See the shows Apt613 contributors look forward to most in Ottawa-Gatineau!
After combing through the local listings, Apt613 has come up with a list of interesting concerts in January.
EDITORS’ PICKS
- Fiesta Cubana @ Queen St. Fare, Jan. 4
- Raphael Weinroth-Browne Album Release @ NAC 4th Stage, Jan. 11
- Keturah @ Irene’s Pub, Jan. 17
- Chilly Gonzales @ Southam Hall, Jan. 18
- Bleu Jeans Bleu @ MIFO, Jan. 24
- I Can’t Believe It’s Not: Peter Gabriel @ The 27 Club, Jan. 25
- Jaunt @ Pressed, Jan. 29
- WHOOP-Szo @ Pressed, Jan. 30
- Half Moon Run @ TD Place Arena, Jan. 31
- Ottawa Winter Jazzfest @ Arts Court, Jan. 31–Feb. 1
Find more listings for art, music, theatre, film, dance and festivals in the Apt613 facebook calendar.
Wednesday, January 1
Email your suggestions to <gigpicks@apt613.ca>
Thursday, January 2
All-Star Blues Showcase feat. John Yemensky
Guitarist John Yemensky leads the weekly blues showcase at Irene’s.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 8pm
🎟️ Free Admission
Friday, January 3
Charles Cleyn w/sg Matthew Chaffey
Smooth Ottawa vocalist Charles Cleyn, who has spent the last year writing music abroad, will debut his new songs at LIVE! on Elgin. Special guest Matthew Chaffey (The Split) opens the show.
📍 LIVE! on Elgin
🕓 Doors at 8pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Connie Kaldor & Garnet Rogers
Folk singer-songwriter Connie Kaldor is a triple Juno Award-winner and an Order of Canada recipient!
📍 Azrieli Studio (National Arts Centre)
🕓 8pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Saturday, January 4
The Lucky Setback w/sg Lakehouse, Kat Pug, Maeve Delia
A four-band rock show. Those are always great.
📍 LIVE! on Elgin
🕓 Doors at 7:30pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Rick Pagano
Indie pop singer who got his break on Québec’s star-search tv show, La Voix.
📍 Bar Minotaure
🕓 8pm (Doors at 7pm)
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Okies w/sg Double Magnum, Van Hoan
Alternative folk rock band from Aylmer with solid songs.
📍 The Blacksheep Inn
🕓 8:30pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Fiesta Cubana
Led by pianist Miguel de Armas, this tight band of Ottawa’s best Cuban music and jazz players puts on a hottt salsa dance party at Westboro Beach all summer. They’re at Queen St. Fare for the cold months.
📍 Queen St. Fare
🕓 9pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Stoby Album Release Show w/sg Like a Girl, Deliverables
Fuzzy Ottawa band Stoby is celebrating a new release at Cinqhole.
📍 Cinqhole
🕓 Doors at 8pm
🎟️ $7 at the door
Loon Choir w/sg Saint Clare
An Ottawa indie rock collective that’s been going strong for a decade.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 9pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ $10 at the door
NOBRO w/sg Custodian, Magic Mommy, Hang Nail, DJ Plupo
Montréal garage rock headliners with a solid bill of Ottawa support. Custodian is a new band featuring members of New Swears and The Obsidians. All ages.
📍 House of TARG
🕓 9pm
🎟️ $10 at the door
Sunday, January 5
Megan Jerome Together Ensemble
Jazz, cabaret and r&b band front by Megan Jerome (vocals, keys) and featuring Don Cummings (organ), Fred Guignon (guitar) and Mike Essoudry (drums). Admission is free for kids under 12.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 3pm
🎟️ $10 at the door
Homesafe w/sg Locket, Bogues, Amnita
Chicago pop-punk rock band at The Dom.
📍 The Dominion Tavern
🕓 7:30pm (Doors at 7pm)
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Drew Wesely w/sg LSD Trio
The Improvising Musicians of Ottawa Outaouais (IMOO) present Brooklyn guitar, composer and improviser Drew Wesely.
📍 Cinqhole
🕓 7:30pm
🎟️ PWYC Admission
Monday, January 6
Jeff Rogers
Every week is Pianoman Mondays with Jeff Rogers at Queen St. Fare. The soul singer-songwriter fronts one of our favourite local bands, The Commotions, and is an excellent solo performer too.
