Ottawa Tonite » Show

Blackbox Concert Series with Evening Hymns and Giant Hand

Ming Wu — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 05:06:21 +0000

Blackbox Concert Series kicked off their first show on March 20th.
It was held at the gallery which is upstairs of the Irving Greenberg Theatre.
The headliner was Toronto’s Evening Hymn.
Opener was Ottawa’s own Giant Hand.
It was a wonderful sold out show to attend.
It was a great start for BlackBox Concert Series and hoping they will have more shows in the coming future.

Here are the photos from the show
Giant Hand:

Evening Hymns:

CONTEST: Boats (CD + Pair of tickets for March 14th show in Ottawa)

Ming Wu — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:06:30 +0000

Who likes winning things?
Here is a contest for those interested and living in the Ottawa area.
On February 10th, I did a review of Winnipeg’s BOATS new album.
Here is your chance to win a copy of the album plus win a pair of tickets for the March 14th show at Raw Sugar Cafe in Ottawa.

Simply send an email to mw.music@live.com.
With subject line “BOATS! Contest” and enter your name down.
The winner will receive the CD at the show and be on the guestlist.

Contest ends on March 12, 2010

Giant Hand/Ben Somer and Matt Paxton @ Raw Sugar Cafe

Ming Wu — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:49:38 +0000

Ottawa must be getting a late winter storm on February 25th.
Decided to brave outside and head up to Raw Sugar Cafe.
Playing at the show were:

Giant Hand

Ben Somer

Matt Paxton

All three musicians had in common were acoustic folk rock and of course single guys.
All three were featured on SouthernSouls.ca
First time seeing Ben and Matt play.
They were really great live.
A change for them playing at Raw Sugar Cafe since they usually play at seedy bars/clubs.
A different atmosphere.
Giant Hand who I’ve seen various times put on a great set.
He is improving very well and with the help of Rolf Klausener backing him on drums and guitar.
You should definitely check out all three musicians.

Chris Page at Compact Music

Ming Wu — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 03:38:36 +0000

February 16, 2010 was the official release for Chris Page‘s A Date With A Smoke Machine (Review).

He did an in-store session at Compact Music on Bank St.
Despite being at noon there were some people who were there to hear him play.
Don’t worry Chris will be playing an official CD launch show for his album on February 27th at the Dom Polski.
It was a fun session Chris put on.
Here is a short clip I took of the in-store session:

Ming Wu

Basia Bulat/Leif Vollebekk @ First Baptist Church – Feb 13, 2010

Ming Wu — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 04:51:48 +0000

This is my first time posting here.
February 13th was an amazing lovely sold out night to see Basia Bulat and Leif Vollebekk play in Ottawa.
It was like a CD Release show too since she recently released her second album “Heart Of My Own“.
It has been two years since she played the church.

Something about her playing at the church made it so magical live.
If you are a first timers or repeater then you will be blown away on how a great musician she is.

Leif Vollebekk started out the show.
As you may of known, he has been frequently featured in this site various times.
Absolutely an amazing talented musician.
This is his third time opening up for Basia in Ottawa.

This time he had a backing band to play.
Made his set alot lively.
Played tracks from his upcoming album, a Neil Young cover and some from Inlands.
Didn’t play my favorite which was 1921.
As mentioned previously, an artist you need to watch in 2010.

Finally Basia Bulat came up on the stage.
She was accompanied by Allison Wonderland who does the violin & backing vocals and Bobby Bulat (Basia’s brother) on the drums.

As in the previous entry with the setlist.
Played alot from Heart of My Own.
While she played some from her debut album Oh My Darling.

Amazing hearing them live and it was wonderful to experience it.
Of course with the Ottawa fans, we had great timing when we did the clapping for “I Was A Daughter” and “Before I Knew (which she sang for the encore)”.
Basia was also surprised that someone bought their kid to the show. Hearing the kid screaming in the back and Basia loved it.

It has been awhile that Basia played the piano which she did for “Snakes and Ladder” (a favorite!)
Favorite from “Heart Of My Own” is got to be “The Shore”.

When she played with her hammer harp and it was just tingling hearing her play and sing it. It was intriguing seeing how she can play that instrument and see the hammer bouncing. Simply one of the best shows for 2010. The crowds were attentive and polite.

Hope to see her in the summertime.

Sparrow (Live in Ottawa) – Basia Bulat from Lenny Wu on Vimeo.

Go out see her live in concert and purchase “Heart Of My Own”.

Ming Wu