music

Ottawa Winter Jazzfest brings you inside from the cold at Winterlude

Written

on Thursday, February 2, 2012

Photo Courtesy of the Ottawa Jazz Festival

Known for ice sculpture and skating on the canal, Winterlude hasn’t necessarily always been a key destination for the musically oriented. The JazzFest’s Petr Cancura is hoping to change that with this year’s Winter Jazzfest. We got some answers from Petr on what you can expect at the festival and why he thought jazz might be just what the Ottawa winter needs.

Apartment613: I understand that this Winter Jazzfest is based on a similar event that takes place in New York. What was your inspiration to try to bring an event like this to Ottawa?
Petr: The inspiration came from New York. This time of year is usually down-time for everyone… pretty much half way between Festival seasons and people are ready for music. The energy in the West Village during the NYC version of this festival is dynamite, the whole jazz crowd is out and the streets are bustling with fans and musicians alike. Everything is within walking distance and you can check out whatever you’d like. Any festival always makes musicians play great and the community aspect that is created is key. You can just feel it inside every club those three days. So the idea in Ottawa was simple… to put on three days of shows in intimate settings, involve all kinds of musicians, from local to international, and use different venues that are all within walking distance. I think people are ready to fight the cold and ready for some inspiration!

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Weekend roundup: What to do in Ottawa

Written

Karen

on Thursday, February 2, 2012

Photo of Gatineau Park courtesy photoexpo on Flickr.

Even those of you who are only mildly interested in federal politics probably know that the House came back this week. It’s not the only crazy political antics to have recently returned, though: Question Period The Musical! is back in town for one day only, after a successful Fringe run last summer.

What else have we got going on? Well, Jeremy Fisher and Chris Velan are not just playing two shows at The Black Sheep, they’re heading out on a cross-country ski trip and want you to come. The Ottawa Winter JazzFest kicks off tonight, with Oliver Jones and Megan Jerome just two of the headliners appearing over the weekend. Tonight’s also the first ever show of Ottawa’s Burlesque Collective, down at Maxwells. Yamantaka // Sonic Titan will bring some psychedelic fusion to Babylon Friday night, while across the canal Static Revolt and The Bankrobbers will take to the stage at Avant Garde bar. The Johnnies are throwing a release party on Saturday for their latest 7″, and will be joined at the Dominion by the garage rock/pop sounds of The Polymorphines and The Shakey Aches. Sheezer is also playing that night, so if you’re needing to revisit your love of Buddy Holly, head on over to Zaphod’s. For those of you looking to hear a bit of vinyl, you can find it at Raw Sugar Saturday with the Reggae Dancehall Edition of Stars on 45. Also that night? A little bit of goth country and some heart beats.

We’ve got a bit of a love-theme happening in the art world this weekend: I LOVE YOU opens at Patrick John Mills tonight, with the artists stopping by, while Karen Jordan’s Slow Dance opening reception happens down at Karsh-Masson. If the way to your heart is through your stomach, this community dinner is right up your alley – plus, it’s a night to hear Three Little Birds and Poetic Speed perform.

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stars on 45 – reggae dancehall edition

Written

Katie

on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

stars on 45 presents

the reggae dancehall edition
with special guests

wide-eyed sound system

the coldest month of winter brings the hottest of riddims as Stars on 45! keep things warm and heavy with a night of Jamaican 7″s!

Things spin faster on Sat. Feb. 4th with sounds from rocksteady to dub to ska to dancehall and all the reggae in betweens.

Regular hosts DJ Daisy and Chris International invite very special guests,
the Wide-Eyed Sound System
to Raw Sugar for a night of head nodding grooves. Pulling from their deep and serious collection of Jamaican jams, this night promises to hold steady at 45rpm. Strictly 7″s non-stop!