📍 Queen St. Fare
🕓 4pm–7pm
🎟️ Free Admission
Tuesday, January 7
Tuesday Night Jazz Jam
The Beeched Wailers host a weekly jam at Irene’s Pub on Tuesdays.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 9:30pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ Free Admission
Wednesday, January 8
Email your suggestions to <gigpicks@apt613.ca>
Thursday, January 9
80s Mix Tape with the NAC Orchestra
3 nights. The NACO with guest conductor Stuart Chafetz play the biggest hits of the 80s. Dress code is 80s flash—don’t expect the orchestra members to wear tuxedos either.
📍 Southam Hall (National Arts Centre)
🕓 7pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
All-Star Blues Showcase feat. Lyle Odjick
Hailing from the Algonquin nation of Kitigan Zibi, blues harmonica player Lyle Odjick features in this week’s All-Star Blues Showcase.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 8pm
🎟️ Free Admission
Roots Movement
Reggae night at The Rainbow.
📍 The Rainbow Bistro
🕓 9pm
🎟️ $7 at the door
Friday, January 10
80s Mix Tape with the NAC Orchestra
The NACO with guest conductor Stuart Chafetz play the biggest hits of the 80s.
📍 Southam Hall (National Arts Centre)
🕓 7pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
The Thrill Tape Release Show w/sg Barnacle, Sleep Late, Klapschmock!
Psych surf punk weirdos putting out a new tape at Cinqhole.
📍 Cinqhole
🕓 9pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ $10 at the door
Big Shiny Tunes Live
A four-piece cover band plays three hours of the most recognizable hits of Big Shiny Tunes compilation playlists.
📍 House of TARG
🕓 9pm
🎟️ $7 at the door
Saturday, January 11
80s Mix Tape with the NAC Orchestra
Last of 3 nights. The NACO with guest conductor Stuart Chafetz play the biggest hits of the 80s.
📍 Southam Hall (National Arts Centre)
🕓 7pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Gordon Grdina’s Nomad Trio
Juno Award-winning Canadian guitarist and oud player Gordon Grdina is playing with a heavy trio of NYC improvisors.
📍 Gigspace
🕓 7:30pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Nick Schofield: Ambient Ensemble
Ottawa via Montréal composer Nick Schofield (Saxsyndrum) will be on synthesizer. He’s invited special guests Yolande Laroche (Pony Girl, mal/aimé), Philippe Charbonneau (Scattered Clouds, Hilotrons) and Gabrielle Giguere (Her Harbour) for accompaniment.
📍 Cinqhole
🕓 8pm (Doors at 7:30pm)
🎟️ Buy Tickets
New Poetics EP Release Show w/sg Neha Sin
Sibling music and poetry duo New Poetics a.k.a. Ayesha and Zaakirah Chubb are launching a new EP, springtide. Snacks, juice and tea provided. Origin Arts is a dry venue.
📍 Origin Arts & Community Centre
🕓 8pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Billy MacInnis w/sg Pat Johnson, Ray Harris
Good ol’ fashioned Canadiana folk music. Billy MacInnis is a third-generation fiddle player from PEI who featured in Stompin’ Tom’s band for a decade.
📍 Pressed
🕓 Doors at 8pm
🎟️ $15 at the door
Peter Elkas
Canadian pop singer-songwriter with an album on Joel Plaskett’s New Scotland Records label.
📍 LIVE! on Elgin
🕓 Doors at 8pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Raphael Weinroth-Browne Album Release Show
Ottawa cello hero Raphael Weinroth-Browne (The Visit, Muskox, Kamancello) releases his debut solo album Worlds Within.
📍 Fourth Stage (National Arts Centre)
🕓 8:30pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Pkew Pkew Pkew
T.O. pizza punk skateboard rock beer band.
📍 The 27 Club
🕓 8:30pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Area Resident w/sg Golden Seals
A double bill of bands rocking new albums.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 9pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Minor Empire
Trippy, psychedelic Turkish-inspired music with superb vocals.
📍 Mercury Lounge
🕓 9pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Keys N Krates
Toronto hip hop and electronic group with turntables, live keys and drums.
📍 Barrymore’s
🕓 Doors at 10pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Sunday, January 12
Email your suggestions to <gigpicks@apt613.ca>
Monday, January 13
Jeff Rogers
Every week is Pianoman Mondays with Jeff Rogers at Queen St. Fare.
