The Thievery Corporation rolled through Ottawa last weekend and dropped a great show at the Bronson Centre. Being there and hearing a band that I have been listening to off and on for thirty years now made had me harkening back to those heady days in the nineties when we had a tidal wave of creativity sweeping through the music industry. Always a beat head I gravitated to Thievery’s dubbed down vibe but I was also really into the instrumental hip hop scene that at the time was coming out of England, France, California and beyond. So for tonight’s show I’m pulling from that section of the record collection, which is now thirty years old (Whelp!). I will also dive into some areas that DJ’s were using as source material on the scene such as Brazilian, reggae and jazz records from the seventies. Happy weekend folks don’t let the news get you down, open your ears to the flow and your mind will follow.
| 38.45. (A Thievery Number) Thievery Corporation - Sounds From the Thievery Hi-Fi |
| Depth Charge Twilight Circus Dub Sound System - Dub Voyage 
|
| Shambala Beasty Boys - The In Sound From Way Out |
| Irmaos Coragem Som Tres - Som Tres |
| Take the Sun Away F.R.I.S.K. - Give Em Enough Dope Comp |
| Passing of Time The Orb - Orblivion |
| End of First Half Hour, 5:30 pm |
| Loopdreams AIM - Mystic Brew Comp |
| Mestre Bimba Luiz Eca - Luiz Eca |
| Soar Claudio Medeiros - Rotation |
| Pussy Cat Black Sugar - Black Sugar |
| Raga Doll Connie Price and the Keystones - Sticks and Stones |
| Crowns Money Mark - Push the Button |
| Jah Light It Right The Light of Saba - In Reggae |
| End of First Hour, 6pm |
| Adade Hugh Masekela - Introducing Hedzoleh Soundz |
| Mr. President The Heptones - Disco Dub 12” |
| What’s Happening The Beaters - Harari |
| Gates Of the Sun Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Mystic Suite |
| Nordeste Antonio Adolfo - Viralata |
| Family Talk Dom Um Romao - Dom Um Romao |
| End of Third Half Hour, 630 |
| In Flux DJ Shadow and the Groove Robbers - DJ Shadow and the Groove Robbers 12 “ |
| The Perfecto The Sneaker Pimps - Six Underground 12” |
| Trintiy Dub Massive Attack - Massive Attack vs The Mad Professor |
| No Martyrs Zeb - Macrame Revolution 12” |
| The Reason King Britt - Presents Silk 130 |
| Lite Bake Greboy - Freestylin' |
| Extra Curriculars:
EVERY MONDAY AT 10 PM - 2 AM Karaoke hosted by DJ LP @27 Club Ottawa 27 York St. Karaoke Mondays! Grab your pals, enjoy the drink specials, grab the mic & the stage is yours every Monday. EVERY TUESDAY AT 7 - 11 PM Open Mic Night hosted by Jess Cole & Ketura Johnson @Cassette Listening Bar 2557 Baseline Road Come jam! EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 10 PM - 2 AM lifeboogie presents: [Why Not] w/ Trevor Walker @27 Club 27 York St. Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Zy6cc6XWv/ No Cover | 19+ Every Wednesday @27clubottawa everyone’s welcome to pass through for my weekly jam where I stretch out and drop a diverse open format soundtrack of solid vibes for Ottawa’s music lovers. You can expect all the favourite tunes you’ve never heard before. Always trying to keep if fresh with vinyl + digital sets ranging from Funk, Soul, Boogie, dance floor Jazz, Breaks, House, Hip Hop, Drum & Bass, Bruk, Afro, Latin, Brazilian, Reggae and whatever moves our souls selected for dancers. Always trying for a taste of what I didn't know we're all missing. Trust the DJ! Also been live streaming for the global fam and couch clubbers! twitch.tv/lifeboogie You can also find archived sets on my SoundCloud page: https://soundcloud.com/trevorlifeboogiewalker Vibes to get you past the midweek hump! Hope to see you out making moves. EVERY THURSDAY AT 10 PM - 2 AM Take Off Thursday w/ DJ Nauty Nice + Selekta Shells on weekly rotation @27 Club Ottawa 27 York St. No Cover | 19+ The gateway to your weekend! EVERY FRIDAY AT 7:30 - 10:30 PM Ten Toes Trivia hosted by Floydeeee @Ten Toes Coffee Co. 837 Somerset St. W. Join host Floydeeeee at Ten Toes Somerset every Friday to put your knowledge to the test. Three rounds, free to play with prizes galore. No reservations, first come first serve. FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2026 AT 7 PM - CLOSE Cool Cal @Cassette Lounge Bar 2557 Baseline Rd. Check out Cool Cal dropping an eclectic set of sweet beats all on 100% vinyl! Sick breaks, Funk, Disco, Hip Hop & stuff to nod to. FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2026 First Crush + Congrego present: DJ Tony Price @Annx 221 Rideau St. Info / Tickets: https://ra.co/events/2385177 Toronto producer, engineer and DJ Tony Price, who creates a "combustible blend" of classic Chicago house, Motor City techno, electro-funk, and industrial ambient. His work incorporates samples, drum machines, and live instrumentation. He will be playing alongside Ottawa artists Placer Till, Yolande Laroche (DJ set) and DJ Gabby. FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2026 AT 10 PM Gridwrks One Year Anniversary: Doc Martin @Gridwrks 221 Rideau St. Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1JD2d9qxfo/ Tickets: Ticketsticketscandy.com/e/gridwrks-anniversary-w-doc-martin-pozativ-white-rabbit-15638 One year of GRIDWRKS, we're celebrating on March 27-28 weekend! Opening this space was a commitment to growing the City family and investing in the culture we believe in. Over the last twelve months, we’ve hosted new sounds, new collaborations, and new communities under one roof. It hasn’t been simple — growth never is — but the support from artists, promoters, and the dance floor has made it worthwhile. Thank you for backing the expansion and helping shape what GRIDWRKS has become. _ On Friday March 27th, we open our one-year anniversary weekend at GRIDWRKS with a true pillar of underground house music: Doc Martin. For more than three decades, Doc has been a constant presence on dance floors from San Francisco’s early acid house era to Panorama Bar in Berlin, Fabric in London, DC10 in Ibiza, and Coachella. A former tour DJ for Deee-Lite and a collaborator alongside artists like Daft Punk, Chemical Brothers, James Brown, and Grace Jones, he represents a rare bridge between rave history and the present moment. What defines him isn’t the résumé — it’s the dance floor. Long-form, immersive sets that move through deep, tribal, psychedelic, and tech-leaning house with patience and control. No trends. Just trust, flow, and culture. Co-presented by Pozativ (support by resident DJ Balu) and White Rabbit (support by resident DJ Rick Laplante), night one brings together an international architect of the underground and the local forces who helped shape GRIDWRKS’ first year. SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2026 AT 7 PM - CLOSE *EVERY LAST SATURDAY of the month Hidden Crates w/ Vektrx & Paarleh @Cassette Bar Lounge 2557 Baseline Road Vektrx & Paarleh will be on the decks dropping Hip Hop gems from the 90’s to present day all on vinyl! Come through for the head nodding grooves, grab some drinks and food and get ready to east coast stomp. SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2026 AT 7 PM - CLOSE Kaminsky Selects @Ten Toes Coffee 873 Somerset St. W 100% vinyl: Afro & Latin - Voodoo Funk - Rockers Reggae - Early Dancehall - Ska - Forro - Samba Soul - Antillean - High Life - Caribbean - Congolese Rhumba - Son Cubano - Cumbia - Salsa - Hard Funk 45s SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2026 AT 2 PM The CKCU Talent Show! @The Robo Lounge 275 Carling Ave. Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DVVH9iiRv/ Join us at The Robo Lounge for a lively evening celebrating the creative voices of the CKCU community. This special talent show features CKCU’s own on-air personalities stepping out from behind the microphone and onto the stage, sharing their musical talents, storytelling, and other hidden skills. Come cheer them on, discover a different side of your favourite radio hosts, and enjoy a night that captures the adventurous spirit of community radio and Ottawa’s vibrant arts scene. SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2026 AT 7:30 PM Capital Youth Jazz Orchestra & The Convertibles! @Southminster United Church 6 Aylmer Ave. Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/17XfrEm7KT/ We hope you'll join us for Capital Youth Jazz Orchestra's third concert of the '25-26 school year, on Sunday, March 29th at 730pm, at Southminster United Church - 15 Aylmer Avenue. Our special guests for this concert are The Convertibles! We're excited to hear this great band perform, and can't wait to feature all 10 of these professional musicians as guest soloists with CYJO on the second half. You can look forward to classics made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie & Pat Metheny; modern masterpieces by Nicholas Payton and Trombone Shorty; and of course Canadian masters Rob McConnell, Mike Murley, Maynard Ferguson and John MacLeod. CYJO is thrilled to premiere a brand new chart by Ottawa's Richard Page that was written for especially for us. Capital Youth Jazz Orchestra is an educationally driven Jazz big band under the direction of trumpeter Nicholas Dyson, made up primarily of students from Ottawa area universities whose music programs lack a big band component. Large ensemble performance experience is key to a contemporary music students’ development, and CYJO began in order to fill that void. Many former CYJO students have gone on to perform