Apartment613

Africa Festival this weekend!

Written

on Friday, July 30, 2010

One more for your social calendar this weekend… the 2nd Annual Africa Festival! Here’s a short description from the Citizen:

The second Ottawa African Festival kicks off Friday, July 30, at Victoria Island. The three-day festival celebrates the artistry and culture of the city’s African community. Events include a fashion show, drama, arts, crafts, children’s storytelling, food and concerts. Concerts begin at 5 p.m. July 30, and 11 a.m. on July 31 and Aug. 1. Performers include The Mighty Popo, Lorraine Klaasen, Muna Mingole, Rita Carter and the Burundi Drummers. The festival will wrap up with the all-African soccer games on Aug. 1 at the Terry Fox stadium at Mooney’s Bay. For information and tickets, phone 613-794-4487 or go online at www.africanfestival.org.

Tickets are $20 for adults. Click below for the schedule of events.

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BIA cancels Ottawa Pride street party

Written

Francois

on Friday, July 30, 2010

Photo courtesy of Farfando

Who doesn’t like a street party? Businesses get a boost from the extra people on the street, residents get some fun hand-delivered to their doorstep and I get a party. Its a win-win-win situation.

Which is why this piece of news took me a bit by surprise:

On August 22, Bank St was to be cordoned off for an afternoon of revelry — music, food, drink and queers having a good time. But the Bank Street Business Improvement Area (BIA) has put the kibosh on it - first changing the date, then eventually canceling the event entirely.

As Noreen Fagan from the Capital Xtra reports, Capital Pride, the Village Association and the office of Diane Holmes have been collaborating on a street party to open Ottawa’s annual pride festival. The Bank Street Business Improvement Association (BIA) seemed on board until last Wednesday, when it “voted unanimously to postpone any events scheduled for August 15 or August 22.”

The BIA didn’t comment on its reasons to Xtra, and a brief internet search at the time of writing this post revealed no additional facts. The only hint the article revealed was that the BIA has been worrying that the Super Ex Exhibition would draw people away from the pride event.

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Weekend roundup: Events and things to do in Ottawa!

Written

Karen

on Thursday, July 29, 2010

Photo courtesy Corinne Copreni on Gentelman Reg's myspace page.

Photo courtesy Corinne Copreni on Gentleman Reg's myspace page.

Such a bittersweet weekend this is, with its extra day marking the fact that summer is half over. However! There is much to do, so revel in the sweetness, and forget the bitter reminder that there’s only four more weeks to go. And, since our beloved calendar is still recovering from the great Apt613 website implosion, we’re jamming this post full of weekend possibilities.

First off: explore the great outdoors - learn about bugs and blacksmithing! Or, if you’d rather not get your hands dirty, check out Barbara Cuerden’s No Man’s land: Dirt & Aprons show. You can make the opening of her show tonight before heading to Raw Sugar, where Gentleman Reg is stopping in to play with the Silver Birch Society.

And it being Ottawa in the summer, we’ve got several “Fests” to keep you busy all weekend long.

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Apt613 is headed to Osheaga!

Written

Samantha

on Thursday, July 29, 2010

Photo courtesy of Ceasar Sebastian on Flickr.

Apt613 contributors Samantha Everts and Lauryn Kronick are heading to Montreal’s Osheaga Festival and will be providing some reviews for you fine folks in the days to come. Montreal’s 2-day festival (July 31-August 1st) is an excuse to leave the city for the long weekend and catch some bands you may have missed out on at Bluesfest (Weezer, Arcade Fire) but also bands like Sonic Youth, The National, Devo, Snoop Dogg, Deadmau5, Keane, and a ton of little bands you’ve probably not heard of yet. With a bunch of different stages scattered on Parc Jean-Drapeau, you’ll be racing as I did from one artist to the next. (Hey, I got to see MIA and Interpol within a ten minute radius, I’m not complaining). Day tickets and Weekend passes are still available but finding a hostel bed may be a bit more difficult. And a tip- go by metro to the park, not car!

If you’re going too, come and say hi! While Lauryn will be singing to Hannah Georgas, you’ll most likely find Samantha bopping along to Gaslight Anthem.

