Well Chris Int. tripped me up last show and redirected my attentions down a funky psychedelic rabbit hole so this week I'm back in the previously intended lane with some sounds from the West African cosmos as well as the Caribbean sphere with a focus on Cuba and Jamaica in particular. All these musical sources focus heavily on music that makes you shake your body and clear your mind, which should help sliding into this weekend all the more enjoyable. A few of these tracks come out of Toronto ,Ottawa, and Vancouver showcasing some of our very own homegrown Caribbean talent. TGIF everyone, buckle up and turn it up.
| Ain’t No Stopping Nancy Now Sister Nancy - One Two |
| Money Money Horace Andy - Dance Hall Style |
| Dance Plate Twilight Circus - Dub Sound System 
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| Youth Man The Congos - Congo |
| Get Yourself Together Jay U Experience - Enough Is Enough |
| Can’t Buy Love Johnny Osbourne - Truth and Rights |
| Kaya Bob Marley - Soul Revolution Part II |
| If You Drop That Cross Chalawa - Capture Land
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| Africa A Light Of Saba Production - Sabebe |
| Highway to Success The Apostles - S/T |
| Chinese Doll Lennie Hibbert - More Creation |
| Any River Burning Spear - Dry and Heavy |
| Two Sevens Clash Culture - Two Sevens Clash |
| Watch Them The Love Joys - Reggae Vibes |
| Party Time The Heptones - Party Time |
| Drum Song Jackie Mittoo - Showcase Vol3 |
| Night Nurse Gregory Isaacs - Night Nurse |
| Police In Helicopter John Holt - Police In Helicopter |
| Cacao Juan Pablo Torres - Algo Nuevo |
| Little Habana Souljazz Orchestra - Freedom No Die
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| The Last Thing Freedom Family - S/T |
| You Can’t Change A Man Chrissy Essien - One Underground |
| Give Love Ras Michael - Rastafari |
| Full Understanding Barrington Levy - Run Come Ya! |
| Ayee Menko The Diggit Ways of Ghana - Dig This Way |
| Time The Funkees - Now I’m A Man |
| Bacalao Con Pan Groupo Irekere - S/T |
| Woman Barrabas - S/T |
| Extra Curriculars:
EVERY TUESDAY AT 7 - 11 PM Open Mic Night hosted by Blake Lavogi @Cassette Listening Bar 2557 Baseline Road Come jam! EVERY WEDNESDAY AT AT 7 PM - LATE Hip Hop Night curated by Vektrx @Cassette Lounge Bar 2557 Baseline Rd Cassette brings you old school hip hop weekly, with Vektrx and rotating guests. Special Dates: - August 28 Hidden Crates vinyl set w/ Parleh EVERY THURSDAY AT 9 PM - LATE Concept Thursdays @Gridwirks / Annx 221 Rideau St. No cover | 19+ Every Thursday explore a different musical concept & vibe with two floors providing a different environment featuring a plethora of DJs on rotation bring the flavour on a weekly basis. EVERY FRIDAY AT 7 - 10 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. EVERY SATURDAY AT 7 - 11 PM DJ Night @Ten Toes Coffee 837 Somerset St. W. Different DJ’s on rotation providing the soundtrack! SUNDAYS,AUGUST, 2026 AT 6 - 10 PM Baked Goods Record Store Presents: Rooftop Sessions @Andaz Copper Spirits & Sights 325 Dalhousie St. We are extremely excited to announce our Baked Goods/Cassette collaborative crossover with Copper Spirits & Sights at Andaz! Starting July 19th, every Sunday from 6pm-10pm we will be curating some of the finest DJ’s and vinyl selectors from our roster of Cassette residents and friends for an eclectic mix of amazing tunes ranging from Disco/Boogie/Funk/Hip Hop/House and more! Expect incredible vibes at the best roof top bar in Ottawa, with a fantastic view overlooking the ByWard Market! Dance the night away or sit back and relax with a few drinks and a delicious bite to eat while listening to exquisite tunes and soaking in the sunset! Here is the July-August line up: August 30 - @djadamlord EVERY SUNDAY AT 10 PM - LATE Plantains&Caviar @City Afterlight 129 Bank St. An open format event series focused on the promotion of Pan-African electronic music and culture. As a title, Plantains & Caviar represents the plurality of the music I aim to promote. Blending different cultures, sounds, and identities in one space free of isms & phobias. Afrobeat, Dancehall, Amapiano, House, Gqom, Alté, Afro-fusion, Miami Bass, Batida, Baille Funk, Ghetto Tech, UKG, Jungle +++ AUGUST 10 - 31, 2026 MOOV Adult Classes Summer Schedule Register: www.moovottawa.com August 31 Alicia Ladies First 6-7pm Beginner Hip Hop 7-8pm Intermediate Hip Hop 8-9pm FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2026 AT 8:30 UNTIL LATE Chris International @Henry Arlingtons 35 Laurel St. Chris International will be on the decks playing top hist from around the planet at the centre for peak performance. FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2026 AT 10 - CLOSE Chus & Ceballos @Gridwrks 221 Rideau St. Tickets: https://ticketscandy.com/e/chus-ceballos-at-gridwrks-19939 After a five-year hiatus, the legendary duo has reunited, and we're excited to welcome them back to Ottawa for the first time since their reunion—this time at GRIDWRKS on Friday, August 28—as part of this year's Official Capital Pride programming. SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2026 AT 12 - 11 PM Tortaboyz Block Party Cook Out! @ADULT HIGH SCHOOL 301 Preston St. (Parking Lot) YOU THOUGHT WE FORGOT!?!? OTTAWA! IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW … IF YOU DONT WELL YOU ARE ABOUT TO FIND OUT ! The return of the BLOCK PARTY! Our little gesture of gratitude to the city that raised us and made us! SATURDAY AUGUST 29 12-11 PM ADULT HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT (301 Preston) FREE EVENT LICENSED EVENT KIDS ZONE MARKET VENDORS A CURATED list of some of the cities BEST food - both established and up and coming representing all corners of the world. The boyzz love to eat and cannot wait to share this food line up with you! No fluff just real passionate food pro’s sharing their craft ! With all this food you’re going to need something to digest! And what better way to spend a day eating and dancing with a sound line up curated by our hermano and MC @cheko7even … you know we had so much fun at Italian fest we had to bring back our hermanitos from @afroteo_ to shut it down … and some other VERY SPECIAL GUESTS! SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2026 AT 7 PM - CLOSE Kaminsky Selects: THE BEST MUSIC YOU’VE NEVER HEARD! @Ten Toes Coffee 873 Somerset St. W 100% vinyl: Forty Five + Thiry Threes! 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 SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2026 AT 7 - 11 PM Just Me And You w/ DJ Mace + Friends @Andaz Copper Spirit & Sights 325 Dalhousie St., 16th Floor Join DJ Mace for a special edition of “Just You And Me” for the launch of Saturdays at Andaz. Also celebrating Micheal Jackson’s birthday! SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2026 AT 8 PM - MIDNIGHT Pride Listening Party w/ DJ Del Pilar @FONO 473 Bronson Ave. Free (save yourself a spot on the FONO website!) SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2026 AT 8 PM - 2 AM School of Bass # 68.91 @Swizzles Bar and Grill 244 Queen St., Ottawa Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BktJFifMP/ Techno! Trance! UK Garage! Halftime 140! DNB! And more! Featuring: DJ Speaker Phreaker DJ Optional Hood Shit (Dj Numeric b2b Dj Sparkee Dubz) DJ DJRJ DJ Type-ZERO Art decos by Dems & Dolls! Bring your food can for the Ottawa Food Bank! Saturday August 29th 2026 Swizzles Bar and Grill - 246 Queen street (Basement) +19 event. Valid photo I.D. required. Pay what you can at the door! P.L.U.R R.O.A.R SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SCENE SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2026 AT 9 PM - 2 AM Intersection “Ottawa Pride Edition” w/ DJ Seiiizi @27 Club 27 York St. We’re super excited to welcome SEIIIZI for our first INTERSECTION party in town! We’ve already had the chance to work with SEIIIZI and absolutely loved their energy. We’re so happy to have them back with us in Ottawa to open the night! SEIIIZI blends amapiano, dancehall, Afrobeats, and underground Afro-diasporic music, captivating audiences with seamless transitions between nostalgic bangers and deep rhythms. SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2026 AT 9 PM - CLOSE Drop The Needle w/ DJ Illo @Cassette 2557 Baseline Rd DJ Illo will be taking the sound system at Cassette for a little journey through time. All vinyl, all genres, all eras! SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2026 AT 1 PM Capital Pride Parade 2026 @Centretown 110 Laurier Ave W. Join over 200 groups, 11,000 participants, and over 150,000 attendees at Ottawa’s largest parade. Show your pride and celebrate on Sunday, August 30 at 1pm. More information including registration and route information, will be available throughout the spring and summer. Stay tuned for more details. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 AT 8 PM Funk Yo Self | Album release w/ Jermaine Holmes + Trevor Walker @SAW Centre 67 Nicholas St. Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FRwgsVv33/ Tickets: Ticketsfunk-yo-self.bloomtickets.ca/event/2243 FINALLY, the moment you've all been waiting for. FUNK YO SELF, the album! After all these years, Funk Yo Self will release their debut album. Come enjoy the fruits of our labour with a night of music, featuring Jermaine Holmes and his quartet, with Trevor Walker on the 1s and 2s. Join us for an epic celebration of love, juice, and funk. Jermaine Holmes: Jermaine Holmes is a 2x Grammy Award-winning Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist & performer hailing from New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. Coming from a family deeply rooted in church soul, Jermaine is a vocal powerhouse for the ages with an unparalled level of artistic versatility. Jermaine Holmes brings you into his world one song at a time with his introspective lyricism and production heavily inspired by the gospel quartet music tradition, carefully blending elements of old-school Hip-Hop and modern R&B together to bring his notable sound to life. As a member of D'Angelo & The Vanguard, Jermaine was part of the Grammy Award-winning album "Black Messiah" (2016), which took home the award for Best R&B Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. The album also won Best R&B Song for "Really Love." https://jermaineholmes.net/music/ Trevor Walker: Providing the world with top notch tunes from Afro, Latin, Jazz, Reggae, Disco, Funk, Soul, Hip Hop + Legendary Ottawa based DJ Trevor walker has been a staple of the scene for over 20 years. He will be gracing us with his legendary grooves to keep the party slamming. FUNK YO SELF Funk Yo Self is a high energy and sophisticated party-band sensation hailing from the Outaouais region. Funk Yo Self keeps fans reeling with their unique blend of psychedelic, funk and jazz fusion. Performing in clubs from Toronto to Montreal, in the Ottawa Jazz Fest, as well as different festivals across Ontario and Quebec, their superbly executed, unassailable grooves, and unstoppable energy keeps the dance floor FUNKIN' all Night-long! Their sound is influenced and reminiscent of James Brown, Jamiroquai, the late era Miles Davis, and Lettuce, making their live performance one of the most original, funkiest, and soulful musical experiences in the country. Come party with us! SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2026 AT 7 PM The Social Distance @Roots RV Resort 120 Reids Lk Ln, Renfrew, ON. K7V 3Z7, Renfrew, Ontario Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/19AftDawDS/ See you all at the Root RV Resort in Renfrew! SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2026 AT 1 - 4 PM Reverie Sundays: Daytime Rooftop Patio Party w/ MusicSpasms + House Of Wayne @Rabbit Hole Tiki Bar (Rooftop Patio) 208 Sparks St. Eventbrite: Link iconReverie Sundays Ticketsreveriesundaysott.eventbrite.com It's official, September 6th is Volume 2 of Reverie Sundays and we are so excited. RSVP your FREE tickets at ReverieSundaysOTT on Eventbrite. Link in Bio! NOTE: In the event of rain, we will be taking the party indoors. We learned from the last event that the weather is NOT always on our side, so we have you covered, rain or shine! SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2026 AT 5 - 11 PM Star Disco Vinyl Disco Party @The Origin Arts & Community Centre 57 Lyndale Ave. Star Disco will be taking a Time Machine back to 1978 so grab your grooviest outfits and meet us at The Origin Arts & Community Centre Sunday, September 6th for and end of summer party to remember. DJ Seiiizi will be on deck providing the soundtrack featuring 70’s Disco, Funk, Highlife, Motown, Jungle and much more! FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2026 Afrofestival Ottawa @Mooney’s Bay Park + Beach Mooney’s Bay Afrofestival Ottawa 2026 is Ottawa's biggest African celebrations and one of Canada’s leading African cultural festivals, celebrating the diversity, creativity, and vibrant spirit of African communities from across the continent and diaspora. Taking place at Mooney’s Bay Park and Beach in Ottawa since 2021, this FREE family-friendly festival features live music performances, DJs, dance showcases, African fashion, cultural exhibitions, food vendors, artisan markets, and interactive