professionally, and more have gone on to become professional educators who lead big bands and other ensembles of their own within our public school system. Since beginning in early 2009 with a band of 19 members from University of Ottawa, Carleton University and Conservatoire de Musique de Gatineau, many students have taken part and gained valuable rehearsal and performance experience, learned how to lead and operate an ensemble of their own, and had the opportunity to learn from and perform with professional and award-winning musicians, such as Juno Award winners Bria Skonberg, Christine Jensen, Jason Logue, Ed Lister and Petr Cancura. A great deal of notable Ottawa musicians such as Mike Tremblay, Mark Ferguson, Wayne Eagles, Mike Mullin, Rick Rangno, René Lavoie and Chris Lane have worked with the band over the years. The performance and support of Canadian big band music is a high priority for Capital Youth Jazz Orchestra. Our students have had the opportunity to work with composers such as Christine Jensen, Joe Sullivan, Mark Ferguson, Rob Frayne, Adam Daudrich and Ed Lister. SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2026 AT 8 PM FLAMINGOSIS + TREVOR WALKER + DJ LITTLE FEVER @The 27 Club 27 York St. Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ABa4wc3ER/ Tickets: Tickets · CA$31.27 - CA$37.08FLAMINGOSISOTT.eventbrite.ca Flamingosis splices together old school soul, wild funk, and D.I.Y. electronic with a radiant message meant for any moment. Generating 100 million streams, attracting 100K cumulative social media followers, and receiving acclaim from Pitchfork, MTV, ThisSongIsSick, and many more. Expect new music from the new album Sunlight Daydream and celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the album Bright Moments. Listen at: https://open.spotify.com/artist/75cW8FFekyCjj0mfZM1Gfb... with support from TREVOR WALKER https://www.instagram.com/lifeboogie/ DJ LITTLE FEVER https://www.instagram.com/djlittlefever/ March 29 at 27 Club 27 York St, 8pm, 19+ Tickets at : https://FLAMINGOSISOTT.eventbrite.ca Save a few bucks, get your physical tickets at Vertigo Records + The ODDs & SODs Shoppe. THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2026 AT 8 PM - 2 AM Après L’Hiver w/ Jeff Lapratte + Beat Science + DiskoDave + Donovan McCoy + Bassist Greg Howlett @Kaffé 1970 715 Chemin Riverside, La Pêche, Qc. Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/18TzrnchPR/ Tickets: https://sairyo.live/.../apres-lhiver-jeff-lapratte-beat... DANCE KULTURE PRESENTS - APRÈS L'HIVER Spinning Seasons = Spinning Records! Help us celebrate the spinning of seasons with some spinning of records – A full night of vinyl house music with special Guest and Ottawa Pioneer 'Jeff Lapratte'. The Hills will be thawing all around us, and also the night curator Donovan Mccoy, along with local selectors Diskodave and BeatSciencea and live Bassist Greg Howlett will be bringing the heat for this special APRÉS L'HIVER show at Kaffé 1870. Everyone's invited to this scorcher of a dance party. Tix are $15 in advance and more at the door. SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2026 Kapacity presents: 404 Day Ottawa w/ Sixtoo “30” Live / AV Show @Cassette Lounge Bar 2557 Baseline Road Tickets: https://allevents.in/ottawa/100001984148322043?ref=sharer Legendary underground hiphop producer Sixtoo, fresh of his Japan tour, performing his '30' album as a live audio/visual experience. He will be playing off hardware sync'd to a visual installation and topped off with video cuts. This is exactly the type of show you would expect from the veteran producer, delivered in a way that will resonate with both young and old heads alike. There will be exclusive tour merch, and the last remaining copies of '30' on LP and tape (sold out through all distro). Being 404 day, we thought it appropriate to also book Mr.Kwazi and Celine : both next-wave Toronto producers, both playing live as well. The show is supported by local heavyweights DJs Cool Cal, Vektrx and Jon Deck. This will be a special night for Ottawa beat heads, tickets are limited to 100 people, so you might not want to sleep on it. SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2026 AT 12 - 3 AM Industry Night w/ Joeski (NYC) @Cassette Lounge Bar 2557 Baseline Road Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DdHLoWJcC/ Super excited about this one. Legendary NYC dj / producer Joeski will be playing at cassette Sunday April 5th. Tickets for sale on eventbrite and at Baked Goods record store. Party starts @10pm , we will be going late! FRIDAY, APRIL 10 - SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2026 Fono Opening Weekend! 