Franco-ontarien festival returns to Major’s Hill Park this year
It’s back to the future this year for the 37th Festival franco-ontarien.
Organizers say they have outgrown Marion Dewar Plaza and are returning to Major’s Hill Park, after reaching an agreement with the National Capital Commission, for the annual event which runs June 14-16 this year. Its program will be released in mid-May.
“The City of Ottawa remains one of the FFO’s primary partners, and we are grateful for the warm welcome it has extended to us throughout the years,” says festival president Sébastien Lorquet in a news release.
Read more: Franco-ontarien festival returns to Major’s Hill Park this year
Capital Chill announces new Ottawa event to showcase Canadian artists and musicians
Capital Chill, Ottawa’s contemporary art and music show, announced its inaugural event will take place on May 25, 2012 at Arts Court, Ottawa’s centre for the performing, visual, literary, and media arts. The event will showcase 10 visual and multi-disciplinary artists of local and national distinction, as well as a truly unique slate of musicians, establishing Capital Chill as the preeminent event for local arts enthusiasts and lounge music fans.
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Capital Chill takes place on Friday, May 25th, beginning at 7:30pm. Arts Court is located at 2 Daly Avenue. Tickets for the event are $15 in advance; $20 at the door; and go on sale today at capitalchill.ca.
About Capital Chill: Capital Chill is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and growth of the Canadian contemporary arts and lounge music scene. Founded in 2012, this Ottawa based organization specializes in live art and music events and is growing quickly thanks to the continued support of many of the city’s influential artists and musicians.
Read more: Capital Chill announces new Ottawa event to showcase Canadian artists and musicians
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in Concert
Tickets on sale NOW
JULY 5, 6 & 7 2012, 7:00 P.M. at NAC SOUTHAM HALL
Full length film with the music performed live by the NAC Orchestra, Composed by Howard Shore
NAC Orchestra
•Erik Ochsner, conductor
•Nancy Allen Lundy, soprano
•Combined Ottawa Choruses
•Laurence Ewashko, director
Journey into the breathtaking and imaginative world of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings as never before! Experience the first installment of Peter Jackson’s 2001 cinematic tour de force, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring projected on a 60-foot screen while over 200 musicians perform the blockbuster’s Academy Award- and GRAMMY Award-winning score. The fate of Middle-earth hangs in the balance as the hobbit Frodo and his eight companions embark on a quest to Mordor to destroy the One Ring.
How to buy tickets:
•In person at the NAC Box Office Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., 53 Elgin Street
•Online at ticketmaster.ca
•By phone ticketmaster 1-888-991-2787 (ARTS)
The 67th Annual Kiwanis Music Festival NCR, April 4-28, 2012
The 67th Kiwanis Music Festival began on April 4, 2012 and continues for more than three weeks of amazing young musicians competing for over $50,000 in scholarships.
Festival Alumni include such artists as: world-famous classical pianist Angela Hewitt, singer/actress/dancer Alison Smyth, mezzo-soprano and host of “Tempo” on CBC Radio 2 Julie Nesrallah, and Juno Award-winning jazz pianist D.D. Jackson.
Competitions will be held at 12 different venues throughout the City of Ottawa. Young people will compete in such classes as Piano, Vocal, Music Theatre, Strings and more. The Festival will conclude with the HIGHLIGHTS CONCERT on May 18, 2012 at Centrepointe Theatre.
Event tickets: $5 pp
Invitational Trophy Classes: $7 pp
Festival Passes begin at $20 pp
Tickets are available at the door or through the Festival Box Office: 613.226.7572.
For a complete list of Festival events, venues and adjudicators, please visit www.okmf.ca
Kim Chadsey, CFRE
Director of Development
Kiwanis Music Festival – NCR
Telephone: 613.818.4664 kim@okmf.ca
Westfest Lineup: Hidden Cameras, Steven Page headline street party
By Lynn Saxberg, April 13, 2012
[Photograph by: Mike Carroccetto , The Ottawa Citizen]
The Hidden Cameras will kick off their first Canadian tour in two years at this year’s edition of Westfest. The flamboyant purveyors of pop showmanship headline a dance party on opening night of the ninth annual music and arts festival, which runs from June 8-10 in Ottawa’s Westboro neighbourhood.
“They’re a lot of fun,” says Westfest producer Elaina Martin of the Cameras, a Toronto-based band headed by songwriter Joel Gibb. “Last time I saw them I couldn’t stop dancing, and I’m not really a dancer.”
The other weekend headliners are former Barenaked Ladies’ singer-songwriter Steven Page on June 9 and Ottawa’s country-rock survivors, the Cooper Brothers, on June 10.
