Wednesday night to check out Toronto indie-rock band Fast Romantics. The 5-piece, who’s currently on a North American spring tour, will be sharing the stage with Peterborough/Ottawa indie/electro group Kennedy Cult and Ottawa indie rock project Valois. It’s an early show, so you’ll be home by 11:30 pm.

Want to eat delicious pancakes and listen to live music all at once? Dreams do come true at Flapjack’s Pancake Shack nowadays with all of the shows being held at the Preston venue. This Thursday, check out locals The Tenenbaums and Muelkik with Montreal’s The Barrel Heads and Toronto’s Stayce.

If you enjoy surf punk vibes, don’t miss Oakland surf-punk band SWMRS live at Zaphods this Thursday night. The 4-piece, who’s currently on a North American tour with San Diego surf-punkers The Frights, will be joined by Ottawa surf garage trio The Boreds.

This Thursday at Avant-Garde, after the monthly RedDrum Comedy night, there’s going to be a live music show featuring Regina, Saskatchewan pop/folk/rock band Nick Faye & The Deputies. The group, who’s on an Eastern Canadian tour, will be making a stop in Ottawa and playing with Swift Current, Saskatchewan folk/bluegrass singer/songwriter and musician Colter Wall and Ottawa indie folk band Black Dogs.

This Thursday night at House of Targ, you can check out Thunder Bay folk/rock band The Honest Heart Collective. The guys, who’ve played Ottawa several times, will be sharing the stage with Ottawa roots/rock n’rollers Jonathan Becker & The North Fields as well as Ottawa rock band Missioner.

An evening of music, poetry and dance in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for freedom from military occupation is being held this Friday, March 11 at St. Brigid’s Centre for the Arts. The event will feature live performances by artists Missing Linx, King Kimbit, Sam Bassam and Dabkeh Dancing among others.

 

Project Mantra is having a CD Release Party celebrating the release of their new album Fusion Manifesto this Friday at Avant-Garde Bar. For the occasion, the Brockville-based indie rock/punk/folk band will be performing live alongside T-Rex Marathon, Liam King, and Seany Sharko.

Saskatoon rockers The Sheepdogs will be making a stop in Ottawa this Friday night as part of their current tour. The popular Canadian band will be giving a live show at the Bronson Centre with Montreal indie/garage group Beat Cops who’ll take  care of warming up the crowd.

Montréal instrumental rock ensemble Last Ex will be performing live at DAÏMÔN in the Hull sector of Gatineau this Friday night. The band, formed by members of Timber Timbre Simon Trottier and Olivier Fairfield, will be joined by new Ottawa project Bird Talk.

Switched On Synths, the new electronic music series dedicated to all things synth is having its March edition this Friday night. Happening at House of Targ, event will feature a set by Icelandic minimalist tech noir project Dada Pogrom, by Montreal disco minimal synthpop Automelodi, and live modular analog sounds by Ottawa’s Hard Science.

The Good Seats Still Available Tour rolls into Live on Elgin This Friday, March 11. Touring in support of their latest release “They Were Right About Us”, local rockers Iconoclast will be giving a live show alongside Toronto rock/soul band Last Bullet, Kingston alternative rock outfit Chasing Amber and Toronto rock n’ rollers Plaid on Flannel.

Those of you who are fans and supporters of Canadian hip hop will want to be at the Algonquin Commons Theatre this Friday night to check out East Coast rapper Classified live. The Juno Award-winning Halifax-based hip hop artist will be performing with Vancouver alternative hip hop artist SonReal as part of their Greatful Tour.

England folk/punk band Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls are making a return to the National Capital Region this Saturday, March 12. The group, who’s touring in an effort to promote its latest album “Positive Songs For Negative People”, will be joined by Victoria indie/folk project Northcote and Nova Scotia folk/pop outfit Mo Kennedy

Rap Queb super group Dead Obies will be giving a live show at the Petit Chicago in Gatineau this Saturday, March 12 in support of their anticipated new album “Gesamkunstwerk”. This time around, the hip hop artists, who always give rowdy shows, will be sharing the stage with Ottawa hip hop/electro DJ J2xF.