473 Bronson Ave. Centretown’s first hi-fi bar, FONO is designed for connection, music, and community celebrating their grand public opening! SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2026 AT 10 AM - 4 PM Ottawa Record Fair VII @Carleton-Dominion Chalmers Centre 355 Cooper St. Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1775HMHWUk/ Early Bird Admission at 10 am, General Admission at 11 am. Loads of parking cheap or free on streets around. SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2026 AT 7 PM - CLOSE lifeboogie Saturdaze @Cassette Lounge Bar 2557 Baseline Road *Usually every first Saturday monthly! Dropping an open format of vintage & contemporary Jazz Funk Soul Afro Latin Reggae Disco Boogie + stuff all on 100% vinyl the first Saturday of every month at @cassette.613 Can’t wait to share some good music with you all in an intimate atmosphere where you’re free to dance, vibe, drink, eat and groove to a little taste of what we didn’t know we’ve been missing. Also streaming remotely to twitch.tv/lifeboogie on “lifeboogie Vision” Hope to see some fam out to enjoy the selections! Last Time SoundCloud (Archive): https://soundcloud.com/trevorlifeboogiewalker/2026-02-06-lifeboogie FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2026 AT 10 PM - 2:30 AM SpaceCamp presents: RUMPUS - Best Of The West @Gridwrks 221 Rideau St. Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DXvvTHcof/ Tickets: Ticketsticketscandy.com/e/spacecamp-presents-rumpus-best-of-the-west-15966 About the Event: Saddle up, space cowboys — the West is coming East on April 17! Join SpaceCamp and City Presents a one-of-a-kind club experience channeling the spirit and bass-driven pulse of Canada’s West Coast underground dance club and festival scene. This event blends immersive, neon-western “space cowboy” aesthetics with a forward-thinking soundscape designed to transport guests into a high-energy frontier where club culture meets cosmic rodeo at GRIDWRKS! About the Artists: RUMPUS is an award-winning DJ and producer RUMPUS is pushing the boundaries of house music, seamlessly blending his productions with live drumming to create a unique and electrifying experience for his fans. RUMPUS has lit up stages at some of the world’s most iconic underground festivals, including Shambhala, Burning Man, Envision, Bass Coast, and Lightning in a Bottle. With multiple Beatport-charting tracks and over 10 million streams, RUMPUS has released music on powerhouse labels including Insomniac, Club Sweat, Space Yacht, DND, Hood Politics, and Westwood Recordings. RETURN OF THE JADED is a Canadian producer, DJ, and badman known as Return of the Jaded offers electronic music synonymous with superior sound quality, history, nostalgia, and cheeky rave culture. By blurring the lines between tech house, indie house and melodic techno, he creates a truly unique dance floor experience. He is fuelled by the desire to offer fresh alternatives to electronic music trends and has made a lasting impression upon superstars, tastemakers, and underground aficionados alike. DASA is a DJ, event promoter and budding producer based in Ottawa, Ontario. Coming from a musical family, he started playing bass in rock and progressive metal bands while growing up in the 90s. His influences draw from a wide range of sounds that filled his home growing up - including disco, rock & roll and heavy metal. He is the co-founder of the House of Kink and SpaceCamp - two of Ottawa’s premier community dance events/raves, both of which aim to capture the essence of some of their favourite festivals, creating welcoming experiences where people feel free and safe to dance, express themselves and make genuine connections. SOKOTTA is a house and techno music producer based in Ottawa. His raw passion for electronic music began in 2013 when he first discovered electronic music, and quickly fell in love. He began experimenting within electro house and carved out his own style of groovy underground, bass-heavy groove - rooted in house and techno, with a flair for intricate ear candy, female vocal textures - and a low-end that he affectionately dubs “mature wubs.” Lasers and Visuals by the one and only @lh.fx.visuals ! About the Collective: As always, SpaceCamp encourages freedom of expression, whimsy, and playfulness by inviting guests to join us in bringing our theme to life! Space cowboy, neon outlaw, rhinestone rodeo, and other cosmic outlaw-type outfits are very much appreciated! Check out our Pinterest board for inspiration: https://pin.it/59ZUVZkvE This is a consent-forward, inclusive, body-positive, queer-affirming space. Come to dance. Come to connect. Come to feel. Come to play. Friday April 17, 2026 GRIDWRKS, 221 Rideau Street Tickets & packages available at gridwrks.ca We view the