Another week, another slew of music shows, festivals, and events of all kinds taking place in and around Ottawa-Gatineau. Once again, there’s no shortage of interesting things happening in our capital city so wether you’re into visual arts, live music, or documentary film there’s sure to be something to satisfy your event-going needs. Take a look at Eventful Capital’s weekly picks below to to help plan the days ahead.
Toronto’s Big Wreck will be making a stop in Ottawa this Tuesday, October 21 in an effort to promote their latest album “Ghosts”. The 5-piece rock band will be performing live at the Algonquin Commons Theatre alongside Edmonton rock group Royal Tusk.
If you’re looking for an intimate show in a cozy venue featuring talented local artists, be sure to head over to Pressed Cafe this Tuesday night. London, Ontario rock n’ roll/folk/blues band Run Coyote will be performing live with Ottawa ambient/experimental folk musician Claude Munson and Ottawa folk rock artist Cody Allen.
Vocalist and guitarist UBI Quitous of Japanese band UBI & FU will be in Ottawa for the first time this Tuesday, October 21 as part of his USA & Canada 2014 Tour. The musician will be sharing the stage with local bilingual pop/post-rock singer-songwriter Mehdi Hamdad who’ll offer audience members an opening set.
Hip-hop heads will be happy to know that there are two solid hip-hop artists performing in the capital city this week. The first one, Detroit underground rapper Black Milk will be live at Ritual this Tuesday night. For the occasion, he’ll be backed by the Nat Turner band and will also be joined by Scarborough hip-hop artist King Reign and Ottawa hip-hop artist Prehistoric.
A noteworthy awar-winning documentary is being shown in Ottawa this week, Marmato, about threats, protection and peace in Colombia. Directed by Mark Grieco, this highly conscientious film uncovers the reality behind the corporate gold rush in Colombia and its impact on the inhabitants of Marmato, a small mining town in which there is a mountain with $20 billion dollars in gold. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion on threatened human rights defenders.
L’Omnium du Rock, a competition in which bands from Montreal, Outaouais, Quebec and Saguenay perform head to head to determine which city rocks the most, is back for an 11th season and kicks off this Wednesday night at the Petit Chicago. This week, to name a few, local bands Elementals, Eldorado, Benihana, After The Funeral and Minds Of Men will be competing to advance in the next round.
Gainesville ska punkers Less Than Jake will be giving a live show at Ritual this Wednesday, October 22. The American 5-piece band will be joined on stage by Boston ska/punk group Big D & The Kids Table and LA ska/punk 4-piece The Interrupters.
This Thursday, October 23, Ana Miura, Amanda Rheaume, Coco Love Alcorn, Scarlett Jane, Laura Cortese and Jadea Kelly are uniting to fight breast cancer at the Babes4Breasts benefit concert and CD release. With 6 solid Canadian groups/musicians, this is sure to be a great show.
The Trews are bringing their Rise In the Wake Tour to the National Capital this Thursday, October 23 and Friday, October 24. For the occasion, the Toronto-based alternative/hard rock 4-piece will be performing with local rock bands Iconoclast and Torn Beloved.
Massachussetts hardcore group Bane is giving a live show at Cafe Dekcuf this Thursday night. The Equal Vision Recs signees will be performing at the intimate venue with Edmonton punk group Slates, Toronto post-punkers Life In Vacuum and Gatineau hardcore project Spaz Out.
Local speed metal group Vyc Vypyr invites you to join them as the celebrate the release of their EP “A Hero’s Grave” at House of Targ this Thursday, October 23. Alternative rock/hard rock band STATIC REVOLT and classic sleaze metal group Rude State will be opening the show and warming up the crowd with their respective sets.
If you’re into indie pop, do yourself a favour and head out to Zaphods this Friday night to check out Regina indie pop band Rah Rah and Charlottetown indie pop rock 4-piece Paper Lions.
If you’re more into the country/folk genre, you should go to Cafe Dekcuf this Friday night to see Del Barber & The Profiteers. The Winnipeg alt-country group will be performing live with BC country/folk musician Steph Cameron and Ottawa alt-country/folk band Brandon Allan & The Bad Decisions.
Over at the Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield this Friday, October 24, there will be a show featuring Montreal indie synth/rock group Forgotten Six, Ottawa psych/heavy soul/folk and roll The Heavy Medecine Band and Ottawa art rock 4-piece High Waters.
There’s a new lounge opening up on Rideau Street called the Multi Social Room and its grand opening is going down this Friday night with the Lifted party, which normally happens at Ritual. For the occasion, the Unlikely Future DJs and Foster will be throwing down with trap and rap so be sure to join the inaugural celebrations.
If you’re looking for a dance party this Friday night, 90s or Bust might just be the one for you. As long as you enjoy dancing to 90s hip-hop and r&b dressed up like a character from Dead Presidents or a funny person you saw on Cops, then you’re good to go. That’s right, the October edition of 90s or Bust is all about cops & robbers.
Foodie alert: Poutine Fest is happening from October 24 to October 26 along Sparks Street so if you’re a fan of this classic Canadian comfort food, then be sure to grab a few of them at some point throughout the weekend and try the Thai, Greek and Mexican versions. The festivities will also include a poutine eating contest for the brave ones out there as well as street performers and musical entertainment.
For the beer lovers, the Ottawa Brewery Market presents HintonTOBERFEST at Hintonburg Park this Saturday, October 25. This family-friendly Oktoberfest party, will feature local craft beer from Bicycle Craft Brewery, Dominion City Brewing Co., Flying Monkeys, Lowertown Brewery, Nickle Brook, Stone City Ales, Turtle Island Brewing, and Whitewater Brewing Company. Cheers!
Have you heard of The Visit? This unparalleled Ottawa duo composed of cello player and pianist Raphael Weinroth-Browne and vocalist Heather Sita Black who creates beautiful music has been gaining international recognition this past year with reason. Catch them if you can this Saturday night at the Studio Cafe, I promise you won’t regret it.
Toronto-based country/folk/roots musician Graham Nicholas will be performing live at the Rainbow Bistro this Saturday night in an effort to promote his latest album “Sometimes Chicken, Sometimes Feathers”. He’ll be sharing the stage with Ottawa alternative singer-songwriter Justice R.F. who’ll be giving the opening set.
If a hip-hop burlesque show doesn’t pique your curiosity, then what would. House of PainT and Anvill Press have teamed up to put together a very special event featuring beatbox poet, punk pianist and iconoclast C.R. Avery with famed Vancouver dancers Melody Mangler and Annie Moore. The night will also feature an opening performance by Ottawa’s own PrufRock Shadowrunner.
Freddie fucking Gibbs will be making his Ottawa debut at Ritual this Saturday night. If you’re into real hip-hop, you know not to miss this show because Gangsta Gibbs is by far one of the best rappers in the game right now. Get pumped cause this is going to be a sick show.
This Saturday, October 25, Winnipeg indie-pop band Royal Canoe will be giving a live show at Mavericks. The Nevado Records signees will be performing alongside Keswick indie-pop group The Elwins and Ottawa indie/experimental project Pith & the Parenchymas.
The 3rd instalment of the MOTION series is going down this Sunday, October 26 at Babylon. The October edition will feature a double headliner bill of UK powerduo Snakehips & Ottawa/Motion favourite, Stwo. This is bound to sell out so either by a ticket in advance or get there early. It doesn’t really get much better than this for a Sunday night in Ottawa.