On Saturday, March 12th Toronto’s Squid Lid will be in town to make you move as they shake Ritual Nightclub with their catchy deep-sea dark-electro pop beats and stunning visuals. Local voodoo-metal group OOLUU will be supporting them with Montreal’s Graveyard Strippers hailing and local progressive metal band The Aphelion.

Local ouija rock favourites The Yips will be live at Pressed Cafe this Saturday night and they’ll be performing alongside Montreal project Year Of Glad and Montreal groovy baroque/pop rock band Smokes.

The Silk RnB Dance Party is back at the Elmdale this Saturday, March 12. DJs Matty McGovern, Eric Roberts and Matt Tamblyn are guaranteed to deliver the best r&b jams to get you dancing all night. Remember Mya’s Case of the Ex and JLo’s  Jenny From the Bock? You can expect to hear this kind of gold at Silk.

Over at the Rainbow Bistro this Saturday night, there’s going to be a Trailer Park Rock Night and evening of free range rock n’ roll featuring live performances by Big Jeezus Truck, Lucky Ron and Hot Snake Handlers.

Last but not least for this week, Sunday Sessions is celebrating its one-year anniversary at the Mercury Lounge this March 13 and for the occasion the venue will be welcoming United Kingdom DJ Danny Howells as well as supporting guests Return Of The Jaded, Rick Laplante and Brink.

Eventful Capital’s Weekly Picks: From the Gatineau Winter Beerfest and Troy Ave to Winterlude and Tom Green

It may be the end of January, but that doesn’t slow the National Capital Region down when it comes to events. Once again, as per usual, the capital city has got plenty to offer to fulfill your entertainment needs. Here’s an overview of some of the funnest things happening this week in and around Ottawa-Gatineau.

The Capital City Community Choir, a fun locally-driven project, invites amateur singers and Bowie fans to gather at the Rainbow Bistro this Wednesday night to learn harmonious vocal arrangements in honour of the late David Bowie. All you need is a voice, and a love for singing. Get out of the shower and join the choir!

The 2016 Gatineau Winter Beerfest is back this weekend and happening from January 29 to 30 in the Grand Hall at the Canadian Museum of History. This beer-lovers festival will feature a variety of artisanal beers made by micro-breweries from around the country coupled with yummy eats as well as conferences and workshops. This year, organizers promise bigger and better things for this popular and well-attended event.

The 38th edition of Winterlude kicks off this Friday and runs until February 15. This annual festival celebrating winter, will take place at several key locations namely Confederation Park, Jacques-Cartier Park and the Rideau Canal Skateway. The annual event will include the usual opening ceremony celebrations, the classic ice and snow sculptures competitions, the snow slides and playground just to name a few. On top of that, there will also be some cool outdoor shows featuring top notch Canadian acts including Ottawa’s own A Tribe Called Red kicking off the festivities this Friday night as well as electro-jazz band group Misteur Valaire, experimental funk band Hilotrons and more.

Local pop punk band Bearings is having a hometown record release party for “Home Is…” this Friday night. The Ottawa-based 5-piece will be playing an all-ages house show alongside PINE, Letdown, Wild Love and Slip.

The first show in over 6 months to happen at Gabba Hey! is going down this this Friday thanks to Pancake and Debaser. For the occasion, there’s going to be an all-ages show featuring sets by Peterborough guitar pop band Faux Cults, Peterborough garage punks Beef Boys, Ottawa garage pop band Soft Drugs and Ottawa noise pop newcomers Spell.

Troy Ave, who was initially scheduled to give a show in Ottawa on December 18 but had to postpone, is finally making a return to the Capital City for his White Christmas Canadian Tour. The NYC-based rapper will be performing live at Ritual on Friday, January 29 and this time around he’ll be sharing the stage with local hip hop artists God Bless, Juvi Da Gemini, Frank Blak and Drae among others.

Over at House of Targ on Friday, you can catch Hamilton indie garage rockers Young Rival live. The Paper Bag Recs signed band will be performing with Kingston indie rock group Lost Cousins and Ottawa garage rock outfit Ornaments.

