Another beautiful summer week has come and gone in the National Capital Region and with that we’re getting closer to Fall and to hitting back the books for those of you who are studying. But don’t despair just yet, there’s technically one more week of true summer action before you put away your flip-flops and delete your summer mix playlist from your mp3 player. With that said, here’s an overview of what’s happening in and around Ottawa-Gatineau in the days ahead.
Hardcore punk fans rejoice: Burning Love, Pregnancy Scares and Spaz Out are performing live at Luneta Cafe and Bistro this Tuesday, August 27. Toronto-based hardcore punk group Burning Love will be sharing the stage with Ottawa hardcore punk band Pregnancy Scares and Gatineau hardcore thrash/punk 4-piece Spaz Out.
On Wednesday August 28, Lamb Rabbit and special guest artist Adam Saikaley present Love in Outer Space at Raw Sugar Cafe. The unique evening will feature transcendental selections on vinyl spanning genres and decades, with astral projections courtesy of VJ Daisy and a lunar installation by Saara Mortensen.
Those of you who enjoy blues should check out Little Dog and BLT this Wednesday, August 28 at the Rainbow Bistro. The Ottawa-based band, comprised of members Dan McDonald on bass and lead vocals, Joel Scott-Mignon on guitar and Silas Cox on drums, will be playing originals, straight up covers, reworked classics, blues, rock, along with some surprises.
The third annual HOTBOX fundraiser for SAW Video is taking place this Thursday, August 29 at the SAW Courtyard / Club SAW / SAW Gallery. This year’s event will feature an after-work outdoor BBQ to the soundtrack of DJs Pierre Pressure and Tech Support. As the sun sets, a Music Video Dance Party will take over the courtyard. While inside, local artist Phil Osborne and his Osborne Oddities will take over SAW Gallery with a Weird Wall of Horrors and Special Effects workshop as China Doll Bingo breaks out in Club SAW. Basically, there’s going to be a whole lot happening in support of Ottawa arts and culture. 
Gatineau-based rapper and spoken word artist D-Track will be releasing his debut album titled Abris-Tempo this Thursday, August 29 at the Petit Chicago in the Vieux-Hull sector. The multi-talented artist, who’s really involved in the local scene, invites the public to a complimentary launch that will feature a live performance along with a listening party. 
The 5th annual Portraits of Bluesfest fundraiser for Blues in the Schools, featuring 18 of the region’s most respected artists, is taking place this Thursday, Aug. 29 at Patrick Gordon Framing Studio. Each artist was asked to create “a portrait of Bluesfest,” a request they were free to interpret in any way, and each piece will be part of a silent auction for which all proceeds go to support Blues in the Schools, the music-education program run by Ottawa Bluesfest.
This Thursday, August 29, join hometown favorites A Tribe Called Red as they reappropriate the Grand Hall at the Canadian Museum of Civilization for a special edition of the Electric Pow Wow presented as part of the Museum’s Indigenous & Urban programming. The local DJ collective, who’s been gaining international popularity, will be taking over the picturesque setting of West Coast First Nations villages and transforming the space into an urban dancefloor. 
The Up and Up Music Concert Series presents The Marlow Beat-Kings live at the Mercury Lounge on Thursday. August 29. The instrumental organ trio, who’s also the house band at Marlow Records, will have you moving on rhythm & blues, classy hard bop, funk and spicy boogaloo, hypnotic rocksteady and psychedelic rock.
The 26th annual Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival is being held from Friday, August 30 to Monday, September 2, 2013. 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 Sean Paul, Mia Martina, Garou, Loco Locass, and Damien Robitaille.
Medhi Cayenne Club are giving a live performance at Raw Sugar Cafe this Friday, August 30. The local group will be joined on stage by singer-songwriter Louis-Philippe Robillard for an intimate evening of live music. Tickets are 1 million dollars OR pay what you can. 
The monthly edition of Double Barrel is going down this Friday at Mugshots in the courtyard. For the August installment, resident DJ Magnificent will be joined on the decks by Tropikalo and Timekode resident Deejay Zattar. Come dance along with the Soul Survivors in all their glory!
This Friday, August 30 the Mercury Lounge presents Locally Grown with special guest DJ duo Tadellos from Berlin. The male/female duo will be playing Berlin style deep and tech house with grooving bass and vocals alongside resident DJ Lance Baptiste.
On Saturday, August 31 at the Mercury Lounge, SamCo Productions presents RHYME TIME, a night of all rhymers that will feature six rap artists and two spoken word poets including Sumo, Sully, DMP, Eddie Quotez, Alex Silas, Poetic Elements, Dirrty Dev and Thenamesmillen.
On Labor Day Sunday, Good Problems and Kapacity Entertainment join forces to bring you Tommy Kruise live at Ritual. The Montreal-based DJ, who’s associated with MTL rebel extraordinaires Mook Life and the 10kilos.us blog, will be giving a live Ottawa set full of trap, bass and hip-hop following sets by locals Laocapone, Grzzile, and So Durand. Turn up on this one.
