Early September in the National Capital: From Passion Pit and Electric Fields to the Ottawa Fashion Week and the HoPX Festival

The weather forecast is on the rise this week in the National Capital Region, a clear sign that summer is not over. Regardless of the temperature however, there’s plenty to keep you culturally active wether you’re looking for music, poetry slams, fashion shows, burlesque or breakdance battles.

To kick things off in music with a twist, Jackpine Artistic Director Liam Mooney and Ottawa artist Adam Kronick have organized Banned: A Live Projection Experience in response to the new federal that requires venues with a primary business other than music that also books foreign bands or performers to pay an application fee of $275 per musician plus those traveling with the band and an additional $150 per person if accepted. Many think this is bullsh*t. So as a result, organizers are circumventing the regulation by streaming an exclusive show by Old Monk live from Brooklyn, New York. The event, which is taking place at Babylon this Monday, September 9, will also feature live performances by Benoit Christie, Atherton, and Dany Laj.

The 10-year anniversary of House of PainT is being held from Wednesday, September 11 to Sunday, September 15 at various locations across the capital city. The community festival, which celebrates hip-hop arts and culture, will be celebrating its decade with 5 days showcasing an eclectic roster of local, national and international artists representing all five pillars of hip-hop culture. House of PainT will kick off with an audience-judged poetry slam and House of Merc party on September 11. The lineup will also feature a hip-hop show with headliner DL Incognito, a graphic art show and MC showcase, a live performance by hip-hop culture pioneer Afrika Bambaataa and legendary rapper Big Daddy Kane, and a knowledge conference geared towards Ottawa’s urban arts community without forgetting the Main Event under Dunbar Bridge with something for everyone.  The local scene will be represented by DJs Illo, Magnificent, Kid SL and Shub from A Tribe Called Red as with Missing LinX, Jaguar Priest, and D-Trak.

Artengine presents the 2013 Electric Fields Festival from September 11 to September 15. This year’s original edition, presented under the theme We Make the City! We Are the City! will feature choirs in public squares, a bicycle music ride along the canal, secret stories on street corners and a magic maze popping up in the park. Organizers invite you to come experience the city in a new way by being a part of these uniquely creative projects. If you’d like to join the conversation online, you’re invited to use the hashtag #wemakethecity.  Find out what it’s all about by clicking on the below poster.

If you’re a fan of Passion Pit and didn’t get to see their awesome set at Bluesfest this past July, you’ll be happy to know that the indie electro-pop band from Massachusetts will be performing live at the Algonquin Commons Theatre this Thursday, September 12 as part of GonqFest. The group will be joined on stage by Montreal-based indie synthpop group Young Galaxy, who’s been shortlisted for this year’s Polaris  Music Prize.

If you’re into black and doom metal, you may want to check out Cauchemar at Cafe Dekcuf this Thursday, September 12. The Montreal-based group will be joined on stage by local bands Monobrow and Occult Burial.

Illvibe presents Survival of the Illest at Ritual this Thursday, September 12. The event is Canada’s platform to showcase the best performing hip-hop MCs. The night will feature 8 local MCs who’ll perform on stage for a chance to win the title. Once the performers have gone head to head, the jury will select their two favorite acts to perform an encore. The crowd will then get to choose between these two finalists to crown the winner.

Starting this Friday, September 13 and taking place until Sunday, September 15 is the 10th season of Ottawa Fashion Week. Local and national designers will have the opportunity to present their upcoming Spring/Summer 2014 collections at the Casino Lac-Leamy in front of media, members of the pubic, dignitaries and celebrities from the Canadian fashion industry.  Get the full programming by clicking on the event poster below.

Those of you who enjoy burlesque should definitely attend Theatre Carnaval presented by Capital City Cabaret at Centrepointe Studio Theatre. The event, taking place on Friday, September 13 and Saturday, September 13, will include live circus, cabaret, burlesque, and vaudeville peformances featuring a slew of local and regional artists.

Want to discover some new indie local music? then why not head over to Raw Sugar Cafe on Friday, September 13 to check out No Joy, Boyhood and King’s Quest. The Montreal-based indie pop group will be performing live in the National Capital alongside Ottawa’s own Boyhood and King’s Quest.

Fans of EDM will want to go to Barrymore’s on Friday, September 13 to catch Black Tiger Sex Machine. The Montreal trio will be giving a live DJ set that will include drums and keys alongside their signature tiger helmets. BTSM will be joined on stage by DJs Dabin, Baretta, and Foster. 