📍 Queen St. Fare
🕓 4pm–7pm
🎟️ Free Admission
Roxanne Potvin’s Monday Night Music Club
Juno Award-nominated songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Roxanne Potvin is a local treasure.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 8pm
🎟️ PWYC Admission
Tuesday, January 14
Tuesday Night Jazz Jam
The Beeched Wailers host a weekly jam at Irene’s Pub on Tuesdays.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 9:30pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ Free Admission
Wednesday, January 15
Gabriela Montero w/ the NAC Orchestra
2 nights. Solo pianist Gabriela Montero plays Schumann with the NAC Orchestra conducted by Alexander Shelley.
📍 Southam Hall (National Arts Centre)
🕓 8pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Thursday, January 16
Gabriela Montero w/ the NAC Orchestra
Last of 2 nights. Solo pianist Gabriela Montero plays Schumann with the NAC Orchestra conducted by Alexander Shelley.
📍 Southam Hall (National Arts Centre)
🕓 8pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
All-Star Blues Showcase feat. Murray and Leigh-Ann
That’s what the website says. We don’t know Murray and Leigh-Ann, personally, but we’re sure they must be very nice people.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 8pm
🎟️ Free Admission
Roots Movement
Reggae night at The Rainbow.
📍 The Rainbow Bistro
🕓 9pm
🎟️ $7 at the door
Friday, January 17
Alex Cuba
Cuban-Canadian Juno Award and Latin Grammy Award-winner Alex Cuba is touring a new album.
📍 Babs Asper Theatre (National Arts Centre)
🕓 7:30pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Keturah w/sg Jonathan Pearce, Claude Munson
A triple bill of top class local singer-songwriters.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 9pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ $12 at the door
Saturday, January 18
Chilly Gonzales
The Musical Genius Chilly Gonzales a.k.a. Gonzo returns to the NAC. The composer, pianist, rapper, producer is a larger-than-life entertainer. Must see live. His concert at Dominion-Chalmers was a highlight of the Music & Beyond festival in 2015.
📍 Southam Hall (National Arts Centre)
🕓 8pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Room Control w/sg Clavius, Yarns
Montréal instrumental, psych groove krautrock.
📍 Pressed
🕓 8:30pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ $10 at the door
Souldia w/sg Naya Ali
Québec hip hop with a big following.
📍 Bar Minotaure
🕓 9pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Alanna Sterling & The Silvers w/sg Justin Alexander Trio
After a hiatus of several months, Alanna Sterling & The Silvers are back with new jazz, soul, rock folk and vaudeville tunes.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 9:30pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ $10 at the door
Muffler Crunch Album Release Show w/sg The Sick Things, In Heat, Onionface
Heavy Ottawa duo Muffler Crunch is celebrating a new record at House of TARG.
📍 House of TARG
🕓 10pm (Doors at 9pm)
🎟️ $10 at the door
Sunday, January 19
2020 Chinese New Year Concert
The visiting Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra has prepared a program of Chinese composers and folk songs as well as one short Chopin piece.
📍 Southam Hall (National Arts Centre)
🕓 7:30pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Monday, January 20
Jeff Rogers
Every week is Pianoman Mondays with Jeff Rogers at Queen St. Fare.
📍 Queen St. Fare
🕓 4pm–7pm
🎟️ Free Admission
Philippe Sly: Winterreise
Bass-baritone Philippe Sly and his klezmer ensemble reimagine Schubert’s Winterreise.
📍 Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre
🕓 7:30pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Girls to the Front Showcase
Hosted by Julie Corrigan, the monthly showcase features special guests Lynn Miles and Brea Lawrenson in January.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 8pm
🎟️ Free Admission
Tuesday, January 21
Tuesday Night Jazz Jam
The Beeched Wailers host a weekly jam at Irene’s Pub on Tuesdays.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 9:30pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ Free Admission
Wednesday, January 22
Email your suggestions to <gigpicks@apt613.ca>
Thursday, January 23
All-Star Blues Showcase feat. Spencer Scharf
Folk, rock, blues guitarist and songwriter Spencer Scharf leads the (free) weekly blues showcase at Irene’s Pub.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 8pm
🎟️ Free Admission
Ottawa Jazz Orchestra: Lessons From Miles
A tribute to the late, great jazz artist Miles Davis. OJO bassist and director Adrian Cho will emcee.
