The Woodrunners have been honing their skills for the last few years on stages all over Ottawa and beyond. These “five guys who like playing music together” are releasing their debut EP today, Friday, April 9th at the Elmdale House Tavern (1084 Wellington St.) with a little help from The Withering Pines’ Eric Vieweg. Doors at 9:30. If you can’t make it down, check out the EP on their site at www.woodrunners.com. I got the chance to chat with the band about their proudest moment, taxidermied squirrel and rebel fur-trader.... | Continue reading article

Certain body parts are said to have a mind of their own. You know the ones I’m talking about: those appendages that like to remind you that the fun comes now and the consequences later. If they could talk, would they be remorseful for all the trouble they caused, or would they just start blabbing about all the fun you could be having but aren’t? Nadine Thornhill, an award-winning poet, playwright, blogger and actor, is about to have that very intimate conversation. As the feature act in this month’s edition... | Continue reading article

How to recover from the gorgeous indulgence that was last weekend’s weather? If all of this rain has got you down, then cheer yourself up, starting tonight: perhaps some crafting, movies, art or some local music stylings will bring a little sunshine to your life. If you’re looking for a few volts of excitement, Electric Eclectic will charge you up with art, music and poetry – all for a good cause. For more of a spine tingling time, check out the murder mystery playing out in the Glebe. This stroller-filled... | Continue reading article

So this long weekend is feeling awfully like the May two-four weekend – summer-like weather, open patios, lots of sunshine… If you don’t have the usual May camping trips organized, however, you’ll be fine: there’s still plenty to do out and about in Ottawa. First off: Ottawa Roller Derby is hosting Roller Disco on Saturday night – no need to bring your own skates, either. They’ve got plenty! For more heart rate-increasing fun, head on down for a dance party at Babylon’s FRENZY night, featuring DJs Bok Bok and Drastik.... | Continue reading article

So the LCBO is closed and you probably have the day off tomorrow. Start your long weekend off right by taking in one (or several) of the art openings happening around town tonight and tomorrow. Here’s a quick run-down, but feel free to add any others in the comments.

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 been a busy week here on the blog – we’ve been posting like mad and had some great meetings with contributors. So while some of us here might just want to kick back, eat sushi and play Perudo, for those of you hankering to go out on the town, there’s plenty to do this weekend. First off, Ottawa’s largest antiquing event is happening down at Carleton. You might have to sift through a few boxes for that really great find, but it will be worth the $8 entry fee.... | 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

I hate to admit it, but for me the words “English Canadian cinema” conjures up visions of Paul Gross in a shmaltzy history flic or else Joshua Jackson looking moody on a motorcycle. While many of my friends jump all over Made-in-Canada produce, booze or fashion, the buy local movement has yet to make an impact on our choices at the box office. So you can imagine my surprise when a couple of weeks ago I found out that Cube – one of my top ten favorite horror films –... | Continue reading article