Enjoy craft beer and intimate live performances? Big Rig Brewery is offering just that at their Kanata brewery location on Saturday, January 30 for an evening of beer tastings, brewery tours, and an exclusive performance by Ottawa indie rock band Amos The Transparent. Tickets are almost sold out so act quick if you want in on this.

If you’re int loud and heavy music, you may want to make your way over to Le Lab in the Hull sector of Gatineau this Saturday evening to check out Ottawa hardcore group At Odds, New York hardcore band Misgiver, Rimouski heavy hitters Broken Bounds, Ottawa death metal formation Cruel Fate and Ottawa death metal/hardcore newcomers Brain Scortcher.

This Saturday, January 30, the Algonquin Commons Theatre presents Tom Green and Patrick Coppolino live as a part of the Algonquin Commons Theatre Comedy Series. The multi-talented Canadian known for his comedy, talk show hosting, writing, producing, film directing, rapping and acting will be sharing the stage with Coppolino, a stand-up comedian from Hamilton, Ontario.

Hard rock band Amok, originally formed in 1995, is having a reunion gig at the Petit Chicago this Saturday night and for the occasion they’ll be sharing the stage with Ottawa indie rock band The Haig as well as other guests to be announced.

Flapjack’s is becoming an increasingly popular venue for live and community events and this Saturday, the pancake shack will be welcoming Montreal’s Riverbeds, Brampton’s New Design, Ottawa alt/indie rockers Mosely, punk kids The Weak Attractions, pop punk Remember The Arcadians and Ottawa pop punk newcomers High Regard.

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. This fun monthly will feature music selections courtesy of DJs Longshot and Lord Snappy as well as a live performance by KMan and the 45s and Lost Love.

This Saturday night at the Mercury Lounge, DJs Trevor Walker, Sergio Pari and Ali Harbcore bring you Deep Therapy, 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 let loose and dance.

On Saturday, January 30, join Venus Envy at Babylon for their anniversary party as they celebrate 15 years in Ottawa. The festivities will include sets and sweet beats by DJs Magnificent, Sarita, Aga, MC straightedge and Marshia Celina. The event will also feature live painting by Ottawa Art Battle champ Allan Andre.

Eventful Capital’s Weekly Picks: From NAC Presents’ 5 Years Party and the Filthy Dirty Art Show to Switched On Synths and Obie Trice

Welcome to 2016, Happy New Year, and all that jazz. Hopefully you all had an eventful holiday season and enjoyed some time off with friends and family and were able to go out to take in some of what the National Capital Region has to offer, too. It’s now back to business over at Eventful Capital, so here are this week’s event picks if you’re looking for something fun to do in and around Ottawa-Gatineau.

Adult Children, a duo made up of John Aaron Cockburn, former leader of Montreal band Little Suns and Maxim Cossette from Maxim Cossette Combo aka Sick Sick Sicks, is having its Elements EP Release at Mercury Lounge this Thursday, January 7. The show will feature a live performance by Adult Children as well as Ottawa singer-songwriter Keturah Johnson and the Maxime Cossette Combo.

Want to party like it’s the 80s? Then be sure to make your way over to House of Targ any or every Thursday this month for a dance party featuring an eclectic selection of songs and videos from the 80s with host and MC DJ Remi Royale. Oh and video games of course!

January is anniversary month for Venus Envy and this year the store is turning 15 years old. In conjunction with this, the folks at Venus Envy are throwing their annual fundraising group show of erotic/sensual/sexy work called the Filthy Dirty Art Show. The event will be held on Friday, January 8 and will feature works by artists Rebekah Elkerton, Jaime Koebel, Kalkidan Assefa, Leah Hicks, Jaymie Delight, Mark Seabrook, Donald K., and Alex Hutcheon and there will be live art by Kalkidan Assefa from Drippin’ Soul Creations.

 

If you want to kick off the year with some live ska and indie rock be sure to head over to Zaphods this Saturday night to check out Ottawa 7-piece ska punk band Suits N Toques, Ottawa indie rock 4-piece group The Tackies, and Ottawa indie psych rock outfit Lovegood.

