Good news, everyone! Ottawa’s favourite band named after the nut of the common oak, The Acorn, has announced plans to release a new record this summer. No Ghost, the follow-up to 2007′s Glory Hope Mountain, is scheduled to hit the shelves of your friendly independent music retailer on June 1st. From the folks at Paper Bag Records: Free from the emotional weightiness of Glory Hope Mountain’s highly personal material, No Ghost features the levity and spontaneity reminiscent of The Acorn’s infamous live shows, all the while showcasing Rolf Klausener’s literate... | Continue reading article

What better way to kick off a long weekend than with an epic party, one where all the proceeds will go to a good cause? Dharma Developments has, for the sixth year in a row, organized URBANA, a massive fundraiser where all the money raised will go to the Ottawa’s Youth Services Bureau. And this is no ordinary fundraiser: attendees will not only see street dance performances (including from Ottawa’s own Funk Delivery – they’re the dancers of the locking, popping, b-boying variety), they can watch as several works of... | Continue reading article

It’s a big musical night on Thursday…For those who are feeling nostalgic, there’s Thrush Hermit. For those that are in a party mood, head on over to the Black Sheep Inn to check out Glenn Nuotio, The Pelts and Brasstronaut. I got to chat with the boys from The Pelts about Promdemonium, the folks they’ll be sharing the stage with in Wakefield and playing for a cause. Apt613: The Pelts is a relatively new band, were you folks involved in the Ottawa music scene before the formation of the band?... | Continue reading article

So, we say it incessantly, but only because it’s true: Ottawa has a ton of hidden secrets. We recently uncovered the Blackbox Concert Series, a set of shows held down at the Irving Greenberg Theatre’s blackbox studio. On Saturday, the series will feature Evening Hymns, along with Ottawa’s beloved son, Giant Hand. Another great secret? Ottawa’s indie film scene, which is having it’s annual gala screening on Saturday night as well. And the Basement Artists will be out and about on Sunday. On to Ottawa’s worst-kept secrets: it’s Timekode week!... | Continue reading article

Trying to put Toronto’s annual Canadian Music Week in terms the average Ottawan can relate to is, I’m finding, not the easiest thing I’ve ever done. CMW’s sort of like Bluesfest – that is, if Bluesfest were spread out across dozens of venues, ran until 4 a.m., and sneered at the mere suggestion live music could be ever be enjoyed from a lawn chair. You could draw a pretty sketchy connection, atmosphere-wise, between Queen Street in Hogtown and Elgin Street during the Sens’ Stanley Cup run a couple of years... | Continue reading article

With all of the budget talk going on around this city, let’s undertake a bit of financial analysis of this weekend’s events: We’re pleased to announce that yes, indeed, there will be some free happenings going on around town. Whether you’d like to gaze at the stars, watch the green parade or participate in a rousing debate on a cohesive civil society, these priceless events will be the highlight of your work-free time. If you’re willing to spend a bit of your hard-earned cash and need a laugh or two,... | Continue reading article

By long-time Ottawan, Samantha Everts, who ended up out west for love but quickly came back to the city she loves. A while back, my best friend decided to cut his teeth on the open mic scene of Ottawa. Having worked on his own stuff for a while he still wasn’t brave enough to go it alone, so I dutifully padded along. Disclaimer- this research has been conducted over the last few years. The first place we hit up was the now closed Elephant and Castle in Rideau Centre. It... | Continue reading article

So, in the interests of giving us all as much time to spend outside as possible (it’s supposed to be 10 above this weekend!), here’s your short and sweet weekend round up: Music! Babylon has two great nights (one and two) in store if you’re looking for a little dancy action. Especially exciting is GOOD2GO at the Elmdale on Saturday night – Ottawa needs more taverns with regular music shows. The regulars playing pool in the background always add a quirky element… Need a new spring wardrobe? Umi Cafe (610... | Continue reading article

Toronto’s Dan Goldman has a great thing going these days: not one but two successful bands.  Sometimes sharing the stage with partner in crime Danielle Gesundheit  in Snowblink sometimes a one-man show with Luxury Pond, Goldman’s a busy man. He’s in town tonight with Thomas Gill and Alex Lukashevsky at 8:30pm at Raw Sugar Cafe for what’s sure to be a feast for the ears. I caught up with him to discuss touring, Owen Pallet and what he’s got planned for 2010. FL: A good friend of mine  mentioned you... | Continue reading article

So we’ve had a lot of music posts this week, but only because this weekend has at least a dozen great opportunities for you to pick and choose from. If you’re in the mood for cooking up a delicious musical stew this weekend, start out with a bit of classical strings on Friday, add in a dash of surf punk rock, and end off with a tasty indie finish. What else can you load onto your social plate? (Yes, we’re going with a food theme this week – what can... | Continue reading article