Music venues and concerts in Ottawa/Gatineau

[OTSkyline]

Funny enough those lots right across Bluesfest lands were some of the first ones to be allocated for development too, no?

[zzptichka]

I wish they built an actual outdoor stage there.
Anyone got Frank Gehry's number?

[OTSkyline]

The new PNE Amphitheatre they're building in Vancouver looks amazing and would fit great at this location. Multi-purpose too!

[J.OT13]

Hope to get something like this in the new LeBreton Flats Park. Then maybe we can do something better with Bluesfest Park.

[movebyleap]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

I wish they built an actual outdoor stage there.
Anyone got Frank Gehry's number?

We can always dream!!

[rocketphish]

Guess Who's coming to Bluesfest
The date is part of a Canadian tour celebrating the legal settlement that allowed Cummings and Bachman to reclaim the name of the band.

By Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen
Published Nov 10, 2025

The first act confirmed for the 2026 edition of Ottawa Bluesfest is the reconstituted classic-rock band the Guess Who, touring with original members Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman for the first time in more than two decades.

Next year’s edition of Bluesfest, Ottawa’s biggest music festival, runs from July 10 to 20, 2026, on the grounds of the Canadian War Museum at LeBreton Flats Park.

The Guess Who is scheduled to perform on the RBC main stage on July 19, topping off a day of special programming to mark the 200th anniversary of the city of Ottawa.

For the band, the date is part of a Canadian tour celebrating the recent legal settlement that allowed Cummings and Bachman to reclaim the name of the band they started in Winnipeg six decades ago.

Original bassist Jim Kale had trademarked the name in the U.S. almost 20 years ago, and in a partnership with ex-drummer Garry Peterson, organized Guess Who tours featuring a troupe of hired musicians. Burton and Cummings objected, calling it the “fake” Guess Who.

In 2024, Cummings managed to convince the courts to ban the “fake” Guess Who from playing any song he had written or co-written, thereby eliminating big hits like These Eyes, American Woman, No Time, Share The Land and more from the setlist. The touring soon collapsed.

By September 2024, an out-of-court settlement was reached that gave control of the name back to Cummings and Bachman.

Their celebratory tour starts May 30, 2026, in Toronto, with dates announced in Hamilton, London, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary and Edmonton.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/guess-who-bluesfest

[rocketphish]

Ottawa live music venue closes its doors

By Josh Pringle, CTV News
Published: January 13, 2026 at 10:55AM EST

The Brass Monkey has closed its doors in Ottawa’s west end after providing a venue for live music and billiards for over 15 years.

Owner Scott Ruffo tells Newstalk 580 CFRA they closed he location on Greenbak Road last week.

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while,” Ruffo told 580 CFRA’s Ottawa at Work with Patricia Boal.

“Back in April, we did a bit of a restructuring and brought in a new partner. Things just haven’t come back to the way they were pre-COVID. It’s multi-faceted now.”

Ruffo said the “economic times are terrible right now,” and food and rent costs have increased for businesses.

“For us as a business, it was really hard when you need to hit a certain target every month, and we just weren’t doing it now.”

A “notice of termination” on the door of the Brass Monkey said the tenant owed $56,037 in rent to the landlord. Ruffo said the Brass Monkey was “behind on rent.”

The Brass Monkey was formerly a pool hall and has been a live music venue for the past 15 years.

In 2024, the Brass Monkey won the Capital Music Award for Live Music Venue of the Year.

Ruffo said a few planned concerts will be shifted to the Rainbow Bistro in the ByWard Market. Details on the concert changes will be announced at a later date.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/ottawa-live-music-venue-closes-its-doors/

[rocketphish]

This is the lineup for Ottawa Bluesfest in July

By Josh Pringle, CTV News
Published: February 24, 2026 at 12:01AM EST

The Lumineers, Gwen Stefani, Sheryl Crow, country music artists Cody Johnson and Ella Langley, Hardy, Limp Bizkit and Cypress Hill will headline the 2026 edition of Ottawa Bluesfest.

Organizers unveiled the lineup for Bluesfest Tuesday morning, set for July 9 to 19 at LeBreton Flats.

“The goal of the Bluesfest team is to present a world class festival and keep it accessible and affordable for all,” Mark Monahan, executive and artistic director of Ottawa Bluesfest, said in a statement.

Bluesfest will kick off on Thursday, July 9 with American country music singer Cody Johnson as the headliner, along with Jessie Murph, Rev. Run and Digable Planets.

The lineup for July 10 is headlined by Limp Bizkit and Cypress Hill, and includes Steve Earle and Hank Azaria and the EZ Street Band.

Other headliners include American country and country-rock singer Hardy on July 11, The Lumineers on July 12, American singer and former YouTuber Conan Gray and British singer Myles Smith on July 15, Lord Huron on July 16, Ella Langley and Sheryl Crow on July 17, and Gwen Stefani and Shaggy on July 18.