This Saturday, January 9, Rocksteady Bookings presents a special “ladies first” edition of Bars and Breakbeats at Live on Elgin. The all female-fronted music night will feature live performances by Amanda Lowe, Riishi Von Rex, Francesca Daoust, Maya Killtron and Coccinella. A great event to attend if you want to support home-grown talent and hardworking ladies of the National Capital Region.

The National Arts Centre’s NAC Presents Series is turning 5 and to celebrate 5 years of loving and supporting Canadian music, there’s going to be a party on Saturday night in the NAC’s lobby featuring Canadian artists A Tribe Called Red, Mehdi Cayenne, U.S. Girls, and The Lionyls. Happy birthday NAC Presents!

If you’re into bluesy funky rock with a big dash of psychedelia, you may want to head to the Rainbow Bistro this Saturday night to check out a live show featuring sets by Ottawa 5-piece band The Bristol Hum, Toronto 4-piece group Jim Dan Dee and Ottawa weirdos the Masters of Nothing.

Ottawa power pop/punk rock newcomers Holy Christopher are having an EP Release party at Avant Garde Bar this Saturday night. For the occasion, the trio will be playing alongside Ottawa rockers Gnarly Brown, Ottawa group The Burning Tide, and New York rock band Rats Mouth.

There’s a new electronic music series in town dedicated to all things synth and it’s called Switched On Synths. The January edition, happening at House of Targ this Saturday night, will feature new Gatineau analog ambient synth project Paraphonique, industrial techno punk noise band Final Fall, and Ottawa analog electronic indie duo Andre et Michele.

It feels like 2006 all over again. Well, not really, but that’s the last time Obie Trice gave a show in Ottawa and looks like the American rapper is back a decade later to perform at Ritual this  Sunday, January 10 as part of his The Hangover Eastern Canada Promo Tour. This time around he’s getting local support from Mace Milly, Ickarus, Dopekiid and others.

Halloween 2015: Eventful Capital’s Guide to Halloween Parties in the National Capital Region

Halloween is less than 2 weeks away and this year it falls on a Saturday, so it’s the perfect excuse to let loose and have a good time out on the town. If you’re looking for the ideal Halloween party to attend in the Capital City, look no further: Eventful Capital’s pulled together a list of suggestions to help you decide on your Halloween plans. There’s a good variety of Halloween-themed events happening this year so hopefully you’ll find the one fit for you and your crew. To get all the details, just click on each event poster below. Happy Halloween! 

If you’re a University student (or if you just enjoy club hopping) and you want to go out on October 31, then Crawl-O-Ween is probably right up your alley. Labelled Ottawa’s biggest Halloween pub crawl, the event includes stops at the Liquor Store, The Whiskey Bar, Pub 101, the Green Room and the Cabin, all in the Byward Market.

If you can’t go out on Saturday (or you prefer not to), but want to hit up a heavy music show on Friday night, House of Targ is the place to be. You’ll get to rock out in costume (or not) with USA progressive metalcore band Forevermore, Ottawa metal group Maou Mindu, Ottawa metal formation Here Comes Bigfoot, Ottawa hardcore rockers The Great Diversion and Ottawa djent metalcore project Earthworks.

Over at Live on Elgin on Friday, October 30, the living dead will be taking over with a live show featuring surf rock noobs The Tackies and pop soul princesses Harea Band. Dance to classic Halloween tunes, consume spooky beverages (whatever that is), scarf down tons of candy and dress to impress as prizes will be awarded for best costumes.

For the second year in a row, the legendary Double Barrel and Timekode parties are teaming up and joining forces to bring you an epic Halloween dance party at Mercury Lounge that is sure to reach capacity early. If you want to dance to soul, funk, motown and vintage reggae, this is right up your alley.

Kinki is also offering a pre-Halloween party on Friday night and it’s free to attend. The event is part of their new After Dark Fridays series and will feature DJs Mace, Nauty Nyce and Eazy El Dee. Details below.

The Halloween Spook-Tacular at Cafe Dekcuf keeps it real with a free 2-hour tattoo session up for grabs for the best dressed. You’ll also get to rock out to Patron Saint of Plagues, Capital City Carnage, Sketchy Poutine and A Staggering Pace, who’ll all be performing live for the occasion.

