By FATEEMA SAYANI
The NAC will announce 30 new concerts today, adding to the lineup of 26 previously announced NAC Presents shows. They’re billing it as The Ultimate Canadian Musical Journey.
We here at Ottawa Mag have been fans of the all-Canadian music series — now in its fourth season and programmed by Simone Deneau and Xavier Forget — for some time.
The third season featured hometown hero Kalle Mattson and Can-rock icons Martha Wainwright and Rufus Wainwright, among others. We also saw Royal Wood head to the NAC to play a set with plenty of lighting cues and dramatics, befitting the venue. He even arranged wine pairings for that gig, as he’s also a sommelier.
Expect more pairings this season, including a sweet gig with Daniel Lanois, Basia Bulat, and the NAC Orchestra. Bulat will perform Lanois’ material and a few of her own songs accompanied by NACO’s arrangements. That show takes place April 30, 2015. It may seem far away yet, but best not to delay. (Sarah McLachlan’s November 14 show is long sold out.)
We’re also excited about the double bill with Stars and Hey Rosetta! (Feb. 7) and the return of Arianne Moffatt (April 16) and Whitehorse (May 14), who played NAC Presents in years past. Many artists come back to play the series in following seasons, and often in a larger-capacity venue, starting with the Fourth Stage and moving up to the larger studio and theatre stages.
“NAC Presents is a vehicle for artists to be featured on a national stage,” producer Deneau says. “Investing in an artist with great potential, then inviting them back to perform on bigger stages, for even larger audiences, speaks directly to our commitment to championing their work and supporting their creative growth.”
Here, the 2014-2015 NAC Presents lineup. Tweet us with your best bets and favourite picks! @OttawaMag