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The Johnnies (7″ Release Party) with The Polymorphines and The Shakey Aches

Written

apartment613

on Monday, January 30, 2012

Off the Beaten Track and Pretty Bad Records Presents . . .
The Johnnies 7″ Release Party with:

The Johnnies
www.myspace.com/thejohnniesloveyou/
&
The Polymorphines

http://www.myspace.com/thepolymorphines

&
The Shakey Aches
www.myspace.com/theshakeyaches

Doors at 9:00 PM
Music starting sometime around 10:00
5$

Both The Johnnies 7″ and The Shakey Aches 7″ on Pretty Bad Records will be for sale, along with a bunch of Polymophines goodies (their EP RIPS!), Pretty Bad Recs t-shirts, and a limited run of show posters!

View the full size poster here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/trude_514/6607667461/in/photostream/ (Thanks again Mat Trude!)

Thanks to Mat Trude, the Pretty Bad Records fam, and everyone at The Dominion for making this show happen!!!

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Weekend roundup: What to do in Ottawa?

Written

Karen

on Thursday, January 26, 2012

First, Ottawans: let us know the real hotspots in the city by filling out our Big Sexy O-town Survey! Will the new Rink of Dreams become a different sort of dreamy spot? Or will the Hill be your tried, tested and true make-out location? Let us know…

In other hot news, we’ve got a few great bands coming to town this weekend. For some alt-rock/bluesy sound, Solomon Dean is your man – he’ll be at the Elmdale with Electric Blankets tonight. There will be a little bit of folk going down tonight at the Mercury Lounge, with the UP & UP Concert Series’ latest installment featuring Claude and the Storm Outside. Friday, Sunfields stops by Raw Sugar – they’ll bring some indie rock with a psychedelic twist to the stage. You might as well just get a room at The Black Sheep for the whole weekend: tonight, it’s the catchy tunes of Elliott Brood (it’s their ‘Oh Alberta’ video above), Friday KIDSTREET stops by with Ottawa’s clever duo The Peptides, and then Saturday and Sunday features a double dose of the stylings of Buck 65. The Mackenzie Rhythm Section brings horns and beats to the dance floor at The Rainbow on Saturday. Also Saturday? Camp Radio pumps things up at Irene’s, while locals Organ Eyes and The Matt Ferriers add to the indie music playlist of the weekend.

If you’re looking for a bit of variety in your evening, head to Rooster’s at Carleton for Fresh Tracks, a night of Indigenous hip hop, spoken word and folk music on Friday. For those of you with a competitive streak, the Women’s Slam Championships is Saturday, while Once Upon a Slam takes place the night before.

Looking to get dressed up? It’s time for the Red Death Masquerade, where you’ve got to hide your identity – masks are not optional! If your idea of dressing up includes hiking boots, then the Ottawa Valley Nature Hike is probably a better spot for you to stop by. Clothing will likely be optional for the performers at Girlesque Ottawa Sunday night, where they’ll have some international and hall-of-fame guests in the house.

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Rae Spoon plans to busta move at Q Bounce, Ottawa’s newest underground dance party

Written

apartment613

on Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Photo courtesy of QBounce.

Post by Noreen Fagan

Caitlyn Pascal is a woman who is seriously tapped into what Ottawa’s queer community wants, needs and loves.

Pascal is a music geek, an arts promoter and the maven behind the Divergence Movie Nights, a monthly event showcasing LGBTQ documentaries. She is also the instigator of Pitch Black, an experimental music evening with live musicians where Pascal, a.k.a DJ CPI, performs live and spins edgy tunes for music lovers alongside Jairus (ad-ver-sary)..

Pascal’s latest metamorphosis is as the creator of Q Bounce, an alternative dance party that debuts on Saturday, Jan. 28 at SAW Gallery. Q Bounce is also Pascal’s chance to play what she is most passionate about – underground bass music.

“Underground music is a catch all that is often used to describe a lot of contemporary electronic music,” says Pascal. “Bounce, booty, jungle, breakbeats, deep house, and post-dubstep.”