Read more: Westfest Lineup: Hidden Cameras, Steven Page headline street party
Westfest getting bigger and better
By Denis Armstrong, Ottawa Sun
Westboro’s changed a lot in the nine years that Westfest, the neighbourhood’s free music festival has been around.
In 2003, the year Westfest began, Richmond Road was still and a boulevard of broken dreams, and that first Westfest was a one-day street-party that drew 5,000 visitors.
That isn’t the case now.
Today, Westboro is super-trendy and one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in the city, with high-end condos and brand-name retail where parking lots used to be.
In its ninth year, Westfest too, has grown along with the neighbourhood into a three-day-long festival that this year will present 300 artists and musicians over the course of its June weekend.
Read more: Westfest getting bigger and better
2012 TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival lineup announced!
For Immediate Release
(Le français suivra l’anglais)
2012 TD Jazzfest Band Ninetymiles [photo courtesy of DevinDeHaven]
Ottawa (Wednesday, Apr. 11, 2012) – With its most ambitious programming schedule ever the TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival has further cemented its place as the event for discerning music fans in the Capital. Boasting a lineup as diverse as it is expansive, the 32nd edition brings over 900 of the world’s finest musicians to the Festival’s one of a kind venue at Confederation Park in the heart of downtown. In 2012, the Festival will present more concerts than ever before with more than 120 over the 11-day run from June 21-July 1.
This year’s programming demonstrates the commitment to curatorial excellence that has become the Festival’s hallmark. Bassist, composer, bandleader and one-time member of Miles Davis’ fabled band, Dave Holland is the first-ever artist-in-residence. He will put his musical vocabulary on display with three unique performances June 22-24. Read more
And the winner of today’s pair of tickets to the National Women’s Show is …
Renuka Bauri! She was the lucky name drawn from those who replied that it is indeed Steve Martin playing at TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival this year with Steep Canyon Rangers. Stay tuned for the entire line-up on April 11th . And thank you to everyone who participated this week.
Renuka please call Kimberly, Marketing and Communciations Coordinator at Ottawa Festivals to arrange pick-up of your tickets, 613.233.1085 x115
UK’s James Hunter back by popular demand
NEWS RELEASE
OTTAWA, April 4, 2012 — Spectrasonic, in conjunction with the RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest, today confirmed an encore Ottawa performance this spring by James Hunter, with special guest Jesse Dee.
Ottawa music fans will remember James Hunter from his outstanding performance at the 2006 edition of Bluesfest, prior to Solomon Burke. For the many fans that showed up early on that warm summer evening, to stake out their turf for a command performance by “King” Solomon, a magical voice and an incredibly tight band awaited them.
Anyone who’s seen or heard James Hunter perform is already hip to his remarkable talents as a singer, guitarist and songwriter. This includes Van Morrison who asserts, “James is one of the best voices, and best kept secrets, in British R ‘n’ B and Soul—Check him out!” Audiences in Ottawa now have that opportunity with Hunter’s upcoming visit. Read more
New Grassroots Festival Announces Headliners, Programming
The Ottawa Grassroots Festival (OGF) is excited to announce that the date for their first annual mini-folk festival has been set for Saturday April 28, 2012. The festival (OGF) is an annual family-oriented celebration of folk music, dance and other participatory arts.
… different components … including a ukulele singalong, contra dancing, yoga and a “playback” theatre performance … “open stage” performance opportunities for children as well as adults. All afternoon activities are free, with donations being accepted for CKCU FM, Ottawa’s long-running community radio station.
Who: Rick Fines, Katherine Wheatley, Missy Burgess & many more
What: 1st annual Ottawa Grassroots Festival
When: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Where: Montgomery Legion, 330 Kent at MacLaren, Ottawa
Why: A community-oriented celebration of music and dance
For more information about the Ottawa Grassroots Festival contact:
Bob Nesbitt, Producer, nesbittr@sympatico.ca, Cell 613-794-9161
Read more: New Grassroots Festival Announces Headliners, Programming
March 27, 2012 – The Ottawa Grassroots Festival (OGF) is excited to announce that the date for their first annual mini-folk festival has been set for Saturday April 28, 2012. The festival (OGF) is an annual family-oriented celebration of folk music, dance and other participatory arts. The event will take place inside the Royal Canadian Legion, 330 Kent St. in Ottawa.
The one-day festival consists of a number of different components which will take place in various parts of the building. In the afternoon, the downstairs area will offer a diverse range of participatory activities, including a ukulele singalong, contra dancing, yoga and a “playback” theatre performance. At the same time, the hall upstairs will feature several respected and talented performers along with “open stage” performance opportunities for children as well as adults. All afternoon activities are free, with donations being accepted for CKCU FM, Ottawa’s long-running community radio station.
