Baptism by Firepower with Judas Priest

 Photos by Renée Boucher Doiron Metal Maniacs ready for Judas Priest! “Louder,” bellows somebody from the seats behind me. He was dressed in so much dark clothing he could pratically be a shadow. Well, this shadow came to rock and the volume needed to push 13 to satiate his appetite. I

Still at Peace 25 years later – Our Lady Peace, One of Canada’s Most Enduring Bands

 Founded in 1992 by Raine Maida, Our Lady Peace is one of Canada’s most enduring bands. Despite a few line-up changes over the years, the essence of OLP lives on through its lead singer and lyricist. The band kept fans waiting 5 years for new material until Somethingness was released

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

Festival Recap: Music & Beyond

 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,

Rocking for Rogers House

 Do you like music? Of course you do. How about music for a great cause? From Friday June 3rd to Sunday June 5th, the charming La Piazza restaurant is putting on its 7th annual, 3-day rock concert as part of Manotick’s Dickinson Days Festival. The event comes about every year

Get Starstruck with Kodaline

 Vincent May (drums), Jason Boland (bass guitar), Steve Garrigan (lead vocalist), Mark Prendergrast (lead guitar). Photo courtesy of Ben Johnson. Kodaline has made a splash in the indie rock scene. Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, the group has performed together since 2005 (as 21 Demands). In 2011, Jason Boland joined and Kodaline was

The Journey of ‘Five Crooked Lines’

 Finger Eleven has made a bold return to the Canadian music scene with the release of their sixth studio album, Five Crooked Lines. For the new record’s launch, the band has lined up a full summer tour across North America which includes a stop in Ottawa on August 13. Five Crooked

Could This Be Your Shot?

 Round five of Slaight Music’s annual talent search kicks off August 1, and this year’s “It’s Your Shot” is offering up a huge opportunity for Canadian musicians. The prize, which includes promotion from Maple Music Recordings, a professional photo session, an artist website and the chance to perform at a

The Brothers at Bluesfest

 Roots-rockers, The Bros. Landreth will be showcasing their unique “Canadiana” style at Ottawa’s Bluesfest this Sunday. With wailing electric guitars, thundering organs and naturally harmonious vocals, at first listen The Bros. Landreth may sound like they hail from the American south, and not from the isolated prairies of Manitoba. “Down

Bluesfest Beats

 Photo courtesy of Steve G The RBC Ottawa Bluesfest is here! As the festival plays on, OLM will continue to highlight must-see performances by some of the acts that you may have not yet discovered–so Ottawa music lovers listen up! An exciting variety of bands and artists will rock the festival this

Taylor Swift Sparkles at the Canadian Tire Centre

 Photo by George Pimentel/Getty Images for TS “After five long years of not coming to see you, it is so good to be back in Ottawa," Taylor Swift told the screaming fans at the Canadian Tire Centre on July 6. The pop powerhouse and singer-songwriter stopped by the Capital along

Bluesfest Beats

 Photo by Steve G The countdown to RBC Ottawa Bluesfest is on. As the weeks leading up to the festival go by, OLM will continue to highlight must-see performances by some of the acts that you may have not yet discovered—so Ottawa music lovers listen up! An exciting variety of

Steven Wilson Brings Psychedelic Soundscapes to Gatineau

 A night of eclectic and engaging rock guitar awaits you this summer at the Theatre du Casino Lac-Leamy. Prolific guitarist, keyboardist and composer Steven Wilson will be performing in Gatineau on June 30. It will be Wilson’s first time performing in Gatineau and will no doubt be a night to

Folk Rock Hits the Road to Ottawa

 Shining headlights across the country, Vancouver-based folk rock band The River and The Road are touring Canada in support of their new album. They will be stopping in Ottawa on Thursday, May 14, for a performance at Cafe Dekcuf. The band started off as a busking duo, consisting of singer

Experiencing Wonderkind

 Learn what it means to feel “wonderkind” with the cross-Canada tour of Language Arts this spring. Toronto’s unique alternative jazz-pop band has been together for ten years, although it has been a rotating door in terms of members. Currently the band consists of classically trained Kristen Cudmore, drummer Neil MacIntosh, keyboardist Joel

Samantha Testa: Sing Your Soul Out

 Samantha Testa, 21, is a bona fide pop rocker. Writing music, playing guitar and piano and singing her soul out is just another day in the life for this young Ottawa talent. From singing for the American and Canadian Women’s Olympic Hockey teams to co-writing with Suzie McNeil from Rock

“It’s Pretty Hard to Die in Scandinavia,” Kvelertak Explains the Popularity of Death Metal

 With endorsements from the likes of Dave Grohl (The Foo Fighters), James Hetfield (Metallica), and Rob Flynn (Machine Head), Kvelertak is well on their way to stardom. You can catch Kvelertak at the tail end of their North-American tour this Sunday, May 11 at Mavericks. The name Kvelertak (Norwegian for

54-40 is Still Rocking Over 30 Years Later

 As time goes by, those groups of old friends – the ones who have known each other for decades, seen it all and weathered the storms of time as a unit – can’t always find the time to get together. But when they do, when life grants them the excuse

Pia Ashley Rocks the Ottawa Music Scene

 If you have not yet heard of Pia Ashley, you soon will because this local singer/songwriter is rocking the Ottawa music scene. Pia began writing and singing at 12 years old and became completely hooked once she got her first guitar at 16. Now 28, she has performed at The