Artists this season:
John Allaire – Your host
John is known around the Nation’s Capital as the host of “The Allaire Show”, a weekly singer-songwriter series at Quinn’s Ale House in Old Ottawa South and now Brews and Blues in Stittsville, featuring guests from around the world. He, along with his backing band, The Campistas, were asked to be one of the opening acts for Neil Young and Crazy Horse on their 2024 Love Earth Tour.
See John’s full bio here
Tony D
WEST Oct. 2
https://www.tonyguitarro.com/
Tony D has been a professional musician for over 40 years, rooted in blues, rock, and jazz. Inspired by legends like Muddy Waters, Hendrix, and Wes Montgomery, he cut his teeth young—sharing the stage with Buddy Guy at 19 and later opening for Stevie Ray Vaughan at Ottawa’s NAC. For the past 15 years he’s been lead guitarist for MonkeyJunk, touring internationally and earning multiple awards, including two Junos for Blues Album of the Year. In November, he released his first solo project in 20 years on Cordova Bay Records, showcasing the influences that continue to shape his artistry.
Tyler Kealey
CENTRAL Oct. 4
https://tylerkealey.com/
Known for his vocal prowess and fast-flying improvisational piano solos, Tyler Kealey is a singer-songwriter who collects little moments in everyday happenings and brings them to life through his songs.
With sharp, storytelling lyrics and melodic piano lines that lean into folk just as much as they do blues and rock, each performance takes the audience on a journey of untamed adventure.
He is just as at home on a festival stage as he is in a listening room; Tyler’s energy, charisma, and raw talent on his instrument have made him a favorite within the Ottawa music scene and beyond.
Catriona Sturton
WEST Oct. 9 / CENTRAL Oct. 11
https://catrionasturton.com/
Big Heart, Big Lungs. Sings like an angel, plays like a beast. Rock and roll lover of Heavenly and the heaviest blues. One woman, harmonica-driven band. After learning to file harmonica reeds in a back alley, Catriona became the bassist for Halifax teen-rockers, Plumtree (who inspired the cult-favourite book and movie, Scott Pilgrim, with their song of the same name). Multi-instrumentalist who plays harmonica, slide banjo, violin & guitar (often at the same time) .
Catriona is a J.M.I. Recordings, artist, and her debut with the label, “We Bloom at Night” will be a 10″ record.
Her biggest claim to fame might be that she “May have written the best song to date about butt-dialing — “Calling From My Pants” – Critics Pick, Nashville Scene
Brock Zeman
WEST Oct. 16
https://www.brockzeman.com/
When it comes to storytelling, Brock Zeman is a master craftsman. The Canada-based singer-songwriter has spent the past 12 years carving and chiseling Americana soundscapes, drawing from roots-rock and alternative country. But what separates Zeman from his contemporaries isn’t a willingness to speak truth – it’s his unwillingness to conform to the rules of Nashville and the traditional framework of genre. What gives Zeman’s stories force isn’t that he’s just singing a narrative – he’s living it.
Over the course of his career, Zeman has released 12 studio albums, one live record, toured North America extensively and received praise from numerous press outlets. “His songs have more depth than can be realized first time through, which only enhances with each listen,” wrote Penguin Eggs.
Brandon Agnew
CENTRAL – Oct. 18
https://brandonagnew.bandcamp.com/
Brandon Agnew is a roots-oriented singer-songwriter from the Niagara Falls/St. Catharines music scene. He is celebrated for crafting music with a blend of Americana, folk, blues, and urban folk—what he refers to as “music in various shades of blue” . His most recent album, Aquarius Moon, was released in 2024. Recorded shortly after his 2021 release Mave’s Variety, the album features songs inspired by the pandemic era and grapples with themes such as isolation (“James Street Blues”), climate change (“Hot Water”), and political disillusionment (“Desperate Blues”).
Chris Page
WEST – Oct. 23 / CENTRAL – Oct. 25
https://chrispagemusic.com/
Chris is a self-produced independent singer-songwriter from Ottawa, Canada. His downcast songs swerve between indie rock, outsider folk and alt country, and are expertly crafted with exceptional lyrics and effortless hooks.
Chris has released records all over the world on independent labels while being the frontman and songwriter for lo-fi psych duo Expanda Fuzz and legendary pop-punk bands Camp Radio and The Stand GT.
Jack Pine
WEST – Oct 30 / CENTRAL – Nov 1
https://jackpinefire.com/
Jack Pine is a singer, songwriter, producer, engineer, mandolinist, guitarist, artist, and performer. Jack Pine is a folker, a rocker, a foot stomper, a string band, an “indie”, and a transgressive traditionalist. Jack Pine is driving, dynamic, intense, rhythmic, melodic, sweet and salty, and a hard-headed softie. Jack Pine is a wanderer, an outsider, a loner, and a maverick. Jack Pine is an environmentalist, a free thinker, an advocate, and a helping hand. Jack Pine is a hippy, a cowboy, a minstrel, a rock star, a preacher, and an entrepreneur. Jack Pine is a lover and a runner, giver and a taker, a joker and a broker and a toker. Jack Pine is compassionate, humble, open, empathic, and peaceful. Jack Pine is the tree for which he was named. A rising phoenix in the heart of a raging forest fire.