Ottawa Bluesfest is hosting a special evening of music on July 19 to mark Ottawa’s 200th birthday, with acts including The Guess Who, Connor Price, the Sheepdogs, Elisapie, Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar and the Paolo Sante Band.

Bluesfest is hosting a one-day pre-sale on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to midnight for the nine-day shareable pass, which will be priced at $279 for the one-day sale.

Single-day tickets for general admission and VIP options go on sale on Thursday at 10 a.m. The three-day passes will go on sale at 10 a.m. on March 2.

All tickets include OC Transpo service to the festival site at LeBreton Flats.
Here is the full lineup for Ottawa Bluesfest

July 9 - Cody Johnson; Jessie Murph; Rev. Run; Digable Planets; GOAT; Lloyd Spiegel; The Longest Johns; Justin Fancy; Jade Hilton; Jermaine Holmes; Satellite Birdhouse; DJ Mace

July 10 - Limp Bizkit; Cypress Hill; Marc Rebillet; Steve Earle; Hank Azaria and The EZ Street Band; Miko Marks; Gwenifer Raymond; Alicia Kayley; F!TH; My Son The Hurricane; SexBandit; DJ Mace

July 11- HARDY; BigXthaPlug; Patrick Watson; cleopatrick; Luna Li; Mo Kenney; Ron Artis II; Aspects; Kat Pereira; Mikhail Laxton; Tiny Horse; DJ Mace

July 12 - The Lumineers; bbno$; Leif Vollebekk; Hazlett; DijahSB; Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band; Kelly McMichael; JOLY; Les Rats d’Swompe; Mehdi Cayenne; summersets; DJ Karyen

July 15 - Conan Gray; Myles Smith; Natasha Bedingfield; Sons of Legion; All-Star Women’s Blues Showcase; Reuben and The Bullhorn Singers; Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears; Yasmin Williams; Nikki D & The Sisters of Thunder; Adam Karch; Mecca of Stank; DJ Karyen

July 16 - Lord Huron; Social Distortion; Lucy Dacus; Royel Otis; Dope Lemon; Billy Bragg; Thee Sinseers; The Pairs; Jamie Webster; Jadea Kelly; Koko Love; Nico Little and The North Americans; DJ Karyen

July 17 - Ella Langley; Sheryl Crow; Death From Above 1979; Valerie June; Angine de Poitrine; JIMI; Thunder Queens; Nayana; The Jay Blues Trio; Emerging Artist Showcase; TYR ONE

July 18 - Gwen Stefani; Mariah The Scientist; Shaggy; Grace Bowers; Aqyila; Here Come The Mummies; The Texas Horns; TJ Wheeler; Bridge Music; Eadsé; TYR ONE

July 19 - The Guess Who; Connor Price; The Sheepdogs; Elisapie; Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar; 4KORNERS; Banggz; LeFLOFRANCO; Paolo Stante Band; Rebelle; Savannah Shea; TYR ONE

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/heres-who-is-coming-to-ottawa-bluesfest-in-july/

[Uhuniau]

The Guess Who? I guess not.

I think I see two acts I wouldn't mind seeing, and on different days. Maybe three if I feel like a nostalgia trip with William Bragg.

[phil235]

Pretty happy with this actually. Made me keen on getting a pass.

[rocketphish]

Ottawa music promoter hopes to turn old building at 473 Bronson into ‘Centretown’s living room’

Marissa Galko, OBJ
March 27, 2026

Once he’s removed the gravestones and the bicycles, Matías Muñoz plans to turn a 100-year-old building at 473 Bronson Ave. into what he calls “Centretown’s living room.”

Muñoz has watched Ottawa’s music scene evolve in the years since the pandemic. As a music promoter, he was familiar with many of the venues that would eventually close their doors after COVID, such as Barrymore’s Music Hall and Babylon on Bank Street. And he knew the feeling all too well himself, after his own DIY music venue, Cinqhole, closed after a few months of operation in 2020.

Still, Muñoz told OBJ this week that he’s held on to a passion for live music and urban spaces in Ottawa. So, when he was touring 473 Bronson Ave. last year, something clicked. He had gone in looking for a space to expand his rehearsal business, Green Room Rehearsal Studios, but came away with another ambition.

“As soon as I walked in, I was amazed. It’s this 100-year-old building with a beautiful façade and a lightbulb went off in my head. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get back into creating space for music, but I hung onto that idea and I said to myself, ‘I have to do something here.’”

Once a lease agreement was in place last summer, Muñoz started working on transforming the former Re-Cycles space into Fono, a “multi-purpose event space and high-fidelity lounge.”

