TRANSCANADARADIO is proud to celebrate Canada’s Current Cultural artists and their locations! Traveling across Canada’s vast surface and finding the best of the under and above-ground artists, and where to check them out in your favorite Canadian city! Pack your bags! We’re going on a road trip!
Title: Amir Javasoul Location: Mercury Lounge, Ottawa Link out: Click here Date: 2008-12-18
Amir Javasoul is originally from Iran and moved to Montreal to start DJ’ing. It was then that he started Dj’ing around the St. Lawrence region of Canada. During this phase, Amir had one of those magical rave-like epiphanies. During Derrick Carter’s now legendary “Atomic” nights in Ottawa, where he says it became obvious that he would be a DJ for life.
“It’s funny; I still remember the exact moment when I had a ‘moment’. 5:30 in the morning, Derrick stopped everything, turned the lights off, silence, and then, Lil louis’ I called you. Two hours of mid tempo, obscure old Chicago acid, disco-not-disco followed. Inspired, is an understatement. I always knew music would be an integral part of my life. But I found out on that dance floor that it will now BECOME my life.”
In 2001, Amir moved to Paris where he currently resides. In 2008, he’s coming back to Canada and the town that convinced him to follow his dream, Ottawa. He’ll be playing the Mercury Lounge on Thursday, December 18th.
Title: Marie-Josee Houle Location: Avant-Garde, Ottawa Link out: Click here Date: 2008-12-06
Marie-Josee Houle was born in Val d’Or, Quebec and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. Skilled in the accordion, she sings and writes in both English and French, making her sets a beautiful blend of English and French Canada. Her music combines classical, punk rock, and French cabaret sensibilities into one sultry stew of sound. Houle’s solo debut, Our Lady of Broken Souls, won Best Folk Album with the Ottawa Xpress over artists such as Jim Bryson and Andrea Simms Karp. With the help of Canadian and Norwegian bands, as well as producer Marius Gengenbach, she finished her second album in 2008 while in Oslo, Norway. Marie-Josee Houle will be playing one of my favorite little Russian-themed venues, Avant-Garde, on Saturday, December 6th.
Title: Fred Everything Location: Mercury Lounge, Ottawa Link out: Click here Date: 2008-11-20
Fred Everything has over 12 years in the music business and over 100 productions to his credit. Born in Hull and raised in Quebec City, Fred has had a long career DJ’ing various venues around Canada. In 2003, Fred won best Electronic Artist at The Mimi’s award in Montreal. He now lives in Montreal, after having lived in San Francisco and working with Moulton Studios, where he’s working on his label’s 10th release. To hear his latest stuff, check him out at the Mercury Lounge, where he’ll be playing after elodieO on Thursday, November 20th.
Title: DJ Shine Location: Ottawa Link out: Click here Date: 2008-12-06
Jason Spanu, aka DJ Shine, is a Toronto-based electronic music producer/DJ with over 17 years in the business. Signed to Toronto’s Nice+Smooth label, he is also a member of Nelly Furtado’s band whom he spent the last three years on tour with. His sets cover a solid club vibe with genres such as house, jazz, techno and electro. He’ll be playing in Ottawa on Saturday December 6th, about the same time his next album drops, so be sure to check him out.
[UPDATE: Here's more info about the show]
Host: Joe Rowe & Meow Productions Location:The Cock and Lion Pub Address: 202 Sparks Street
Title: Thunderheist Location: Babylon, Ottawa Link out: Click here Date: 2008-11-113
Thunderheist is among the grimiest electro out there. It’s like Peaches had sex with MIA on crank and Crystal Castles was watching. The Montreal-based duo had an insane show at NXNE in 2007 and have been featured in almost every Canadian music publication. Isis, is a Nigerian-born, Canadian-raised, emcee that has shared stages with a wide range of hip hop heavyweights like Bahamadia, M1 (Dead Prez) and even T.I. The DJ behind the band, Grahm Zilla, is an incredibly versatile producer & DJ who has spent over 15 years honing his skills. Check them out tonight in Ottawa at Babylon.
NuJazz festival starts tonight! The festival features such heavyweights as The Herbaliser Band and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. On top of that, you’ll be able to check out some great Canadian bands such as Souljazz Orchestra, King Sunshine, Grand Analog, Planet Earth and The National Parcs. We haven’t forgotten about the DJs either. Canadian and local DJs such as The Footprints DJ crew, John Kong, More or Les, Rollin’ Cash, DJ Numeric and more. Click through for exact dates, listings, prices and online ticket purchasing
Rommel Teixeira Ribeiro is a Brazilian-born artist living in Ottawa. He’s quite multi-talented with his ability to play a number of string and percussion instruments from his native country, including the cavaquinho, craviola, pandeiro and berimbau. He often describes his music as being heavily influenced by his hometown of São Luís (in the northeastern province of Maranhão) which is known for its mix of African, indigenous and European cultures. He puts on a great show and he’ll be jamming at the Mercury Lounge on Friday, November 21st.
Title: JADAH followed by JazzTronic Location: Mercury Lounge, Ottawa Link out: none Date: 2008-11-28
Jadah, a local Ottawa reggae band, is virtually impossible to find on the Internet. Why? It could be that having a MySpace isn’t the way this reggae band rolls, or maybe Jadah is just waiting for the right time. Ainsley is the lead singer and he’s been doing this for 20 years now. Count on Jadah to provide some great beats Friday November 28th at the Mercury Lounge in Ottawa.
The band has shared a stage with the likes of Mark Berube and The Patriotic Few, The Unsettlers, The Ladies of the Canyon, Lake of Stew, Charlotte Cornfield, The John Cohen Experimental, The Winks and The Winter Gloves. So if these bands are up your alley, you’ll get a kick out of their Eastern European gypsy soul. Check them out at the Mercury Lounge on Friday, November 29th.
Title: Leif Vollebekk Location: Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield (Ottawa) Link out: Click here Date: 2008-11-27
Leif Vollebekk is from Montreal and his music is an acoustic guitar country meets Arcade Fire that reminds me of a never-ending road trip through rural Quebec. That doesn’t mean anything does it? In any case, his CD release party is going down at the Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield, just outside of Ottawa, on Thursday November 27. The Blacksheep is an awesome venue and he’ll be playing with OK Giraffe and Charlotte Cornfield.