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Solomon Dean & Electric Blankets: Live at Elmdale House Tavern

Written

Katie

on Saturday, January 21, 2012

Solomon Dean is an Ottawa-based Canadian alt-blues/rock trio. Formed in 1999 in Prince Edward Island, Solomon Dean played the local live circuit from 1999 to 2002, releasing an independent EP (“Solomon Dean” – 1999) and full-length album (“Ascent” – 2001) before going on an educational and professional hiatus in 2002.
.
Re-uniting in the fall of 2007 in Ottawa, Ontario, Solomon Dean began working on new songs and new recordings. Studio EP “Beta” (2009) was followed by several unofficial self-produced live CD’s in 2009-2010 before an eastern Canadian tour in 2010. The band is currently working on new material for the next record, tentatively slated for release in early 2012.

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‘mo diggity – HEART BEATS edition

Written

Katie

on Saturday, January 21, 2012

february calls for some heart beats that get you out yo seat!
.
ON FEBRUARY 4TH,
.
dj yalla!yalla! and dj meera will be showing some crew love, spinning favourite tracks by duos, trios, crews, collaborating artists, and mashups!
.
Like the first ‘mo diggity, it’ll all be happening at Avant-Garde Bar (next door to Ritual Nightclub) but this time with better lighting, more bar staff, and more space to drop and grind.
——
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5$ at the door (no one will be turned away due to lack of funds)
——
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Accessibility info: My apologies for still not having found an accessible space for the party. A ramp will be available, seen as the entrance is on the ground level but there are 3 or 4 steps when you first enter the door. The bathrooms are on that level but they are not wheelchair accessible (in relation to size). There are also another 3 steps to enter the lounge area at the back of the bar.
——

‘mo diggity is:
a sweaty grind monthly party for homos and their homies.
bringing heat to the dancefloor is all the right weaponry:
your favourite throwback hits, sultry r&b grooves, dancehall jams, reggae tracks, hip hop classics, and diaspora/homeland identity crisis mixes.
.
you don’t want to miss this.
we like the way you work it. we wanna bag it, bag it up.

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UP & UP Concert Series: Claude & The Storm Outside

Written

Katie

on Saturday, January 21, 2012

Lovers of real music,

The UP & UP Concert Series is happy to welcome back the melodic and haunting sounds of CLAUDE & THE STORM OUTSIDE, a unique blend of alt and trad folk by a band that is quickly making its mark on the Ottawa-Scene. One of our own at UP & UP MUSIC, this is most definitely a show that we feel is not to be missed.

CLAUDE & THE STORM OUTSIDE
Up & Up Concert Series
THU. Jan.26th, 2012
9pm, $10

www.myspace.com/claudemunson
www.upandupmusic.ca

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New Year, New Beginnings… laying Fresh Tracks

Written

Katie

on Saturday, January 21, 2012

In association with Carleton Native Student’s Association,
Fresh Tracks presents:
.
An all ages night of Indigenous Hip Hop, Folk Music, Spoken Word, and some very special guests and surprises.
.
It’s time to celebrate all that we are as Aboriginal, Indigenous, First Nations, Metis, and Inuit. We are laying some fresh tracks in 2012 and welcome all of you to come join us for a night that will leave you inspired and wanting more.
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Open Mic: 7pm. Sign-up at 6:30 for the first 5 performers.
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Performers include:
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Sandy Scofield, Metis award winning recording artist
Lisa Marie Naponse, local Anishnaabe musician, part time hero
MO Inukhiphop, Inuit artic games hip hop champion
Hyf the Gypsy Sun and Prufrock, local dynamic hip hop heavy weights
and holding down the beats local DJ Vinyl Justice.
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Special Guests:
.
Jason Chamakese and Robert Gladue will be bringing their traditional flute and hand drum to serenade and stoke those embers on this cold winter’s night and get you ready for the Round Dance on January 28 at the Raven’s Nest.
.
Anishnaabe Nookimisag Skit by
Geraldine King and Danielle Morrison
.
Stan Wesley will be the master of ceremonies for the evening and you know what that means!
.
Sliding scale 5-10 bucks will get you in. Although, no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Bring your friends, family, and your love and appreciation for our local Aboriginal artists!!
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Partial proceeds will go to Circle of Nations, Attawapiskat Housing Crisis Fund, and honourariums for performers.