Visit for more information: www.osheaga.com

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No Man’s Land: Dirt & Aprons at BLINK Gallery

Written

Diane

on Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Photo Courtesy of Barbara Cuerden

Post by Diane Bond

When I was growing up, every time our family went on a trip I would come back home with treasures I picked up along the way: A handful of pine cones from Red Pine Camp, some carefully selected water-polished stones from Sandbanks Provincial Park, wildflowers growing along Highway 7 or 2 or 17 - now dried, pressed, and cataloged in ways that somehow make sense to me…

In light of these memories - I feel a kinship to Barbara Cuerden, an artist living and working in Sandy Hill for more than twenty-five years. Cuerden is both a collector and an archivist of natural and domestic debris and has invited the community to share in her fascination with dirt as souvenir as story. No Man’s Land: Dirt & Aprons is an exhibition comprised of prints, paintings, and ten years worth of dirt samples that explore relationships between the collector and the collected.

The installation will transform BLINK Gallery into a site of archaeological and personal/historical digging through conversation - and all are welcome to participate. The artist has asked you to “dig into your purses and pockets and bring your discarded, unedited shopping lists as valued contributions towards a new composition.” Are we intrigued yet? I know I am!

No Man’s Land: Dirt & Aprons opens with an invitation to share a cup of tea with the artist on Thursday, July 29 from 6-9 pm. The exhibition continues all weekend long (Friday 1-6 pm, Saturday 12-5 pm, and Sunday 12-5 pm) at BLINK Gallery (located at the Header House in Major’s Hill Park, 1 Rideau Street).

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Twirling titties and titillating tales! Burlesque this weekend

Written

Katie

on Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Photo courtesy of ikyotochan's on flickr

Summer is the season of sexy: short shorts and tank tops, tanned bodies glistening with sweat, frolicking on the beach… you get the picture (and if you don’t I’m sure you can find some online). So it makes sense that Ottawa’s thriving burlesque community would be planning a couple of events for the most titillating time of the year.

Tonight, the Coalition for a Carleton Sexual Assault Centre is hosting Artgams, a night of art, dance and sex-positivity with performances by radical folk group Three Little Birds, Rockalily Burlesque and an array of spoken word artists. The event is a fundraiser to support their sexual help line. Show starts at 7 at the Mercury Lounge (56 Byward Market Square). Tickets range from $8 to $12 and are available at Venus Envy (320 Lisgar Street). A few will be available at the door.

Those of you who are more hands on can get some professional burlesque start training this Thurday at Sacha’s Dance Studio (346 Richmond Rd – 2nd Floor). This workshop will not only teach you how to make your own pasties with tassels like the ones pictured above, but also how to twirl them like a pro! Cost is $20 and space is limited. Reserve your space by contacting the studio at info@sachasdancestudio.com

Last but not least, the provocative (and very productive of late) ladies of Rockalily will also be putting on a show this Friday at Mavericks (221 Rideau St.). Bringing a new ‘twist’ to traditional fairy tails such as Hansel and Gretel, Robin Hood and Beauty and the Beast, BurlyTales will be set to live music performed by Thundercunt and Goldenrod’s Electric S…hock Therapy! Doors open at 9. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door and can be purchased at Vertigo (193 Rideau St.) and Tuesdays the Romance Store (1239 Wellington St.)

Does anyone know of upcomming events for Sexual Overtones or the Sin Sisters?

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Flotilla and guests play Raw Sugar Café

Written

apartment613

on Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Photo Courtesy of Flotilla

Post by Gloria Song.

Flotilla is a band that is hard to classify. The same thing has been said about many bands, but with this Montreal-based band, you can name any number of their musical influences (Bjork, Portishead, Deerhoof, Joanna Newsom), but none of them fully capture the unique sound that this band brings to the Canadian scene.

Their album One Hundred Words for Water was released in 2009 and quickly became the fourth most played indie album on Canadian community/campus radios that year. It’s not hard to see why. The album combines haunting female vocals with jazz chord progressions that manage to be complex yet still pop music catchy, producing a dream-like quality in their sound. Oh, and they have a harp. Yes, I said harp.

