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

Ria Mae Remains Grounded Through An Unreal Year and a Half

 “It has been an unreal year and a half,” says Ria Mae looking back on a climb that has seen the Halifax singer-songwriter swept up in a whirlwind that often leaves her wondering what time zone she’s in.  The momentum isn't slowing either. For somebody who used to sit alone

Fiery Folk: Union Duke Lights Up the Blacksheep Inn

 Matt Warry-Smith, a member of the Toronto band, Union Duke, has a tattoo on his leg of the words “Keep Music Evil” that’s visible below the cut off point of his Bermuda shorts. The audacity of the phrase, coined by Anton Newcombe, epitomizes the band’s fresh and furious take on

Amanda Rheaume’s Holding Patterns

 Photos by Jen Squires, supplied by NAC. One woman, one venue, both of them in a period of transition and ready for change. For Métis singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume, it was a few steps back in order to move forward through some pain and sad realities on a rocky road to find

Under the Influence with Philip Sayce

 Imagine, if you will, growing up on a musical diet cooked up by you parents' record collection. The needle drops and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Hendrix and BB King, legends of guitar, write the script of your youthful fantasies of one day, just maybe, you would play even a slice of

Belle Starr Packs Its Fiddles for Ottawa

 In the 1800s, Belle Starr was the name of a notorious American outlaw. Today the title has also come to represent a Canadian female trio, who similar to the rebel, defy categories. The band, consisting of Miranda Mulholland, Kendel Carson and Stephanie Cadman, hit the road this February on a

Local Poets Hit the Road in International Tour

 After a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign, a group of five young Canadian poets are on the road. The Worst Case Ontario poetry reading tour kicked off on August 21 in Toronto, Ontario. The poets are scheduled to visit nine North American cities in as many days. OLM sat down with

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

An Old Guitar and an Ottawa Bar

 Union Duke’s soaring vocal harmonies and throbbing beats have enlivened hearts and dance floors across the nation. The quintet is sure to have Ottawa concertgoers heel-stomping and hip-swaying with their performance at the Black Sheep Inn on July 31. Balancing a mixture of soulful indie rock, bluegrass and country, the

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

The Kids are Alright

 Photo credit: David Hawe There is only one place you should be on Sunday night at 8 p.m. and that is at the National Arts Centre to catch the only Ottawa performance by Kids in The Hall (KITH). Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson have

The Musical Storm of Ash & Bloom

 The powerhouse folk duo Ash and Bloom, is bringing a musical storm to Ottawa. Echoing thunderous harmonies and striking bolts of brilliant songwriting, these two are a must-see act this spring. Hamilton-based Matt McKenna and James Bloemendal have been playing music together for almost a decade, originally meeting in the

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

Travel With the Tourist Company

 The Tourist Company is living up to their name this spring. Cities across Canada are welcoming the Vancouver experimental folk band throughout February and March as they tour the country. Be sure to catch the Tourist Company when they stop at the Raw Sugar Café in Ottawa on March 12.

A Song to Play, A Story to Tell

 Music has always been a part of Steve Bell’s life. His mother was a singer, songwriter and piano player and his father also fostered the family’s passion and love for music. “I have almost no memories of not being involved in music,” Bell says. “It’s always been a part of the

Crack Up with Craigslist Cantata at NAC

 If you’re not familiar with the strange and sometimes wacky world of Craigslist, you would be wise to visit the web site before heading to the NAC to see Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata or it may not make a lot of sense. This show,

Audition Tour Dates Released by Canada’s National Ballet School

 Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS) will be stopping in Ottawa on November 22, as part of its 2014/2015 National Audition Tour in search for Canada’s most talented young dancers. Presented by Sun Life Financial, the Professional Ballet Program (PBP) will visit 20 cities across the country beginning in Halifax, NS

Ireland Welcomes You Home

 Your Irish Heritage Is Waiting To Be Discovered. It seemed fitting to take my daughter on a trip to Ireland to explore the land of her paternal ancestors. Thanks to the mild oceanic climate, the south and south west of Ireland are a beautiful lush green carpet peppered with towns,

Western Newfound is Shelter for the Soul

 Western Newfoundland: A place that rush hour forgot. As you step out of the airport in Deer Lake, you can almost immediately sense a downshift in pace. There’s a calmer, gentler atmosphere in Western Newfoundland. Our trip began with a drive south toward the town of Stephenville. The location of