📍 Fourth Stage (National Arts Centre)
🕓 8:30pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Roots Movement
Reggae night at The Rainbow.
📍 The Rainbow Bistro
🕓 9pm
🎟️ $7 at the door
Friday, January 24
Organ Eyes w/sg The Monotymes, Teenage Fiction
Psych grunge, indie dream pop and punk on one bill at Cinqhole.
📍 Cinqhole
🕓 Doors at 8pm
🎟️ PWYC Admission
Bleu Jeans Bleu
Out in Orléans, ADISQ (Québec) nominees for the Groupe pop de l’année and Album pop de l’année perform at MIFO.
📍 Centre Culturel MIFO
🕓 8pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Moskitto Bar
An original mix of Balkan, Ukrainian, Iraqi, and French Celtic Music.
📍 Fourth Stage (National Arts Centre)
🕓 8:30pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Bad Volunteers w/sg The Obsidians
Loud guitars, energetic performers.
📍 LIVE! on Elgin
🕓 9pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ Buy Tickets
JW Jones Blues Band
A local Juno Award-nominated blues guitarist and bandleader.
📍 The Rainbow Bistro
🕓 9pm
🎟️ $20 at the door
Graven Album Release Show w/sg Still Winter Hills
Graven a.k.a. singer-songwriter Matty McKechnie debuts his new album Years with a new band.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 9:30pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ $12 at the door
Saturday, January 25
I Can’t Believe It’s Not: Peter Gabriel
A supergroup of local musicians perform Gabriel’s 1986 masterpiece, So, from front to back. Featured artists include Jon Hynes, Keturah Johnson, Sarah Bradley (Fevers), Jonathan Pearce (Winchester Warm), and Jamieson MacKay (Shadowhand).
📍 The 27 Club
🕓 9pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
BisonBison Album Release Show
A Toronto collective of djs, producers, drums, harp and vocals. The new album, Hover, drops on February 7th.
📍 Cinqhole
🕓 Doors at 8pm
🎟️ $10 at the door
Mikhail Laxton
Laxton, an Australian songwriter who calls Ottawa home, is performing live at Calabogie Brewing Co.’s Kanata taproom. Event proceeds and a dollar from every beer is going to an Australian wildlife rescue organization in this time of need.
📍 Calabogie Brewing Co.
🕓 7:30pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Not Hits EP Release Show w/sg Dad Sports
An Apt613 contributor heard about this show from their daughter… So either we’re getting old, or this show has cred! They’re a young local band which Ottawa Showbox called “that summer indie band that brings warmth to even the coldest months,” in a February 2018 review. They’re at LIVE! on Elgin celebrating the release of a new EP, Born in the Basement.
📍 LIVE! on Elgin
🕓 9pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Sunday, January 26
Caveboy
Dreamy Montréal art pop.
📍 LIVE! on Elgin
🕓 Doors at 8pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Monday, January 27
Jeff Rogers
Every week is Pianoman Mondays with Jeff Rogers at Queen St. Fare.
📍 Queen St. Fare
🕓 4pm–7pm
🎟️ Free Admission
Tuesday, January 28
Tuesday Night Jazz Jam
The Beeched Wailers host a weekly jam at Irene’s Pub on Tuesdays.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 9:30pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ Free Admission
Wednesday, January 29
Bryan Cheng w/ the NAC Orchestra
Peter Oundjian returns after over two decades to conduct the NAC Orchestra for their program Oundjian Conducts Dvořák. Featuring Ottawa-born cellist Bryan Cheng, the orchestra will perform works by Elgar, Dvořák, and Clyne. Edward Elgar’s gut wrenching lament Cello Concerto will be performed by Bryan Cheng. The Concerto is comprised of four movements, written in the midst of his own illness and the aftermath of World War I. Antonin Dvořák’s Symphony No. 6 is a stunning four-movement piece full of beautiful melodies that radiate the pastoral tradition. Anne Clyne’s somber and powerful Within Her Arms is a piece for fifteen strings. The content of the piece was a response to her mother’s unexpected death, emitting sounds of grief and loss.