Clearly the originality of their style is partly due to their arranger/keyboardist/bassist,Geoffrey Holbrook, who is working on a doctorate at Columbia University in contemporary music composition. It probably also has to do with the fact that their vocalist and guitarist, Veronica Chamley grew up in Ottawa before moving to Montreal to study.

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Get out of town! The Heirloom Music Series in Almonte

Written

apartment613

on Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Photo courtesy of kellysloan.ca

Post by Gloria Song

If you’re looking for a chance to do something outside of the downtown Ottawa area, consider exploring the rich music world in the former mill town of Almonte. About 45 kilometres southwest of downtown Ottawa, Almonte is home to a surprisingly talented music community. That’s where you’ll find the recording studio of Ken Friesen, who has worked with the Tragically Hip, Hawksley Workman, the Sadies, Gord Downie and Sarah Harmer. For years, bands such as Tokyo Police Club, Land of Talk, and Kate Maki have performed at the popular Concert on the Clyde, held by the Clyde River nearby. It’s also the home of Tracey Brown from the Juno award-winning country band Family Brown, as well as a popular hangout spot for newer musicians such as Adam Puddington, the Brothers Chaffey, and Prescott (Tracey Brown’s kids).

The rootsy folk songwriter style inspired by the Ottawa Valley countryside provides a refreshing contrast from the urban indie pop sounds that dominate most live music scenes downtown. After all, with all that greenbelt around us, how could Ottawa not have a special appreciation for the country sound? One place to experience this vibrant music scene is at the Heirloom Café Bistro, a new-ish restaurant right in the heart of downtown Almonte. Here you can find the Heirloom Music Series, which showcases many of the musicians that love to play in Almonte. Wednesday July 28 is the next session of the series, which features Kelly Sloan and Curtis Chaffey, the lead guitarist of the Brothers Chaffey. It’s sure to be a special intimate performance, and it’s a great chance to escape the city without going too far.

Visit the Heirloom website for more details on other upcoming shows.

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Treepot.tv - first webisode launches!

Written

Karen

on Tuesday, July 27, 2010

If you live/work/play downtown, you’ll probably have stumbled upon the Treepot. Or, as it is more formally called, Northshore, a sculpture by artist Noel Harding. Since its installation, the sculpture has been adopted by local residents as a point of pride in the neighbourhood.

It’s also inspired some other Ottawan artists’ creativity, including the newly-launched Treepot.tv. The brainchild of local filmmaker Jith Paul, this new collaborative tv ‘channel’ will have regular webisodes, interviewing local musicians and amateur chefs, exploring the art of gardening on a small apartment balcony, and even something akin to Ottawa’s own Grey’s Anatomy. The first webisode was released last week, featuring recent performances at the Indie Attic night down at the Cajun Attic (349 Dalhousie). This episode shows off the talents of The Termights and The Anybody (whose house, tragically, recently burned down - apparently he simply borrowed a friend’s guitar to ensure the show went on).

Stay tuned to Treepot.tv for the next episodes - read on about the dream behind Treepot.tv and more about this week’s show!

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La Strada: Bringing Brooklyn to O-town

Written

apartment613

on Monday, July 26, 2010

Photo courtesy of La Strada on Myspace.

Interview by Devan Marr

Seamless transitions, a gypsy feel, and a barefoot guitarist is what the audience at Live Lounge received this past Thursday when La Strada came to town. Originating from Brooklyn, the band has been on a tour through some of Canada for the last few weeks promoting their new album, New Home. Playing to a small audience, La Strada demonstrated their ability to combine their diverse instruments into one great performance.

As a violinist who always wanted to be in a band but could never find a group of like minded individuals I am extremely jealous of what La Strada has accomplished. Just getting to see a violinist and cellist play in a band that isn’t comprised purely of classical instruments was a real treat. The fact that the resulting music is fantastic was even better. A mesh of indie rock and folk, I couldn’t help but feel like I had stumbled into a gypsy camp. The addition of an accordion, violin, and cello to an otherwise standard musical ensemble produced a result that felt distinct from the countless other indie bands out there. I was fortunate to be able to ask the band a few questions before their show in an attempt to shed a little more light on who and what La Strada is.

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