Canailles Keep Doing Backflips

 No matter how many members they currently have, Montreal's Canailles have always had a frantic energy to their music. The band's ability to mix folk, punk and Cajun influences into one of the best live shows in Canada has made them a hit nationally and around the world. Their latest

Big Wreck Forms New Memories

 Whether on hold or resurrected, Big Wreck has been a consistent staple of the Canadian music diet for the last few decades. After their hiatus, singer Ian Thornley is finding the band as exciting as ever, with his years as a solo artist making each new record feel even deeper

It’s Always Sing Song Party Time With Derek McKinley

 As a child Derek McKinley remembers Raffi, lots of Raffi. Whereas other youngsters may have been content bopping to the music, it was the lyrics that he latched onto. He still recalls the silly stories and songs that once sent his child-self spinning in circles while clutching a record sleeve

Kenny G. Comes to the NAC

 Photo courtesy of the National Arts Centre There are many things I could tell you about myself that might surprise you or you may find ‘uncool’. For instance, I know a lot about The Young and The Restless (I have been checking in on the happenings of Genoa City for years);

Trooper Ready to Raise a Little Hell at Grey Cup Fest

 After 40 years on the road, Trooper knows what works best for them, and while they haven't put out new material in quite some time, that's perfectly fine with them. Evolving with the times, the "Raise A Little Hell" hit-makers keep bringing the heat on tour, and have made a

Casper Skulls Make Songs From Skeletons

 Casper Skulls certainly don't shy away from the dark tones their name may suggest, but the debut album from this Toronto rock outfit shows a much deeper understanding of music. After a strong EP release, the band's debut Mercy Works shows a band not just ready to make a start

Timber Timbre’s Fiction Becomes Reality

 Photo by Caroline Desilets After a decade of music and five albums, Timber Timbre looked to science fiction for inspiration. What they found however was that the reality was stranger than fiction, leading them towards  a dystopian, synth-rock. Flying out to France, the band huddled up in a bizarre studio,

Greatest Hits or Better Than Nothing? Q&A With Brad Sucks

 While spinning Ottawa musician Brad Turcotte’s (aka: Brad Sucks) new Greatest Hits album you learn two things once the dizziness wears off. One, this dude is kinda’ ballsy to put out a Hits disc after only three albums and, two, this guy sucks less than a broken pawn shop vacuum cleaner.

Hey Ocean! Reach a Sea Change

 Photos courtesy of Paquin Artists Agency  After a decade together, Hey Ocean! needed time apart. Taking a break to work on their own projects, singer Ashleigh Ball finally dived wholeheartedly into her work as a voice actress as well. Being able to get their live back together, the band have already

A Touchdown of Concerts for Grey Cup Festival

 We've got some tickets to give away to the Grey Cup Festival. Enter here to win.   Sure, Winter’s coming but there’s something else in the Ottawa air these days. Okay, we get it, the hometown team isn't in the big game but that doesn't mean you can't get out

Album Reviews: November 13, 2017

 Baxter Dury - Prince of Tears  (England) While Baxter Dury (son of UK Punk legend Ian Dury) may still be somewhat of an unknown outside of his native England, he makes a strong case for his breakthrough on his latest record. Proving aggressive unconventional sounds mixed with clever pop writing

No Need to Shush, This Music is Just Fine in the Ottawa Library

 There’s a lot you can snag from the stacks of the Ottawa Public Library. Bookworms, of course, have an endless supply but there’s also flicks for the cinephile, games for the gamer and CDs for the music lover. But what if you want to make music as much as you

Album Reviews: October 31, 2017

 Casper Skulls - Mercy Works  (Toronto) A captivating force on a stage, Casper Skulls always had a more gritty sound on record that felt like a different side of their live beast. Finally releasing their debut and introducing strings to the mix, they have a record that not only feels

The Rural Alberta Advantage Regroup

 The Rural Alberta Advantage have had quite the shakeup recently. As founding member Amy Cole left the band, they found new life with Robin Hatch, setting them on an interesting new course. Having to sort out their new lineup and dynamics on the road, they've managed to their new album

Album Reviews: October 23, 2017

 Beck - Colors  (Los Angeles) No one consistently surprises listeners quite like Beck has been able to do across his 20 years in the business. Going back to overt pop on his latest release Beck blends equal parts dance and utterly weird for a record that delightfully bizarre. "Colors" sweeps

Album Reviews: August 18, 2017

 Downtown Boys - Cost of Living (Rhode Island) Riding the wave of modern punk that's still pushing boundaries, Downtown Boys' latest offering is rough in the best possible way, offering their own take on the throttling punk that made bands like their label-mates Priests, so addictive in the first place.

TLC’s Dreams Aren’t Waterfalls Anymore

 Photos by Evan Keller  TLC have had quite a rollercoaster career as far as 90s pop bands go. Even with big hits like "No Scrubs" and "Waterfalls" the band faced financial ruin in their early days and just as they started to hold their own, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was

Album Reviews: August 12, 2017

 Soccer Mommy  - Collection (Nashville) Effectively making a best-of of her previous releases on collection, Sophie Allison aka Soccer Mommy trims the fat to give listeners the perfect starting point for her Girlpool meets Chastity Belt style of writing. Starting on the self-referential "Allison" the album opens on glowing guitars

Album Reviews: August 7, 2017

 Arcade Fire- Everything Now (Montreal) While any Arcade Fire album these days is undoubtedly going to be hyped to its own detriment, their fifth album does a lot to improve on the missteps of Reflektor. Tighter as a whole and truly only weak at times from the other highs of

Two new releases for Ana Miura in 2017

 Photos by James Looker Ottawa’s beloved Ana Miura has some news to share. She has captivated audiences since her 2005 EP, Tenacious Heart and now in 2017, she is releasing not just one, but two works of art over the coming months!  Up first was the release, on July 21,

Album Reviews: July 31, 2017

 Tyler, The Creator - Flower Boy (California) Pulling the hate out of his music and personal life has seemed to have had a cleansing affect on Tyler, The Creator. A much more sonically rich album than he's put out in some time, the album is much more lyrically dense as

Crazy for the Fools

 Ottawa Life’s Festival City Series is back! We'll provide a unique look at some of your favourite events. We’ll go beyond the music with artist interviews, volunteer profiles, concert reviews and spotlights on the tastes, sights and sounds of the festival season.  Your city! Your festivals and events! Like a good sunscreen,

Bluesfest’s Local Flair – Part 1

 Ottawa Life’s Festival City Series is back! We'll provide a unique look at some of your favourite events. We’ll go beyond the music with artist interviews, volunteer profiles, concert reviews and spotlights on the tastes, sights and sounds of the festival season.  Your city! Your festivals and events! Like a good sunscreen,

Music & Motherhood

 Photos by Valerie Keeler One night she reaches for a guitar, another night a bottle to feed her child. One rainy afternoon she’s composing music, another she’s writing a grocery list. She holds onto melodies in her mind while hugging her son. She sings to strangers. She sings her daughter

Ice on Fire, the Rising Inferno of Malak

 Feature photo by Tarek Ghanem “Only when you stop looking for other people to tell you you’re good and just start knowing it will you start becoming successful,” says singer-songwriter Malak, expressing a wisdom that waltzes comfortably around her youth. At 21, the newcomer is well of aware of the gesso