Learning from his experience with Cinqhole, Muñoz said he wanted to be more intentional about curating the space at Fono.

“I hired designers, architects and contractors from the beginning to make sure that everything was planned correctly. Now, because we have a solid plan and (are) working with the right people, it makes a huge difference.”

Opening on April 10, Fono will be a “hub for the community,” Muñoz said. By day, it will serve coffee and sandwiches and, by night, beer, wine, cocktails and small bites – all woven together with music from a state-of-the-art sound system, inspired by the intimate Japanese kissa bar tradition.

“Kissa bar culture centres around intentional listening. The acoustics in the room have been fine-tuned. Everything centres around music in different ways here,” he said.

The audio system is set up for “an unparalleled listening experience,” he added.

“We worked with a Montreal company called Automatic Audio to build this beautiful system with six loudspeakers that are placed strategically so that anywhere you sit or stand, it sounds amazing … Even if the music is really loud, you can still have a normal conversation with the person sitting next to you.”

The space is divided into two sections: the hi-fi lounge and the ballroom. The ballroom is a flexible space at the back of the building that can host “anything from corporate meetings to private birthday parties, while we’re still having the public hanging out in the front lounge.”

The ballroom’s flexibility is what will keep Fono a sustainable business in the long run.

“The old model of music venues is that you come in, watch a show, buy a bunch of booze and that’s it. There’s nothing wrong with that, but to have a sustainable business, you have to be able to bring in money in other ways. We have coffee during the day. We have the potential for providing space for corporate meetings. We’re not just dependent on alcohol sales,” Muñoz explained.

“It’s a bit of a different business model, but I think it’s one that is appropriate for the time and modern economy we’re in. We’re keeping things flexible, keeping people interested. I think that everything we do here will feel different from the last time because there is no set-in-stone model that we’re operating under.”

Working with chef Pat Muir, who previously worked at Arlo Wine and Restaurant on Somerset Street West, Muñoz is curating a minimalist food and beverage program that will complement the venue without taking the spotlight.

“I’m by no means a restaurateur. To me, music is at the core of everything. Everything around it just supports (the music),” Muñoz said.

Still, he said there will be a focus on making the food and beverage program Ottawa-first by working with local producers such as Lulo Coffee and giving a nod to bygone venues with the names of Fono’s cocktails.

As for the design of the space, Muñoz worked with his wife, creative director Meaghan Murphy, and local design firm Wei Sanchez to give the space a minimalist look and inviting feel.

Touting the space as “Centretown’s living room,” Muñoz said he wants people to see Fono as a third space where they can feel at ease.

“When you come here, you just feel like you’re hanging out with friends. We want it to feel like you’re putting a record on in your friend’s living room,” he said. “We’ve strategically chosen the decor with a lot of vintage furniture to make the space feel like (people) can be at ease.”

Muñoz added that he wants Fono to be a place where artistic expression thrives – something that, if achieved, could mean long-term success.

“I want this place to be a hub for (the artistic) communities. My philosophy is that the success of the business, financially, will come, but you have to put your ‘reason why’ first. The reason why I’m doing this is for the music, for the community. Some businesses get that mixed up … I think putting a lot of care into the details of the audio, the visuals and the feel of this room will (lead to) a better experience when people walk in.”

And, he wants Fono to be braided into the fabric of the Centretown community.

“We want to do community events. We want this to be a place where other businesses come and do pop-ups,” Muñoz said, adding that he was inspired by the “harvest party” hosted by Miam Miam General Store on Somerset Street West last fall.

With a few hurdles still to jump – like taking old gravestones out of the building’s basement, a nod to when the space was occupied by George Brown and Sons – Muñoz said he’s looking forward to opening weekend.

“Fono is going to be something really different for Ottawa. (It’ll be) a really fun place to work and a fun place to come and hang out.”

https://obj.ca/ottawa-promoter-turn-473-bronson-centretowns-living-room/

[J.OT13]

Awesome! Cool little building.

[rocketphish]

Cameron Whitcomb, Alabama Shakes headline CityFolk 2026 at new location
Construction at Lansdowne Park forces event to relocate to RA Centre

CBC News
Posted: May 12, 2026 12:01 AM EDT | Last Updated: 9 hours ago

The headline acts at Ottawa's annual folk festival this year will include Cameron Whitcomb, Alice Cooper and Alabama Shakes, CityFolk has announced.

CityFolk returns in 2026 from Sept. 16 to 20.

The festival also announced it will relocate from its usual site, Lansdowne Park, due to ongoing construction there. CityFolk will be held instead at the RA Centre on Riverside Drive.

A spokesperson confirmed there will be two outdoor stages, one tented and one not.

Presale tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13. Full ticket sales will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 14.

<more>

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/city-folk-festival-ottawa-lineup-schedule-2026-9.7195039