OK GO
The very danceable, oh-so-quirky OK Go of You Tube fame bring their upbeat style to the Capital Music Hall for a night that’s sure to involve a lot of head bopping and limb-thrashing. Plenty of smiles too — who can’t love these L.A. indies? So if you’ve watched the vids and know about their courageous treadmill dancing and well-trained dogs, you should see what the boys can do live. Must be 19 years or over. $20 in advance. Capital Music Hall, 128 York St. 613-789-9922. www.capitalmusichall.ca
DON AMERO
Say you saw him before he got famous. His sound has been compared to both John Mayer and Keith Urban. His record label calls him folk/pop/country. We say Don Amero’s new album, The Long Way Home, sounds good to us. A star at this year’s Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, the Winnipeg-based singer/musician takes his show on the road. In Ottawa, you can catch him at the Rainbow Bistro. $12. Oct. 15, 9:30 p.m. 76 Murray St., 613-241-5123. www.therainbow.ca
THURSDAY NIGHT FRIGHTS
Every Thursday night in October, The Canadian Museum of Nature hosts an evening of ghost stories, haunted tours, and horror flicks. The tour, which is put on in partnership with Haunted Walks Ottawa, allows visitors to learn about the museum’s notorious legends and hear tales of ghostly happenings. Films like The Shining will be screened at 8:15 p.m. in the new HD theatre, so you can relax in comfort while taking in the chilling Stanley Kubrick classic. And if you’re ready for a respite following all that fear and trembling, the museum is hosting a wine bar with live jazz music in the Nature Café. Exhibits will remain open until 11 p.m. Tour $10, film $5. Oct. 14, 21, and 28. Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod St. 613-566-4770. www.nature.ca
HAMLET (SOLO)
This new take on the well-known Shakespeare play features Raoul Bhaneja as 17 different cast members. A special fundraiser for the Shannon Reynolds Memorial Endowment Fund, which supports the development of GCTC productions that emphasize female voices, the play has been performed around the world to critical acclaim — but it’s actually something of a homecoming for Bhaneja, who was raised in Ottawa and graduated from Canterbury High School. Intimate and powerful, it’s Hamlet like you’ve never seen it. Oct. 15-17. $28.25. Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre, 1227 Wellington St. W. 613-236-5196. www.gctc.ca
TAXI STAND JAM
Start the weekend early! The Ottawa International Writers Fest warms up to the main event (which starts next week) with an ultra-cool teaser. For TAXI Stand Jam, the fest pairs seven local artists with seven outstanding writers in exile, giving them seven hours to develop a seven-minute performance based on a theme revealed that day. The result? Performance, music, spoken work, digital art, and who knows what else. Featured artists are Indian classical musician Mushfiq Hashimi, spoken word artist Oni the Haitian Sensation, digital artist eepmon, theatre creator Emily Pearlman, Oud player Mel M’rabet, theatre artist Sheila James, and songwriter and musician Phil Jenkins. The featured writers in exile are Amatoritsero Ede, Goran Simic, Sheng Xue, Alvaro Gómez, Nooshin Salari, Petronila Cleto, and Gordana Icevska. $10. Thurs., Oct. 14. Arts Court Theatre, 2 Daly Ave., 613-564-7240. www.writersfestival.org
KELP RECORDS OCFF BREAKFAST
Hey morning people! Finally an event for you. The 24th Annual Ontario Council of Folk Festivals Conference is being held in Ottawa this weekend – who knew? For you, lucky folkie, that means that the great Jim Bryson will be playing during a special brunch at Raw Sugar Café. Also on the slate, Tanya Davis and Andrew Vincent. $10. Sat., Oct. 16, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 692 Somerset St. W., 613-216-2850. www.myspace.com/rawsugarcafe