Capital Music Awards celebrate Ottawa’s growing music scene
The fifth annual Capital Music Awards highlighted Ottawa's music scene last Thursday with a sold-out show at the Bronson Centre Music Theatre.
Summer beat: Live music returning to downtown Ottawa
Free live music is returning to Ottawa's downtown core this summer.
Capital Music Awards nominees celebrate Ottawa’s support of local artists
Ottawa Music Industry Coalition has announced the 2024 Capital Music Award nominees.
Ottawa Bluesfest main stage lineup has many asking: Where are the women?
Ottawa's Bluesfest announces its 30th-anniversary lineup featuring predominantly male headliners, sparking controversy and social media outcry over gender representation.
Ottawa band Side-Eye and Grace defies genres
Side-Eye and Grace is an Ottawa-based band that explores the intersection between classical music, folk, jazz, and experimental pop.
Free Ottawa concert series eases disappointment of cancelled Ice Dragon Boat Festival
The Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival cancels its annual race for the second consecutive year due to warm weather, but shifts focus to a successful free concert series featuring Canadian musicians.
The jig is definitely up: Saint Brigid’s filled with Irish singing and dancing — just wait for St. Patrick’s Day
More than 100 participants enjoyed a Céilí at St. Brigid’s Centre for the Arts, featuring dances, music, and Irish culture.
Two years after it almost closed, The Rainbow is thriving
The Rainbow Bistro almost closed down in 2021 and the venue has taken on new life after being given a second chance.
Musical goosebumps: McGill study finds evidence chills produced by favourite songs may lessen pain — but it’s complicated
New research conducted by the Roy Pain Lab at McGill University helps to answer the question of why music can help reduce physical pain. While preliminary results imply musical "chills" are the underlying cause, experts debate the merit of this research for improving music-based pain therapies.
‘The Mummy’ emerges from his tomb to take stage in third New Opera Lyra ‘gothic’ production
New Opera Lyra, a local opera company, is putting on an original production entitled "The Mummy" just in time for Halloween.
Yes I Can!: Michelle Obama’s inspiring story comes to the musical stage at Centrepointe
Yes I Can! is a new musical featuring the life of Michelle Obama, tells a story about family sacrifice, love and determination.
Inclusive choir Tone Cluster embarks on 30th year as a ‘chosen family’ in Ottawa
Choir members reflect on the 2SLGBTQIA+ choir's legacy and the importance of designated safe spaces.
Hardcore tunes and some heavy judgment: the myths about Ottawa’s alternative music scene
With the fall season fast approaching, and Halloween around the corner, live music and social events are being organized to celebrate Ottawa’s alternative music scene. Despite harmful misconceptions, goths, emos, metalheads and punks alike have been working to keep Ottawa’s alternative music scene alive.
Music festival bolstered community spirit at Nepean farm
Hundreds of community members gathered to see live music and make memories at the second annual BeetBox Farm Music Festival in Nepean.
TikTok rocks: Social posts help retro record store reap rewards of vinyl resurgence
TikTok rocks the sales for Ottawa based record store.
Project V in photos: Sold-out Ottawa fashion and music show just the beginning
Organizers are thrilled at the turnout and enthusiasm for Project V, an event fashion, music and more.
The 23rd Ottawa Indigenous Children and Youth Pow Wow welcomes everyone back to celebrate First Nations culture
The annual Ottawa Indigenous Children and Youth Pow Wow is back after a three-year hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Event organizers stress the importance of fostering community between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Piqued interest: Festival showcased city’s underground music scene
The quarterly festival Pique welcomes Spring with a lineup of diverse musical artists, film screenings and art installations.
Ottawa Jazz Festival recovering but more international travellers would help
Ottawa Jazz Festival is slowly recovering from the pandemic, but a lack of international tourists is stifling growth.
Activists urge greening of Canada’s music industry — and cheaper transit
Activists are calling on governments, musicians, and event organizers to help contribute to a greener future for the music industry.
It’s a wrap: Spotify’s year-end snapshot of users’ music tastes is a holiday treat
For Capital Current's Andrea Pulgarin Villasmil, Spotify Wrapped season gives rise to some entertaining controversies online.
Resurgent ’emo’ subculture reminds a troubled world it’s okay to be ‘not okay’
“Emo” is a largely American, music-based subculture that gained traction in the early 2000s, eventually going global, before fading into the background around 2014-2015. It is making a comeback in the wake of the pandemic and Trump.
Paying it forward: Aylmer art sale supports music initiative for underprivileged youth
An art show at L’Imagier Galleries in Aylmer raised $3,125 to support the work of Produced by Youth, a community organization that provides free music production workshops for underprivileged youth in the national capital.
Successful summer for festivals, hotel visits signals tourism comeback after lockdown losses
Summer surge in tourism welcome news for businesses and visitors alike.