dance floor as a sacred space. It’s a place where people can get lost in the music and sensations; a place where we hope people feel free to express themselves without words. Help us keep the dancefloor sacred by trying to keep conversations on the dancefloor to a minimum and move to the sidelines/back of the dancefloor or to the seating areas for conversations Costumes or theme-wear are always optional, however we do try to offer an alternative to the stereotypical beauty norms of traditional night clubs. As such, we invite our guests to get silly and creative and to wear what makes them feel fun, sexy, beautiful, or extra We ask guests to respect each others’ personal space and boundaries. Try to give people room to dance. If someone is in the zone, let them be. If someone does not want to dance, respect their no You can appreciate each others’ beauty and creative costumes/dance moves, but someone’s clothing or dancing does not imply consent to touch. Seek clear, enthusiastic and ongoing consent for any physical contact/activity and respect decisions. No means no! Know your limits - moderation is key! Please practice responsible and safer partying. Protect your ears. Stay Hydrated. Take breaks. Stretch. Take care of yourself and each other - We all want to continue dancing together for a long long time. See you on the dance floor! SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2026 AT 7 - 10 PM EEJUNGMI + Yolande Laroche @Champagne Bath 327 King Edward Ave. Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/14U3Vzj35zq/ Tickets: Ticketswww.tixtree.com/e/eejungmi-yolande-laroche-at-the-champagne-bath-23b83fee6ddf Bringing bubbling pop songs and ambient-electronic selections, we are thrilled to welcome EEJUNGMI to the Champagne Bath this spring in celebration of her debut album Water is a Shifting Mirror, constructed from field recordings of rivers, currents of driving bass, and splashes of the artist's ethereal voice. She will be joined by local multi-genre angel Yolande Laroche, both offering up a hybrid performance of live and DJ'd material. Experience the show from inside the pool through underwater speakers, in the sauna, or poolside under the sun roof. ABOUT THE ARTISTS EEJUNGMI Eejungmi (이정미), the electronic project of Toronto-based artist and DJ Katie Lee, creates music that invites you in with a gentle familiarity. While approachable, her music gradually reveals a surprising depth, pulling listeners into a heavier, more complex emotional space. Anchored in left-field techno, house, and downtempo, she crafts sonic landscapes that coax hidden emotions to the surface. Whether behind the decks or performing live, Eejungmi explores the delicate balance of tension and release, guiding the room through a journey that drifts between quiet heartache and profound catharsis. This cycle of loss and rebuilding is the foundation of her newly released debut album, Water is a Shifting Mirror. Constructed from field recordings of rivers, the record uses the flow of water to map the unpredictable stages of grief, with her own ethereal voice serving as a steady guide through the current. https://eejungmi.bandcamp.com/ https://soundcloud.com/eejungmi https://www.instagram.com/eejungmi/ YOLANDE LAROCHE Yolande Laroche is a Canadian Taiwanese singer-songwriter, producer, clarinetist, keyboardist and DJ based in Gatineau, Quebec. While actively playing with her group projects Pony Girl (Paper Bag Records) and KAY-fayb, she is also exploring all avenues of avant-pop with her solo project Orchidae (Birthday Cake Records). For her more experimental and club-adjacent work, she produces under her own name, Yolande Laroche. https://yolandelaroche.bandcamp.com/album/journal-denfance https://www.instagram.com/yolandelaroche_/ WHAT TO BRING: - Bathing suit - Towel - Robe - Flip flops or slides for pool deck / showers - Lock for changing room lockers - non-glass water bottle ABOUT THE SPACE There are two change rooms: one for women and gender nonconforming folks and one for men and gender nonconforming folks. No gender policing will be tolerated - please use the change room you are most comfortable with, and respect others’ right to choose. Change rooms have 2 private stalls with toilets, and open showers with multiple shower heads. Lockers are available in change rooms for personal belongings. No food or drink permitted in the change rooms. Water bottles (no glass please) are permitted on the pool deck and mezzanine. There is a dry sauna on the pool deck. Capacity is limited to 10 people at a time. Seating available on pool deck. Parking - Free parking in lot behind building. Free street parking on York St. Bike parking in front of building. PLEASE NOTE: Due to limited capacity in the pool area, you may be directed to the Mezzanine level until space opens up. Please arrive on time if you would like to get into the pool right away. Swimmers must shower before entering the pool. Photo policy: cameras are permitted, however please do not take photos of the lifeguards or other people without their consent. ACCESSIBILITY Pool area, change rooms, and sauna are all wheelchair accessible. There are 4 steps to access the mezzanine level. Free tickets available for care attendants - email hello@debaser.ca to request. Jump the line policy - disabled attendees are welcome to skip to the front of the line. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026 AT 7 PM R&B Period. 2026 @Rogers Centre Ottawa 52 Colonel By Dr. Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/15bJhaK1x9a/ Tickets: https://RANDBPERIOD2026.eventbrite.ca You and 1,500+ R&B lovers, dressed in all black, coming together for an unforgettable dance party, sing-along, and meet-up, carefully curated for Ottawa’s finest. EVENT: R&B PERIOD. DATE: Saturday April 25, 2026 VENUE: Rogers Centre - 85 Colonel By Dr. Ottawa, On, Canada TIME: 7PM - 12:30AM Hosted by Prosper & Mace MUSIC: DJs and guests to be announced. VIBE: An unforgettable dance party, sing-along and meet up, carefully curated for R&B music lovers. Featuring breathtaking panoramic views, overlooking the iconic Rideau Canal and historic Parliament Hill. DRESS CODE: All Black Attire. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2026 AT 12 PM The Ed Lister Group feat. Alex Moxon: Southminster noon hour show @Southminster United Church 15 Aylmer Ave. Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BHPyN9QaL/ A swinging, grooving afternoon of music is to be had on April 29th as The Ed Lister Group welcomes Alex Moxon to the stage!! Free will offering show. The band features..... Ed Lister ~ Trumpet Alex Moxon ~ Guitar Deniz Lim Sersan ~ Piano Chris Pond ~ Double bass Jose Garcia ~ Drums THURSDAY, APRIL 30 - SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2026 Empowering Women in the Music Industry EWIMI 6th Edition @NAC 1 Elgin St. Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GYHMWE5Td/ Tickets: Ticketsnac-cna.ca/en/event/40721 Axé WorldFest present the 6th annual edition of their much anticipated conference: Empowering Women in the Music Industry - EWIMI / April 30, May 1 & 2 2026 Our activities: EWIMI6 is a three-day, multi-venue conference and showcase program featuring seventeen events across nine venues, including thirteen live showcases and six DJ showcases, alongside networking mixers, artist pitching, keynotes, panels, workshops, mentorship, wellness sessions, museum networking tours, and nightly showcases. Our vision: EWIMI is a national and international gathering dedicated to women-identifying, non-binary, trans, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse artists and music industry professionals, while welcoming allies into a respectful, supportive space. The 2026 theme, Cultural Connectors, positions artists and cultural workers as bridges between communities, cultures, and countries, advancing collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and relationship-building toward a more equitable global music ecosystem. Presented by Axé WorldFest in partnership with the National Arts Centre, EWIMI connects industry leaders and emerging talent to exchange knowledge, spark new projects, and build lasting professional relationships, centering voices historically underrepresented in the music industry. Artist curation pairs emerging and established talent to encourage mentorship and audience development, showcasing globally influenced, genre-blending artists and creating meaningful opportunities for artists, cultural workers, and local businesses. All live showcases are at the National Arts Centre - tickets for the showcases can be bought via NAC website: https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/40721 May 1st & 2nd - DAYTIME ACTIVITIES like: Keynotes, panels, workshops and professional development are FREE w/ RSVP (Link coming soon) www.axeworldfest.com LIVE Artist Showcases below Thursday April 30th 2026 - 6pm Official Opening NIGHT w/ Red Carpet Experience at Fourth - National Arts Centre * Doors 6:30pm * shows 7pm Miss Mcleod Miss McLeod is a powerhouse singer, songwriter, producer, and performer from Ottawa, Ontario, bringing bold theatricality, fearless artistry, and a dash of Jamaican roots to every stage she touches. Born in 2005, she is already a prolific creative force, having written, produced, and released seven albums, with her most recent projects entirely self-mixed and self-mastered, establishing her as a fully independent, artist-led