community experiences. Festival attendees can explore authentic African cuisine, discover local businesses and creators, and enjoy performances ranging from Afrobeats and Amapiano to traditional dance and contemporary African music. Afrofestival Ottawa welcomes visitors of all backgrounds to experience African culture through entertainment, art, storytelling, and community connection in one of Ottawa’s largest multicultural outdoor festivals. Event highlights include: • Live African music and dance performances • Food vendors and cultural cuisine • African fashion and artisan marketplace • Family-friendly activities • Cultural exhibitions and community engagement • Local and international performers FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 AT 8 PM Harea Band & Prehistoric w/ DJ Trevor Walker @Rainbow Bistro 76 Murray St. Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DkzmR6aFj/ Tickets: Ticketstherainbow.ca/event/6655108/771164375/harea-band-prehistoric-with-dj-trevor-walker Harea Band returns to the Rainbow for a night built around live funk, hip-hop, soul, and a packed dance floor. The Ottawa group is a 5-piece pop, soul, and R&B outfit, known for bringing a high-energy live show shaped by deep grooves, strong vocals, and tight musicianship. For this special show, Harea Band joins forces with Prehistoric, one of Ottawa’s long-running hip-hop MCs. Known to many as Papa Pre, he brings a technical and clever independent rap style that gives this collaboration a different edge. Keeping the room moving throughout the night is DJ Trevor Walker. A respected figure in Ottawa nightlife, Trevor collected and played records for decades and spent 21 years as a resident DJ at Mercury Lounge. Expect thoughtful selections, serious rhythm, and no dead space between sets. Come early, stay late, and catch three established Ottawa artists sharing one room for a proper night at the Rainbow. https://www.instagram.com/harea_band/ https://www.instagram.com/papapre613/ https://www.instagram.com/lifeboogie/ 8 pm doors 9 pm start SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 AT 7 PM DYSTOH @Le Minotaure 3 rue kent, Gatineau Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ByydHNDM1/ Tickets: https://lpdv.co/827aa DYSTOH: www.dystoh.com DYSTOH is the duo formed by Ray Tabana and Phil Motion, founding members of the three-time Juno Award-nominated Souljazz Orchestra. Their music combines congas, baritone saxophone and vocal harmonies, drawing its energy from Afrobeat, Latin rhythms and reggae. Born during the pandemic, the duo made their debut at the Dakar Music Expo in 2022 before touring Colombia, Canada and Europe. Their debut album, Heat of the Times (2024), offers a raw and poetic reflection on the upheavals of today's world. With more than twenty years of experience on international stages, DYSTOH offers energetic performances, carried by hypnotic grooves and a remarkable stage presence. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2026 AT 10 AM - 5 PM Ottawa Anime-Fest @Hilton Garden Inn Ottawa Airport 2400 Chemin Alert Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Rde5qtoWH/ Join us on Saturday September 19 2026 here in Ottawa, Ontario at the Hilton Garden Inn Airport Hotel from 10am to 5pm. It's fun for the whole family and kids enter FREE. Voice Actors, Vendors, Attractions and so much more. Plus Huge Cosplay Contest. For more info please visit https://linktr.ee/OttawaAnimeFest FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 AT 9 PM Bill Withers Tribute @Irene’s Pub 885 Bank St. Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/18LhaTYq5Y/ Tickets: Ticketsirenespub.ca/events/mecca-of-stank-with-sg Mecca of Stank returns to pay tribute to Bill Withers, celebrating the soul, warmth, and timeless rhythm of a music legend. They'll perform a set of his most recognizable songs, followed by a set of Withers-inspired original music from one of Ottawa's premiere soul/funk bands. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2026 Pique @Arts Court 2 Daly Ave. Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/14qt1iunvGB/ Pique returns with its most ambitious edition yet—and for the first time ever, admission is FREE. Transforming Arts Court into a vibrant playground of adventurous music, immersive art, performance, and unexpected encounters, Pique #21 brings together boundary-pushing artists from across disciplines, genres, and geographies. Featuring artists from across Canada and beyond, this season's programming spans genre-defying electronics, contemporary Indigenous practices, ballroom cultures, futuristic experiments in sound, multimedia installation, unexpected creative interventions, and more. Presented as part of Nuit Blanche Ottawa and the Ottawa 200 anniversary celebrations, this landmark edition is free to attend for the first time, inviting audiences to experience one of the city's most eclectic cultural events. EXPLORE THE LINEUP https://thisispique.com/lineup-26-09 Across multiple floors of Arts Court, Pique #21 brings together an expansive mix of experimental music, contemporary club culture, live performance, immersive installation, and participatory art. The program spans electronic, noise, hip hop, hyperpop, ambient, contemporary classical, improvisation, and global club sounds, with artists drawing from Indigenous, Black, and queer cultural traditions. Audiences will encounter everything from live a/v, film, and multimedia production, to participatory performance, immersive installation and collective art-making. The program moves between intimate and ecstatic, analog and digital, traditional and futuristic—centering artists who use their practices to explore identity, land, technology, disability, memory, community, and new forms of cultural expression. QUEERTOPIA 3000 https://thisispique.com/queertopia-3000 One of Pique's signature annual celebrations also returns with the third annual Queertopia Kiki Ball 3000, presented by Legendary Overall Motha Maldita Siriano and Yéila Siriano. Celebrating ballroom culture through performance, fashion, creativity, and chosen family, Queertopia has become one of Ottawa's most joyful queer cultural events, welcoming both renowned legends and new audiences into the world of kiki ballroom culture. TOPIQUE https://thisispique.com/topique Running alongside the festival, Topique, Pique's artist-led symposium exploring equity, sustainability, and creative practice, returns on September 26 with a dedicated day of conversations, workshops, and knowledge exchange. This year's program will explore themes including community-led world building, music distribution in the age of platform capitalism, and the role of archives, memory, and cultural stewardship in shaping independent creative futures. Admission to Topique will once again be pay-what-you-can, ensuring accessibility for artists, cultural workers, and the public. The full symposium program will be announced in the coming weeks. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 AT 8 PM Atlantis Jazz Ensemble @Minotaure 3 rue kent, Gatineau Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/19K9txgvby/ Tickets: Ticketslepointdevente.com/billets/mti260930001 ATLANTIS JAZZ ENSEMBLE https://atlantisjazzensemble.bandcamp.com/ The Atlantis Jazz Ensemble back at Minotaure! Expect a memorable night of spiritual jazz mixed with just a hint of soul and tropical sounds. Personnel: Ed Lister - trompette et flugelhorn Zakari Frantz - saxophone alto et percussion Pierre Chrétien - piano électrique Fender Rhodes et percussion Chris Pond - contrebasse Mike Essoudry - batterie avec: Petr Cancura - saxophone ténor et percussion Marielle Rivard - percussion SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2026 AT 10 AM - 4 PM Ottawa Record Fair VIII @Carleton-Dominion Chalmers Centre 355 Cooper St. OVER 30 vendors from Ontario and Quebec! Thousands of new and 2nd hand vinyl LPs, CDs and Cassettes. THIS IS NOT A YARD SALE ! Twice a year a mind blowing selection of recorded music (spanning the genres) is presented for your perusal. Loads of cheap parking available on site and free on the streets in surrounding area of the venue. Early admission is $ 10. at 10 a.m. General admission at 11 a.m. is $5. Mark it on the calendar Saturday, OCTOBER 17, 2026 ...76 days away...time flies! SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2026 Hiltons perform “Bella Simone” @Gavan’s Hotel 1157 Rue de Clarendon, Quyon QC. Tickets: https://themanxist.com Info: https://festivalfantome.com Hiltons perform “Bella Simone” for a 20 year vinyl release party with their original 2006 band line-up. This night promises high energy electro punk along with grinding synths from The Retrospects Band and a solo noice-clown by Jesse Buck. |
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NICE kick off, Nick !!!
5:07 PM, August 28th, 2026