Kinki is throwing a free Halloween party that’ll feature a Children of the Corn themed patio decor and a Cirque de Freak vibe inside that’s sure to create a festive atmosphere. DJs Ryan Labelle, Paulo Cardoso, Sean Vincent and Evan K will be spinning deep funky house grooves while you sip on voodoo shooters and creepy cocktails.

Over in Gatineau, L’As des jeux is hosting a geeked-out Halloween night featuring old school video games, board games, a live podcast, animation and a costume contest. Part of the proceeds will go to the SPCA, a non-profit animal shelter.

For Halloween, the Canadian Center for Gender & Sexual Diversity has teamed up with The PepTides to bring you DiscoApocalypse at St. Alban’s. Organizers promise a mesmerizing night of mind-blowing live music with the Peptides, who’ll be decked out as disco-disaster victims for the occasion.

Local rockers Hellbros invites you to rock out at their Halloweiner night at Zaphods on October 31. They’ll be joined by Ottawa metal band Black Oak Decline and Oshawa rockers Perfect Gentleman to help conjure up sounds of the season in a whirlwind of pumpkin smashing horror and delight.

The 6th Annual Zombie Strippers Halloween Show is happening at Babylon once again and this year it’s on Halloween night. Indulge in sexy burlesque and vaudeville performances, a live set by local garage band Nightshades and stick around afterwards for the costume prizes and a hot and sweaty dance session. This party sells out year after year so be sure to buy your tix in advance if that’s where you want to be on October 31.

The 2015 edition of Scream is going down at the EY Centre on October 31 and this year it’ll feature live sets by Blasterjaxx, Klingande, and others that have yet to be announced. If you’re into EDM, that’s probably where you’ll want to spend your Halloween night. 

How amazing does a Prince-themed Halloween party sound? Pretty fucking awesome, right? That’s exactly what The Hornettes have cooked up for this year’s party at the legendary Blacksheep Inn in beautiful Wakefield. The local funk and soul band will be performing an hour-long set of their fave Prince jams and for the occasion they’ll be joined by the talented Bella Cat Blues. This is bound to sell out, so act quick if you want to join the fun.

If you feel like celebrating Halloween at Ritual this year, it’s all about Haunted House 3 with Toronto’s own DJ Charlie B who’ll be rocking the party with tunes to get you dancing til the early hours.

If you want to party and support local charities at the same time, you may want to hit up Barrymores’ 16th Annual Halloween Charity Ball, featuring 80s, 90s and Top 40 music and dubbed the “biggest Halloween party in Ottawa”.

The Rainbow Bistro invites you to Time to Wake the Dead happening Halloween night at the downtown venue. For the occasion, they’ll be featuring live performances by Big Jeezus Truck, the Ginger Fox Band and Fuzzy Bunny Slaughterhouse.

To mark the 40th anniversary of the iconic Rocky Horror Picture Show, the Petit Chicago invites you to dress in your most bizarre Brad, Janet and Dr. Frank-N-Furter costumes for a night filled with games, prizes, and music by DJ Z who’ll be spinning strictly vinyl.

On Saturday, October 31, the Mercury Lounge invites you to unleash your inner freak into the dark and deep oasis of the Disco Inferno dance floor. DJ Trevor Walker will be dropping the freakiest dark deep disco beats for your dancing pleasures. Cover is, of course, $6.66, but they’ll round it up to 7, cause you know, the penny is a thing of the past.

If you’re at the Mercury Lounge and want to hit up Overkill just below, or if you’re simply into Star Wars, then join the crew in the Pirate City of Mos Eisley on the planet of Tatooine for a little taste of danger and extreme characters from far away planets. DJ Dusty will be on the decks to take care of the beats.

By far the most underground Halloween party is being presented by SPOOR, the new night dedicated to techno for the true venturers who like to party a little bit harder and go that little bit deeper. The venue is being kept secret, and will be revealed at the last-minute, and that makes it that much more exciting and mysterious. Dress black, dress to kill.

Hip hop and Halloween go hand-in-hand at this party going down at the Elmdale Tavern. Make yourself a celebrity cut-out mask and join DJs So Nice, Atherton and guest MC Floydeeee for a night of classic party anthems.