creator with exceptional technical and creative command. Divka DIVKA is a sonic experience using bygone folk songs from Ukrainian and global women's music-making traditions, weaving a sonic constellation of delicate arpeggios on bandura (esoteric Ukrainian harp), ethereal vocals, and guttural ancient invocations on the viola. As a sonic rebel reckoning, DIVKA's music is charged with mythology, traditional village singing, and generations of femme power, mystic whimsy, and a dash of vengeance. Their debut album will be released April 2nd, 2026, and you can listen to their single "Kailailiri" everywhere music is streamed. Tara Moneka Tara Moneka is a Black Iraqi artist and singer whose music bridges cultures, histories, and traditions. Born in Baghdad and raised in a Sufi family, she blends Afro-Sufi, Arabic, and Swahili influences with Jazz, R&B, Soul, Funk, Blues, Maqam, and Afrobeat. Singing in Arabic, English, Urdu, Spanish, Turkish, and Swahili, she treats music as a universal language. Her journey began at 13 on The Voice Middle East. As the lead of Dijlah, an all-women band, Tara amplifies women’s rights through sound. Her performances connect past and future, East and West, with resilience and purpose. Ammoye Ammoye is an 8‑time Juno‑nominated artist known for her vibrant blend of reggae fusion, soul, jazz, dub, and R&B. Originally from Clarendon, Jamaica and now based in Toronto, she draws inspiration from icons like Bob Marley, Sade, and Grace Jones. She has shared stages with major artists including Michael Bublé, Sean Paul, Ziggy Marley, and Wyclef Jean, and has performed at international festivals such as CoMa Fest (Brazil), Exit Festival (Serbia), and Afrofest (South Africa). Following her U.S. debut tour and her Lincoln Center performance, Ammoye prepares to release her new album The Shift and its companion Book of Affirmations in 2026. Friday May 1st 2026 - Fourth Stage - National Arts Centre * Doors 6:30pm * shows 7pm Samantha Christ François Samantha Christ François, a Haitian singer, began her musical journey at age 7 in her church, where her passion for music first took shape. She performs with ease in Creole, French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Swahili. Her versatile voice moves effortlessly through gospel, R&B, Latin rhythms, and jazz, showcasing a remarkable ability to blend styles. In 2020, she relocated to Ottawa, Canada, where she found new artistic opportunities. Since then, she has collaborated with numerous musicians and has become a valued presence in the local music scene, enriching it with her cultural heritage, talent, and vibrant artistic energy. Siibii Siibii is a Montreal-based queer, trans non-binary, Indigenous songwriter creating emotionally charged, genre-fluid pop rooted in identity, ancestry, and self-acceptance. Named after the Cree word for “river,” Siibii channels ever-flowing intention and imagination into electronic grooves and luminous vocals. Their self-titled debut EP Siibii (2025) earned widespread acclaim, CBC Music Top 100 placement, and three sold-out release shows in Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. With over three million streams and breakout track “YOY,” Siibii is quickly emerging as one of Canada’s most compelling new voices. Kazdoura Founded by Syrian singer Leen Hamo and Lebanese jazz musician John Abou Chacra, Rooted in Levantine Arabic music and fueled by genre-bending experimentation, Kazdoura is a vibrant fusion of Arabic Maqams, middle eastern groovy rhythms, psychedelia, and soulful jazz saxophone, creating a fresh and electrifying take on Arabic classics and original compositions. Mireya Ramos Latin Grammy winning, multiple Latin Grammy and Grammy nominee vocalist, musician, composer, producer, arranger and founder of Flor de Toloache– NY’s only all women mariachi. Mireya embodies all of her musical influences whether classical, mariachi, salsa, merengue or hip-hop, always creating a unique and refreshing sound. Her versatility, natural improvisational skills and beautiful tone has made her one of the top Latin artists in New York City. She is currently promoting her debut solo album self titled “Mireya” which include collaborations with Flor de Toloache, Gaby Moreno, Haydée Milanés, Camilo Lara, Adrian Quesada, Velcro and the legendary Mike Garson. Friday May 1st - 11pm *LATE NIGHT*SPEAK EASY Little Favela Studio party DJ Artist SHOWCASES Juana Go-Gó Natalia Lebeis - Brazil La Niña Kiwi Saturday May 2nd 2026 - Azrieli Studio - National Arts Centre * Doors 7 pm * shows 7:30 pm Amanda Fox Amanda Fox is Ojibwe and a proud member of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, currently based in Ottawa. A lifelong pow wow dancer with over 30 