Another blog post, another week filled with all sorts of events taking place in and around Ottawa-Gatineau. As per usual, there’s no shortage of noteworthy things happening in our capital city so wether you’re into visual arts, live music or dance parties, there’s sure to be something to quench your event-going thirst. Take a look at Eventful Capital’s weekly picks below to to help plan the days ahead.
The good people at Ottawa Showbox are on a roll and are presenting another show this Tuesday night at Mugshots. This week’s show will feature Stratford/Ottawa acoustic punk musician Jon Creeden, Ottawa party/pop punk project Robots!Everywhere!! and Ottawa acoustic punk artist Rich Chris. It’s only $5 to see 3 talented local musicians and it’ll be over by 11pm so you’ll be in bed in time to catch enough Zs for work/school the next day. Do this! 
Metal heads will be happy to know that Ottawa’s Annihilator will be giving their first show in the Capital’s downtown core this Tuesday, January 20. Happening at Mavericks, the Canadian heavy/thrash metal legends, who’ve been around since 1989, will be joined on stage by special guests Shock.
‘SKINNED’, an exhibition of new paintings by MFA Candidate Gillian King will be presented at Gallery 115 at the University of Ottawa starting this Thursday January 21. On until February 3, the show will explore the similarities between human and animal bodies while drawing attention to the conflicts and contradictions in human-animal relationships.
The vernissage of “Beauty in the Middle: Women of the Congo Speak Out” is being held at SAW Gallery this Thursday evening from 5pm to 7pm. Presented by Julienne Lusenge, founder and director of the Fond pour les femmes Congolaises (FFC) the exhibition will illustrate through art the story of grassroots women’s activists who have mobilized against incredible odds toward ending rape, seeking justice, and establishing peace in Democratic Republic of Congo. 100% of funds raised from this event directly to the FFC.
Open Mic Thursdays is having a 3-week residency at Avant-Garde Bar and this week’s edition will feature special guest musician Derrick Desjardins as headliner. If you would like to perform for the open mic, sign up starts at 8:30 pm.
Ottawa noise metal group Black Oak Decline is performing live at House of Targ this Thursday night. The local band will be sharing the stage with Ottawa ambient drone doom metal project Merdarahta and Ottawa bass and drum duo Auto Racing. Live music, pinball, perogies and beer: what more could you ask for?
The Kings of Chaos Tour is making a stop in Ottawa this Friday night to the delight of metal fans. The show, which is being held at Cafe Dekcuf, will feature live sets by Canadian party grind band Killitorous, Toronto power/death metal group Crimson Shadows, Perth death metal formation A Scar For The Wicked, Ottawa death metal project Accursed Creation and Brockville/Ottawa death/thrash band Ominous Eclipse.
Detroit indie/roots band Frontiere Ruckus will be performing live at Zaphods this Friday night. For the occasion, the 4-piece will be sharing the stage with Ottawa folk-rock group Weird With Cats and Ottawa folk-pop outfit Lights in August.
Over at the Blacksheep Inn in beautiful Wakefield, there will be a live performance featuring The Strain, Forest Frontier and Mystic Road this Friday night starting at around 8pm.
The Ottawa premiere of ‘Who Are You Mr. Node?’, a film by James Watts, will be held at Gabba Hey! this Friday night. After the screening, there will be live performances by Ottawa’s Zex, Montreal’s No Negative and Gatineau’s Durs Coeurs.
If you’re into dub music, be sure to hit up Cafe Dekcuf this Friday night for Dub Invasion, a night bringing you the finest in wobble bass. This week’s instalment will feature live sets by local DJs/Producers Disco-Nekt, Blu3 Bl00d, Mr. TheCat and Sarge.
If you love the sound of Studio One and Trojan Records, then the new Bangarang night is for you. This new series comes as a response to people who normally go to DOUBLE BARREL!! OTTAWA and want more 1966-1975 era reggae. The focus is on reggae, rocksteady and ska from Jamaica’s exciting 1966-1975 period with a heavy focus on 1968-1971. Happening at Raw Sugar Cafe with residents DJs Magnificent and Longshot, this second edition will feature special guest DJ RayRay.
The second instalment of the new SPOOR series is going down this Friday night at Babylon. The objective behind SPOOR is to offer parties aimed at Ottawa’s audacious party-goers featuring some of the finest DJs & producers from the scenes of Techno, House, Acid and more with a program that explores the intersection of sound, light and video projection. This week’s lineup presents Teknobrat, Mat Thibault as well as video projections by Sasha Vreca of the FauMardi Collective. Dress black. Dress for fun. Dress to kill. 
Party Pack is turning 4 this week (HBD!) and to celebrate they’re throwing a special anniversary edition at Multi Social Room feature two notable Fools Gold Records’ signees. LA DJ/Producer duo Gladiator will be holding down the headlining set and they’ll be joined by Vancouver upstart Sleepy Tom.
This Saturday night, ambient/chillout/downtempo electronic project Snowday will be returning to Ottawa to perform live at Mercury Lounge in an effort to promote their recently-released debut album “As We Travel”. The up and coming Toronto-based trio will be sharing the stage with Ottawa’s eclectic electro duo Fire Coast Acid Club.
If you’re looking for a night of live local music this Saturday night, look no further than Avant Garde Bar. Female-fronted dynamic rock band Tindervox will be playing alongside indie rockers Sans Foulard and rock n’ roll project Onionface.
Ottawa punk band RawRawRiot will be giving its last show ever this Saturday night, January 24 at House of Targ. Join the local band for their final live performance as they play alongside Halifax gone Ottawa punk rock n’ rollers Slumlord and Ottawa hardcore punk group Death Stare.
Local alternative pop/punk/rock band Neverfriend invites you to join them for the official CD Launch of their new album “Evolve” this Saturday, January 24. Happening at Mavericks, the show will feature special guests Emmas Ringer and The Bigmuffs as well as live art.
If you’re a fan of Brazilian samba, be sure to make your way over to the Petit Chicago this Saturday for a night of traditional samba music and dance. This is the perfect event to cure your winter blues and allow you to momentarily forget about the dead of winter.
This Saturday night at the Atomic Rooster on Bank Street, there will be a live show featuring Ottawa folk/punk trio The Fays. The local band will be sharing the stage with none other than Ottawa by way of Halifax indie rap legend Jesse Dangeroulsy. If you’re into Canadian hip-hop and have never heard of this guy, do yourself a favour and check him out, he’s pretty rad. What’s more, this show will cost you nothing, nada, niet. How often to you get to see free live music of quality?