📍 Southam Hall (National Arts Centre)
🕓 8pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Jaunt w/sg Dan Edmonds
Weird Toronto pop-rock band. Their last show at Pressed was sold out.
📍 Pressed
🕓 8:30pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Thursday, January 30
Day 1 – Ottawa Winter Jazzfest
Winter Jazzfest kicks off with shows at various Arts Court venues. The local Stevie Wonder tribute headlines at 9pm in Arts Court Theatre. From Sweden, experimental saxophonist Mats Gustafsson plays Club SAW at 7:45pm. Cellist Clarice Jensen’s “For This From That Will Be Filled” multimedia show starts at 10:15pm in Club SAW. Read the full lineup here.
📍 Arts Court
🕓 Schedule
🎟️ Buy Tickets
All-Star Blues Showcase feat. Scott Amey
The guitarist for local ska legends, Rudeboy, Amey leads this week’s blues showcase at Irene’s.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 8pm
🎟️ Free Admission
WHOOP-Szo w/sg No Mistakes in Space, Zoon
An intense psych rock band from London, Ontario. The new record is amazing but you have to see them live.
📍 Pressed
🕓 8:30pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Friday, January 31
Day 2 – Ottawa Winter Jazzfest
Day 2 highlights include The Larnell Lewis Band at 6:30pm, FET.NAT at 7:45pm, straightahead headliners in the Joel Frahm Trio at 9pm, a collaboration between Colin Stetson (bass sax) and visiting artist Mats Gustafsson (bari sax) at 10:15pm, ending with Amsterdam’s Tin Men & The Telephone present futuristic show at 11pm.
📍 Arts Court
🕓 Schedule
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Half Moon Run w/sg Taylor Janzen
Montréal indie rock stars with an Ottawa connection. Lead singer Devon Portielje was born here.
📍 TD Place Arena
🕓 8pm (Doors at 7pm)
🎟️ Buy Tickets
The Jim Cuddy Band
Canadian favourite Jim Cuddy is touring his new record, which all the reviews say is very much a “band record” to see performed live.
📍 Southam Hall (National Arts Centre)
🕓 8pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
TRP.P
A Toronto duo breaking out on the r&b/hip hop scene.
📍 Fourth Stage (National Arts Centre)
🕓 8:30pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
The Jivewires
A 7-piece “jump blues” band playing jazz hits from 1940’s and 50’s greats.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 9:30pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ $10 at the door
Saturday, February 1
Day 3 – Ottawa Winter Jazzfest
On the third and final night of Winter Jazzfest: Colin Stetson (6:30pm), Dan Tepfer’s Natural Machines (duo show with an AI musician at 7:45pm), Quartetski playing John Cage’s Four6 (9pm), Becca Stevens Band (9pm), and the Allison Au Quartet (10:30pm).
📍 Arts Court
🕓 Schedule
🎟️ Buy Tickets
The Blue Stones w/sg Mute Choir
Canadian rock duo touring North America this winter.
📍 The 27 Club
🕓 7:30pm (Doors at 7pm)
🎟️ Buy Tickets
iskwē
The Winnipeg-born, Hamilton-based Iskwē has Cree/Dene and Irish roots, and her lyrics often address issues that affect First Nations communities.
📍 Azrieli Studio (National Arts Centre)
🕓 8pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
The Strumbellas w/sg Neon Dreams
The Canadian indie rock and folk band’s new album Rattlesnake came out in 2019.
📍 Southam Hall (National Arts Centre)
🕓 8pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Jon Bryant w/sg Joshua Hyslop
Halifax via Vancouver songwriter Jon Bryant plays up at The Blacksheep with Praire folk artist Joshua Hyslop.
📍 The Blacksheep Inn
🕓 8:30pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
Jack Pine and The Fire
The Ottawa band with Juno Award and Canadian Folk Music Award nominations is celebrating an 8-year anniversary.
📍 Irene’s Pub
🕓 9pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ Buy Tickets
The Lionyls w/sg Beachfires
Local rock and soul band The Lionyls is one of the tightest bands in town.
📍 LIVE! on Elgin
🕓 9pm (Doors at 8pm)
🎟️ Buy Tickets
King Buffalo w/sg The Deadseers
Rochester NY psych stoner rock with a heavy rock Ottawa opener.
📍 The Dominion Tavern
🕓 Doors at 9pm
🎟️ Buy Tickets
