On Wednesday night two stellar local musicians took the stage at Le Petit Chicago to showcase their talents, followed by Canadian heavyweights, Minotaurs. We wrote some words about it. Thanks to Megaphono for showcasing amazing Ottawa-based talent again in the third year of their much acclaimed music industry festival. Tonight Megaphono is commandeering some of the best music venues in Ottawa for their grand finale, featuring the likes of Monkeyjunk, Her Habour, Mike Dubue, Jim Bryson, Kalle Mattson, and more! See the lineup below.
Lucila Al Mar
Lucila made evident her wide ranging vocal talent and gift for powerful live performance on Wednesday evening at Le Petit Chicago. Taking the stage solo, she commanded the audience’s attention the moment she spoke into the microphone. Launching into her set with two beautiful a cappella pieces, Lucila’s smoky, defined vocals are flawless on their own; any accompaniment would have just distracted from them. Al Mar is totally in control and intensely emotive. She really engages her audience, encouraging them to sing, clap, and snap along with her, chanting words of empowerment and uplift. Her sense of comfort and ease on stage is even more apparent as she chats with the audience and relays the personal stories behind her penned tunes. Her album is out April 21, stay tuned for more details, we definitely want to be there for the release!
“24” by Lucila Al Mar Shot in the Dark Session
Malak
Malak is a American-Egyptian-Canadian artist who is taking her sound to new heights. She has an incredibly compelling, soulful voice coupled with a dynamic stage presence. On Wednesday she was accompanied by Dan Robidoux on keyboards and Mike Giamberardino on drums, and she herself played keys, they were able to do so much with this stripped down ensemble. The audience was rapt; Malak is a captivating performance artist gifted with a stunning voice and talent for songwriting. Her rendition of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” was a show stealer, but her original tunes are equally as powerful with pop/indie/soul/R&B influences, deep pocket beats, alluring melodies, and skillful builds. Though Malak has been winning awards for in voice competitions for years, she’s been getting a lot of attention recently as a result of her “Shot in the Dark” video session (a collaboration between Gallery Recording Studio and JustPixl Media Solutions), which has received over 90,000 views! Check out this video for Mannequin just released last week. She’ll be debuting a new album this Spring, not to be missed!
“Mannequin” by Malak (Official Video)
Minotaurs
The Minotaurs are a musical force to be reckoned with, bursting with energy, impressive musicality, and thoughtful arrangements. The band is all about texture, with heavy afrobeat influences, funk sensibilities, and catchy indie melodies. The little stage could barely accommodate the group, featuring an impressive horn section with guitar, bass, kit, keys, percussion, and Nathan Lawr’s dance/vocal stylings. Lawr, who fronts the band, has been a driving force in the Canadian music scene since the early 2000s, making waves with Royal City and taking the stage with artists like the Constantines, Jim Guthrie, and the Fembots. Their new album, Weird Waves, is available for purchase now.
There’s still so much more to see and hear today, the last day of Megaphono’s third annual music festival!
Elmdale Tavern (1084 Wellington W)
PWYC
3 pm
Music Ontario presents
3:30 pm – Old Man Grant
4:30 pm – Trevor Alguire
5:30 pm – Twin Flames
The Record Centre (1097 Wellington W)
PWYC
2:30 pm
Ottawa Showbox presents
3 pm – Telecomo
4 pm – Mushy Gushy
5 pm – Coastal Pigs
House of Common (11b Fairmont) *Space is limited!
$10
5 pm
Bonsound presents
5:40 pm – Beyries
6:10 pm – Geoffroy
6:40 pm – Safia Nolin
St. Alban’s (454 King Edward)
$20
7:30 pm
Record Centre presents
Mike Dubue’s Chamber Feast
Gallery Recording Studio (2 Monk)
$12
8 pm
Arboretum & E-Tron Rec. present
8:15 pm – Claude Munson
9:15 pm – Amanda Lowe
10:15 pm – Her Harbour
Barrymore’s (323 Bank)
$25
8pm
The Juno Awards & the Ottawa 2017 Juno Host Committee present Juno Concert Series ft: Jeremy Fisher, Kalle Mattson, Meg Remy (U.S. Girls), Catriona Sturton, Monkeyjunk, Jim Bryson, Atherton, Safia Nolin, Lynn Miles & more!
Irene’s Pub (885 Bank)
$12
9 pm
Folk Music Ontario presents
10 pm – Lucas Haneman Express
11 pm – Ramblin’ Valley Band
12 am – Catriona Sturton
PDA Projects (1073 Bank)
$12
9 pm
Pop Montreal presents
9:30 pm – Lovecraft
10:15 pm – Trails
11 pm – She-Devils
Black Squirrel Books (1073 Bank)
$12
9 pm
#OttMusik presents
9:15 pm – Scary Bear Soundtrack
10 pm – Lonely Parade
10:45 – Bonnie Doon
House of TARG (1077 Bank)
$10
9 pm
Lixar presents
10:30 pm – Man Made Hill
11:15 pm – Petra Glynt
12 am – Tough Age
12:30 am – DJ Ghostbeard
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