The people behind Ottawa Explosion bring you another edition of Funhouse! this Friday, September 13. The event, which is taking place at Mugshots, will feature special guests Joel & Pat from Asile who’ll be spinning some serious punk alongside resident DJs Craig Peru and Skid Vicious who’ll take care of the rest.  

Loh El the Minstrel, Brad Morden and Benoit Christie invite you to a night of music and poetry at Raw Sugar Cafe this Saturday, September 14. The three local artists are bringing together a unique and intimate fusion of music, song and poetry for everyone and anyone who’d like to take in their live art.

After presenting two successful events, The International convenes latin lovers one last time this summer for the Latin Sparks Finale happening this Saturday, September 14. Taking place outdoors along Sparks Street, the block party promises to offer a night of dancing under the stars with complimentary dance workshops, latin music, latin cuisine and live percussionists and entertainment.

This event has unfortunately been cancelled If you’re looking for a free afternoon of outdoors music, check out the 4in1 Music Sessions this Sunday, September 14. This month’s edition will take place at Nepean Point, right behind the National Art Gallery overlooking the Ottawa River and will feature several local musicians playing acoustic sets. Check out Eventful Capital’s review of the August installment of the 4in1 Music Sessions for a better idea of what to expect.

Event Review: Day 4 of the Ottawa Jazz Festival Welcomes David Byrne & St. Vincent and Young Galaxy

Day 4 of the Ottawa Jazz Festival saw David Byrne & St. Vincent perform under a menacing sky at Confederation Park.

David Byrne, who gained popularity as the founding member of new wave group Talking Heads, partnered with St. Vincent, also known as Annie Clark, in 2009 and together they released a collaborative album titled Love This Giant in 2012.

David Byrne & St. Vincent performing live at the 2013 Ottawa Jazz Festival with an impressive horn section © Photo courtesy of the Ottawa Jazz Festival

It’s principally the fruit of this labour that the two established artists presented on the Main stage this past Sunday, June 23. David Byrne donned an all-white blazer for the occasion while St. Vincent wore an elegant navy dress. They were joined on stage by a impressive group of musicians including an imposing horn-section comprised of a trombone, a trumpet, a tenor saxophone, an alto saxophone, a tuba, a french horn, a clarinet, a sousaphone and a flute. Not only did they steal the show with their musical talent and skills, they also danced carefully choreographed moves throughout the performance.

The lighting arrangements were particularly well-done, providing eye-catching visual effects throughout.

The set opened with Who and Weekend in the Dust and followed with the songs I am An Ape, Optimist, Lazarus, and I Should Watch TV all from the collaborative project Love This Giant.

To the crowd’s delight, the pair also alternated between David Byrne/Talking Heads material and St. Vincent songs performing Save Me From What I Want, Strange Overtones, Marrow, This Must Be the Place, The Forest Awakes, Cheerleader, Like Humans Do, Lightning AC, and Wild Wild Life.

An hour into the set, a thunderstorm struck and forced organizers to halt the show for about 20 minutes after which David Byrne & St. Vincent resumed to close the night with three tunes including the popular Talking Heads hit Burning Down the House. 

The weather delays from the Main stage pushed back Young Galaxy‘s performance, initially set to begin at 10:15 pm on the OLG Stage. Since the OLG Stage is located just across the street from the Main stage, it’s virtually impossible to have two acts perform at once due to sound bleeds.

Young Galaxy performing live on the OLG Stage for the 2013 Ottawa Jazz Festival

Hence, by the time David Byrne & St. Vincent concluded their set, Young Galaxy hit the stage close to 11:00 pm. The Montreal-based indie synthpop group, who’s new album Ultramarine was recently long-listed for the Polaris Prize, attracted a fairly large crowd of young festival-goers eager to catch Young Galaxy live. Wearing all-black attire, the musicians, comprised of lead-singer Catherine McCandless, Stephen Ramsay on vocals/guitar, Stephen Kamp on bass/vocals, Matthew Shapiro on keys/guitar, and Andrea Silver on drums, put out lots of energy and had great on-stage presence from beginning to end. Although vocals were a bit hard to hear, the instruments sounded on point and the musicians were clearly happy by the crowd’s positive response.

The set list included the songs Pretty Boy, In Fire,  Hard to Tell, Out the Gate Backwards, Fall for You and New Summer all from their fourth studio album Ultramarine. Just shy of an hour, Young Galaxy ended their lively set with an encore to the crowd’s cheers and applause.

Day 4 of the Ottawa Jazz Festival offered enjoyable live music and the summer thunderstorms made it all that much more electrifying for festival-goers.

The Ottawa Jazz Festival continues at various locations until July 1, 2013.