years of experience, she is a cultural advocate sharing Indigenous stories and traditions through dance, beadwork, sewing, and movement. Amanda created Pow Wow Workout, an innovative fitness experience blending pow wow dance, storytelling, and Zumba to promote holistic wellness and cultural learning. Through workshops, classes, and community outreach across Canada, Amanda inspires participants to connect with culture, move with intention, and embrace balanced, healthy lives. Empress Nyiringango Empress Nyiringango is a Rwandan/Canadian multilingual singer-songwriter blending Rwandan traditional music with contemporary influences. Creator of the JABLUR sound, she fuses jazz, blues, and ancestral rhythms while spotlighting the inanga, a sacred Rwandan zither. Through powerful chants, she shares messages of hope, healing, resilience, and love. Her album UBUNTU was nominated for Global Roots Album of the Year at the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards, and her music appears in the award-winning film It Comes in Waves. She is currently preparing a new album for Fall 2026. The Pairs This Internationally touring band of celebrated songwriters greet every stage with a genuine, quirky presence and unbottled chemistry. Their sibling harmonies and familial banter quickly connects them to their audience. Whether The Pairs are playing an intimate house concert or a sold out show at a Performing Arts Centre, these classically trained vocalists make it their mission to employ three-part harmony and honest storytelling as the mighty tools that soften and connect us. The Pairs will release their fourth studio album in Fall 2025. This album encapsulates the authentic, minimalistic, and acoustic style performances the trio has become known for. Rachel Therrien A highly active musician and creator, Rachel Therrien released Mi Hogar II with her Latin Jazz Project, on March 7 2025 with Lulaworld records. Trumpeter, composer and producer, Rachel Therrien has built a reputation as an internationally acclaimed artist, standing out for her versatility and unique instinct for musical innovation. Nominated at ADISQ with the albums Mi Hogar and VENA, at the JUNOs with her fifth album VENA (four stars from Downbeat), and at the GRAMMYs with Virtual Birdland by the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Rachel is a renowned musician CLOSING PARTY WITH TIMEKODE (Trevor Walker & Kwende) FEATURING MC Alea De Castro and DJs Seiiizi & Karyen 11PM - free with your wristband and/or tickets from the showcases - You can also buy this section for $15 (link coming soon) This conference is brought to you by Axé Worldfest in partnership with National Arts Centre Co-presenters: CKCU FM (more TBC) Government funding by: Ontario Creates FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2026 AT 7:30 PM The Ed Lister Group feat. Alex Moxon @Night Oat 750 Gladstone Ave. Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/18TqVgJBVt/ The Ed Lister Group will be lighting up the stage for their monthly residency at the Night Oat! for the month of May, we'll be featuring prolific guitarist Alex Moxon and the music of Woody Shaw! This will be a blazer of a night and the band is stacked!!! Ed Lister ~ Trumpet Alex Moxon ~ Guitar Mark Ferguson ~ Organ JP Lapensee ~ Bass Jamie Holmes ~ Drums $20.00 entry fee!! FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2026 Cranium Conference & Showcase @NAC 1 Elgin St. Application link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdYJlnAW1XDXsUpSkGRZXlgxabp5SRRJqdNVUADzJdnp-VaSw/viewform The 2026 Cranium Showcase is an opportunity to display your talents for and network with local, national and international music industry professionals. A Showcase is NOT a regular concert. Cranium Arts Project will be bringing dozens of music professionals (The National Arts Centre, Ottawa, May 8 and 9, 2026) to the event for showcasing artists to demonstrate their talent, meet in person and cultivate relationships to further your career. Showcasing artists are offered an honorarium for attending mandatory meetings and performing at the showcase. FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2026 Atlantis Jazz Ensemble Release Party @Irene’s 885 Bank St Pre order (vinyl LP / CD / digital): https://atlantisjazzensemble.bandcamp.com/ The long awaited new album from Ottawa’s very cherished Atlantis Jazz Ensemble is coming out February 27th in all formats and the band will be celebrating with a release party at Irene’s in case you missed the first party at Minotaure. |
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I too have been listening to Thievery Corporation for a long time. They always "grab" your ears !
9:13 AM, March 27th, 2026