The Show Goes on in Ottawa’s Original Downtown!
July 19, 2023
One of the biggest events of the summer, RBC Ottawa Bluesfest, is now over and music lovers across the city will be counting down the days until their next concert outing.
In the meantime, the show goes on in Ottawa’s Original Downtown! There are plenty of live music venues in the Rideau area where fans can keep the party going with performances from local and visiting artists.
National Arts Centre
Ottawa has been spoiled by a wealth of world-class performances hosted at the National Arts Centre since its inception in 1969. Over the years, the NAC has played host to high art such as operas, ballets and symphonies as well as leading contemporary artists such as Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young and the Barenaked Ladies.
This July, the NAC will be showcasing world-class acts that include award-winning fiddlers Les Fireflies (July 19), Indigenous singer-songwriter Shauit (July 25-26) and Classic Albums’ recital of the seminal Fleetwood Mac record “Rumours” (July 29). Don’t miss any of the awe-inspiring concerts delivered by these incredibly talented performers!
Club Saw
SAW is a space owned and operated by artists, for artists. Located in the Arts Court building on Daly Avenue, SAW has remained committed to showcasing some of the most boundary-pushing and socially conscious contemporary art across a variety of disciplines for 50 years. This includes hosting live music at Club SAW, a cutting-edge performance venue that was upgraded as part of the City of Ottawa’s Arts Court Redevelopment Project in 2019.
You can discover SAW for yourself on July 28-30 during the Side by Side Weekend, where a massive lineup of talent from Ottawa and beyond will be converging on SAW for three days of good vibes.
Mavericks and Dekcuf
For rockers and metalheads, Mavericks and Dekcuf are the premier locations in Ottawa to congregate! Both are located at 221 Rideau Street and regularly host acts that play rock and heavy metal.
On July 28, Mavericks will be featuring a showcase of Canadian record label Fuzzed and Buzzed’s artist roster. Meanwhile, Toronto-based rockers The Thick will be making an appearance at Dekcuf on July 21 alongside Riley Burns. Mark your calendar!
Clocktower Brew Pub
Maybe you’re more of a “keep it simple with a guitar and nice cold beer” kind of person. To enjoy the little things, check out Clocktower Brew Pub! Not only do they sport some of the most celebrated custom craft beers in the city, Clocktower has live music every Saturday from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Close out the week with a glass of Kölsch or ’96 Red while taking in some covers from talented local musicians!
Whether you’re interested in avant-garde musical experimentation, hard-hitting rock music or anything in between, there’s never any shortage of live music available for your listening pleasure in Ottawa’s Original Downtown!