Kristine St-Pierre
WEST Nov. 6 / CENTRAL Nov. 8
https://kristinestpierre.com/
Kristine St-Pierre is a bilingual folk singer-songwriter with soul-searching ballads and a rollicking bluesy flair. She weaves together a rich blend of folk, roots, and pop music, captivating listeners with both English and French lyrics. Described as a ‘chansonnière’ with a traveling heart,’ Kristine’s songs create an emotional journey that transcends language and genre. She received a Canadian Folk Music Award nomination for her album La promesse released in 2017. In 2025, she received the award for Francophone artist of the year by the Country Music Association of Ontario. Released in 2024, her fourth album, Love & Vulnerability, is described “as a magnificent blend of folk, pop and roots with impressive songwriting and song craft.”
Alex Boyd
CENTRAL, Nov 15
Alex Boyd grew up immersed in music—his childhood spent in his father’s vinyl store, Compact Music, where he started piano lessons around age five and switched to bass by age twelve. He also joined the Christ Church Cathedral’s Men-and-Boys Choir and formed his first band at 13.
As the lead vocalist and bassist for The Riot Police, Boyd co-wrote material alongside bandmate Ian Sabourin. The band—an Ottawa-based indie-pop/rock ensemble that later relocated to Toronto—released their sophomore album The Crossing, which spotlighted the duo’s harmonies and poetic lyrical style.
Murray Kinsley
WEST, Nov 13
https://wickedgrin.ca/
Reviewers have described Murray Kinsley, a Maple Blues Award winner, as stripped-down, hellaciously rockin’ new blues with the distinctive voice and guitar-work. Based in Ottawa, Canada, he brings innovative original blues to venues and festivals across Canada, the US, England, and Germany.
Murray Kinsley & Wicked Grin’s latest album “Murder Creek,” released October 2018, has earned widespread industry acclaim and was a semi-finalist for the 2019 IBC Best Self-Produced CD Award.
Patrick Shanks
WEST – Nov. 20 / CENTRAL – Nov. 22
https://patrickshanks.bandcamp.com/
Referred to as an “Ottawa Garage Legend,” Patrick Shanks—also known as Shanker—has been a prolific musician and event organizer in Ottawa’s underground scene for decades. He performs as a folk-punk solo act and released the album Down to a Dull Roar in August 2015. The album includes tracks such as “Look At That Thing,” “The Name Of My Arm,” “Wake And Bake,” and more. Patrick has also played a supportive or hosting role in the local creative community.
Steve Judd
CENTRAL Nov. 29
https://soundcloud.com/steve-judd-1
Steve Judd is an Ottawa-based singer-songwriter whose melody-rich Canadiana and roots music has found a local audience. Performing in venues like the Art House Café and featured on platforms such as N1M and CKCU-FM, his songs—like “Sugarcoated”—showcase his songwriting and performing presence in the local scene.
Steve Stacey
WEST, Nov. 27
https://www.stevestacey.com/
Steve Stacey is a throwback to the days of storytelling in song, contemplating life with humour, unique observations and truth that is too obscure to be a lie. Armed with songs about cars, lost love, drinking, the occasional murder ballad, no topic is off limits. Steve will keep you on your toes trying to figure out what will he say next. Working on a new album of original songs, Steve has 2 cd’s of original material “Sounded Good at the Time” and “Tall Tales Fibs and Outright lies” which was described in Exclaim magazine -Steve Stacey and company have carjacked Buck Owens, rear-ended John Prine and made off with (at least) a vat of homemade whiskey to create this set of infectious masterpieces.
Naviger
WEST, Dec. 4 / CENTRAL Dec. 6
https://naviger.bandcamp.com/
Naviger, a side-project of songwriter Andrea Simms-Karp, gives us music that jumps between the nostalgic and the solitary, the introvert and the extravert, and everything in the grey. Naviger’s album, Barn Raising, is available as a free download on Bandcamp, showcasing a mix of campfire songs and pop ballads. Simms-Karp has been soothing audiences with her clear, sweet melodies for decades, and is happy to call Ottawa her home.
Matthew Larkin
WEST, Dec. 11 / CENTRAL, Dec. 13
https://www.caelis.ca/
Organist, conductor, composer, and educator Matthew Larkin has been at the forefront of concert, liturgical, and ensemble choral and keyboard performance in Canada for thirty years. He received his early musical training as a cathedral chorister, and undertook advanced studies at the University of Toronto (as Organ Scholar of Trinity College), and the Royal College of Music. He has since served in a leadership role in the music of several prominent Canadian churches, including St. James Cathedral (Toronto) and Christ Church Cathedral (Ottawa). He has served as Music Director of the Ottawa Choral Society, Canada’s most historic philharmonic choir, and he founded Ottawa’s Caelis Academy Ensemble in 2017, which now stands among Canada’s finest chamber choirs.
As organist, pianist, and collaborator, he has performed throughout North America, Europe, and China, and as soloist with several of Canada’s orchestras including that of the National Arts Centre, the Toronto Symphony, and the Vancouver Symphony. His discography is extensive, and he is both a Naxos and ATMA recording artist.
Matthew often shows up to The Allaire Show with a choir in tow… a show not to be missed!
Annual ALLAIRE SHOW Christmas Charities
WEST, Dec. 18
CENTRAL Dec. 20 Two Shows (1:30pm and 5pm)