Moonface
Frog Eyes, Wolf Parade, Fifths of Seven — these are just a few of the music projects songwriter and keyboardist Spencer Krug has been involved with over his career. He’s an amazingly prolific musician who has been credited on almost two dozen releases since 2003. So it’s safe to say he knows a few things about making good music.
His latest project, Moonface, is a (mostly) solo endeavour. In several of his albums, he relies heavily on the piano as he waxes lonesome about everything from the collapse of a relationship to disillusionment with a once-loved city. He also collaborated with Finnish band Siinai to create Heartbreaking Bravery, an indie rock-tinged album with a brooding, melancholic atmosphere.
He performs at Pressed on Thursday, Aug. 27. Tickets from $13. See Facebook event page for details.
Pressed, 750 Gladstone Ave., 613-680-9294, pressed-ottawa.com
The Norman Conquests
In 1973, playwright Alan Ayckbourn set himself an ambitious task: to write a trilogy of plays wherein the events in each happen simultaneously. And so, The Norman Conquests was born.
The play follows the character of Norman as he attempts, on three separate occasions, to seduce his wife, Ruth; her sister, Annie; and their sister-in-law, Sarah. The setting is a country house belonging to Ruth and Annie’s invalid mother, with whom Annie lives and for whom she cares. The action takes place over a single weekend as all three women react to Norman’s charms.
The trilogy begins on Friday, Aug. 28 at The Gladstone. It runs until Saturday, Oct. 10. The plays can be viewed independently, but if you want to see all three, consider purchasing a package. Tickets start at $18. See website for more info.
The Gladstone, 910 Gladstone Ave., 613-233-4523, thegladstone.ca
Ottawa Craft Beer Festival
The National Capital Region has seen an explosion in craft brewing in recent years, with breweries such as Beau’s All-Natural Brewing Company, Kichesippi Beer Co., and Bicycle Craft Brewery popping up in the area.
For its fourth year, the Ottawa Craft Beer Festival is bringing in 40 craft breweries, international beers, delicious food from local eateries, and live music. It’s also running brewmaster seminars, holding a 5K run (or walk!), introducing the winners of the National Capital Home Brew Competition, and more.
The brews start pouring on Friday, Aug. 28 and the festival continues until Sunday, Aug. 30. Admission starts at $15. Please note that the event is restricted to ages 19+. See website for ticket prices.
Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne Park, 1015 Bank St., ottawacraftbeerfestival.ca
RiderGirl
CFL Fans Fight Cancer teams up with RiderGirl Productions to raise some money for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. Friday, Aug. 28 and Saturday, Aug. 29 join fellow CFL and theatre fans – not only will there be a show (of which $1/ticket sold will go to the foundation), there will be a Tailgate Party (where more funds will be raised) – which is arguably the best part of football. The pre-show will have a cash bar as well as hot dogs and sausages to purchase. Tailgate Party at 6:30 p.m., show time 7:30 p.m., and a post-game party to follow the show.
However, this one-woman show (two-time Rideau Award nominee Colleen Sutton) offers fair competition to the typical tailgate.
“A prairie girl is seduced into sports fandom and discovers the rules don’t just apply to the game. Colleen Sutton throws herself into multiple characters as she fights for first downs and flags begin to fly. Loaded with laughs, it’s a fast-paced, physical and trash-talking march down the field that will haul your heart into the game.”
Come in your CFL gear and colours! If you intend to bring your kidlets, keep in mind that there will be some swearing – this is football after all. Tickets start at $26 (tailgate included in ticket cost).
Arts Court, 2 Daly Ave., 613-765-5555, artscourt.ca/events/ridergirl
Palestinian Festival Ottawa
Did you know the Palestinian region, the area located between the east shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, was one of the earliest in the world to see human habitation, agricultural communities and civilization?
As I’ve been saying it all summer long, I will say it again: one of the best parts of summer in Ottawa is the plethora of cultural festivals. Let us welcome Ottawa’s Palestinian Festival, returning for the second time to City Hall’s Marion Dewar Plaza!
Running from Friday, Aug. 28 to Sunday, Aug. 30, take part in this free event and learn about Palestine’s language and people, take part in the dance and music, and taste all of the food. Follow the festival on Facebook to keep up-to-date. Family encouraged! Event runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Marion Dewar Park, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave. W., palestinianfestivalottawa.com
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan
Montreal band Yamantaka // Sonic Titan was born when drummer Alaska B and vocalist Ruby Kato Attwood decided to bridge their two cultures through music (Alaska is of Chinese-Irish descent, while Attwood is of Japanese-Scottish descent). They playfully dubbed the resulting sound Noh-wave, after the 14th century Japanese theatre art whose defining characteristic is the use of masks.
Their music is often referred to as prog-rock, but the term doesn’t adequately describe their sound. They bring together eastern and western music styles, and stir the pot further with hints of metal, punk, grunge, and psychedelic.
They perform at Zaphod Beeblebrox on Saturday, Aug. 29. Tickets are $12. See Facebook event page for more info.
Zaphod Beeblebrox, 27 York St., 613-562-1010, zaphods.ca
Harvest Table 2015 – Savour Ottawa
Harvest Table has grown over the last four years, in attendance and food. For the fifth annual event, courtesy of Savour Ottawa, it will be no different. Held Sunday, Aug. 30 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park, beside the Ottawa Farmers’ Market (a fitting location), come celebrate the local harvest with a multi-course, gourmet luncheon. Harvest Table sees some of the city’s finest chefs partner with local farmers to create fresh, seasonal dishes. Enjoy a family-style feast sharing the company of producers, chefs and other guests.
Tickets are only sold in advance, and it always sells out so don’t delay! Regular tickets are $75, or get the VIP treatment – “Cream of the Crop” – for $90. The extra $15 will get you a guided tour of the Ottawa Farmers’ Market with C’est Bon Cooking and appetizers and cocktails to start the afternoon in style. Purchase online here.
Check out some of the featured local restaurants to get your mouth watering in advance: The Albion Rooms
, le café at the National Arts Centre
, Courtyard Restaurant,
Fairmont Château Laurier, Thyme and Again, Creative Catering
, The Red Apron.
Horticulture Building, Lansdowne Park, 1015 Bank St., 613 699 6850 ext. 10, savourottawa.ca/events.php