Anastasia’s journey: Musical offers a much needed message of hope and courage
Musical tells the story of the woman pretending to the the last Romanov princess to enjoyable life.
The CNE is back and packed with happy patrons enjoying the food, the fun and the fair
The CNE has made a triumphant return to Toronto, Capital Current finds.
IBPOC music professionals need more representation and inclusivity in the industry, panel says
IBPOC music workers gathered at the National Gallery of Canada to recommend improvements for an inclusive live music industry.
Broadway Across Canada brings Dear Evan Hansen to Ottawa
Hit musical Dear Evan Hansen makes its Ottawa debut Aug. 9.
Jazz hands all around: Toronto’s Beaches festival makes musical return after two-year pandemic pause
Toronto's Beaches Jazz Festival closed on a high note this past weekend.
You Oughta Know: Jagged Little Pill on new season of Broadway Across Canada shows
Jagged Little Pill is one of five musicals in the 2022-23 season presented by Broadway Across Canada in Southam Hall at the National Arts Centre.
Local music industry beats pandemic blues with third Encore Ottawa virtual concert series
The Ottawa Music Industry Coalition is hosting Encore Ottawa 3, a series of virtual concerts featuring local musicians as a way to beat the pandemic blues.
Driven by nostalgia and pandemic angst, vinyl thrives in the digital age — could CDs be next?
Vinyl record sales are soaring driven by the interest on people under 34 years of age.
City’s summer music festivals pumped for 2022 comeback: ‘We are part of Ottawa’s social fabric’
The lifting of pandemic restrictions means that Ottawa's summer music festivals will be back this year and that's got fans and organizers pumped.
The Red Bird is Live: Local musicians welcome new venue to Ottawa’s music scene
Red Bird Live, a new music venue in Old Ottawa South, hosts live performances, music lessons and weekly events to give local artists the spotlight.
Singer-songwriter Rachel Bobbitt brings her summer soundtrack sound to the NAC
Canadian singer-songwriter Rachel Bobbitt talks about her music prior to an upcoming performance at the NAC in Ottawa.
Indie theatre in Ottawa fights for creativity amidst convoy chaos and COVID constraints
Many venues have shut their doors to protect the safety of civilians and workers alike. But despite the ongoing occupation and the ongoing threat of COVID-19, one little indie theatre is fighting to keep dreams and creativity alive.
Byward Market gets a taste of Mexican culture with Day of the Dead celebration
In the heart of Ottawa, the fifth edition of the Day of the Dead took place in the Byward Market from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1.
CityFolk, Bluesfest a ‘kick off’ for Ottawa fall festivals
Live music return to Ottawa with a successful opening weekend at CityFolk followed by a weekend of Bluesfest.
Three steps forward? Ottawa venues welcome reopening but still look to a better fall
Step 3 in Ontario's reopening plan is opening the door to a return to performances in theatres and other venues, but it's not back to normal yet.
TikTok now wielding a huge influence over who rises to the top in today’s music industry
TikTok has a huge influence over the music industry. It has the power to make songs popular and push artists into fame.
Ottawa Symphony Orchestra emerges from the pandemic under new artist-led management and no deficit
The 56 year old Ottawa Symphony Orchestra (OSO) has undergone a massive makeover in a bid to to remain sustainable and relevant after the COVID-19 pandemic. The key administrative change involves the creation of an Artistic Planning Committee in place of a conductor and artistic director. The contract with Alain Trudel, the former artistic director ended in 2020. “I think...
COVID consequences: Ontario arts organizations rally against “unfair” reopening restrictions
Arts groups across Ontario are expressing concern about the province's reopening plan and the limitations it places on performance.
Song becomes an anthem for the fight against homelessness in Kingston
Lauren Carson and the Dirty Blonde held a virtual concert to raise money for the cause of homelessness in Kingston.
Capital Music Awards to highlight resilience of Ottawa’s recording artists
The second Capital Music Awards will take place online on May 7.
‘A magical place’: Grammy-nominated songwriter sings Ottawa high school’s praises
Grammy-nominated songwriter and musician Kaan Gunesberk fondly remembers his formative experience at Ottawa's Canterbury High School.
Performing artists profoundly punished by the pandemic, arts groups say
The impact of the pandemic on performing artists has been profound, arts organizations say
The 25th Hour: Hauler turns its creativity to a new way of touring during pandemic
When COVID-19 hit, Celtic band Hauler had to cancel their tour and find new ways to promote their first album.
Faces of change: Wise Atangana works to empower Black youth
Wise Atangana hopes to open a cultural centre to empower young Black artists in Ottawa.
Ottawa fans are doing their part to help Korean boy band BTS dominate the music scene
BTS have been dominating the international music scene, and it's thanks to their dedicated fans.
Ottawa artist, musician keeps creating even as COVID-19 threatens his safety
Chris Binkowski recently celebrated his 40th birthday, something few people with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy achieve. He is also an artist and musician dealing with COVID-19 from an assited living facility.