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, 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
March 14
https://www.tonyguitarro.com/

Tony D is a two-time Juno Award–winning guitarist and one of Canada’s most respected blues players. A full-time professional for over 40 years, he cut his teeth on blues, rock, and jazz, learning straight from the vinyl of legends — and even spent three days playing rhythm guitar for Buddy Guy as a teenager. He later opened for Stevie Ray Vaughan at Ottawa’s NAC. Best known as the longtime lead guitarist for MonkeyJunk, Tony has toured internationally, earned multiple Junos and over 25 Maple Blues Awards, and recently released his first solo album in 20 years — a powerful distillation of a lifetime in the blues.

Jamie Douglas
March 21
https://www.thepowergoats.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Jamie Douglas is an Ottawa-based singer-songwriter and guitarist best known as the main songwriter, lead vocalist, and frontman of the original rock band The Powergoats. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, he has spent most of his life in Ottawa and has become a familiar presence in the city’s live-music scene.

Douglas performs both solo acoustic shows and full-band sets, playing regularly at venues across the Ottawa–Gatineau region and throughout Ontario and Quebec. His music blends classic rock, roots, and singer-songwriter influences, and he has released original material with The Powergoats, including the album Blue Canoe.

In addition to recording and performing, Douglas is known for his involvement in the local music community, frequently hosting events, collaborating with other artists, and participating in benefit shows and fundraisers.

Matt Gower
March 28
https://mattgower.bandcamp.com/

Matt Gower is an Ottawa-based singer-songwriter known for his distinctive “hard folk” style (also the name of his popular podcast!), blending traditional folk with alt-country, old-time, and roots influences. Active in the Ottawa music community for more than two decades, Gower has performed extensively as a solo artist and with groups such as Capital Grass and the No Men and the folk duo Fathom the Sea.

His songwriting is rooted in the folk tradition, combining storytelling lyrics with a powerful, expressive voice and acoustic-driven arrangements. In addition to performing throughout the National Capital Region, Gower has also been involved in presenting and hosting folk events, including local concert series that spotlight emerging and established artists.

Slo’ Tom
April 4
https://slotomandthehandsomedevils.bandcamp.com/

Slo’ Tom is an Ottawa singer-songwriter known for his gritty, humorous brand of “hard-core country.” He first gained national attention in the 1990s as bassist and vocalist for the Ottawa indie-punk band Furnaceface, which released several albums, toured widely across Canada, and received airplay on MuchMusic.

After his punk-rock years, Stewart reinvented himself as a roots songwriter under the persona Slo’ Tom, fronting the band Slo’ Tom and the Handsome Devils. Their music mixes classic country twang with punk attitude and satirical lyrics about life in Ottawa—sometimes called “government-town country.”

Over the years he has become a fixture of the Ottawa music scene, performing regularly in local venues and releasing albums such as Down in a Government Town, Doing Hard Time, and Gas in the Tank.

Evensun
April 11
https://evensun.bandcamp.com

Evensun is a Montreal-based trio blending folk, roots, and vintage pop influences into a warm, harmony-driven sound. The group evolved from an earlier project called Esmé & Sons, marking a new musical chapter under the Evensun name. Their music draws on classic songwriting traditions while incorporating modern indie-folk sensibilities, and the band is known for intimate live performances built around tight vocal harmonies and acoustic instrumentation.

The trio has released original material including a self-titled EP, and performs regularly in Montreal and surrounding regions, cultivating a reputation for thoughtful songwriting and a laid-back, roots-influenced style.

Alanna J Brown & Al Wood
April 18
This is a special edition of The Allaire Show featuring two great artists!

Alanna J. Brown is an Ottawa-based singer-songwriter and guitarist whose music blends folk, jazz, and acoustic roots influences. Originally from Toronto, she studied jazz at Humber College, earning an Honours Bachelor of Music before launching a career performing across Canada.

Brown spent nearly a decade working as a full-time performer in Banff National Park, playing regularly at venues, hotels, festivals, and private events before relocating to Ottawa in 2023. She has released original recordings including the EP Tuesday’s Coming and albums such as Accelerate and Said I Was Shy, and continues to perform frequently around the National Capital Region.

Her songwriting blends thoughtful storytelling with a soulful, expressive vocal style and harmonically rich guitar work, drawing on her background in jazz and folk traditions.

Al Wood is an Ottawa-area blues singer-songwriter, harmonica player, and guitarist known for his high-energy performances and deep roots in traditional blues. Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Wood developed his sound playing in various bands before moving into the Ottawa–Gatineau music scene, where he fronts Al Wood & The Woodsmen.

Blending Chicago-style blues with touches of roots, country, and jazz, Wood’s music is driven by his gritty vocals and expressive harmonica playing. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has released several albums with The Woodsmen and has built a reputation as a passionate live performer on the Canadian blues circuit.

Ron Leary
April 25
https://ronleary.com/

Ron Leary is a Windsor, Ontario–based singer-songwriter known for his warm, roots-driven folk sound and distinctive, gravel-toned voice. His songs often draw on working-class life, history, politics, and everyday characters from Canada’s “deep south” along the Detroit River. A longtime fixture of the Southwestern Ontario music scene, Leary has released several albums—including Dependent Arising (2010), Tobacco Fields (2017), and Musicians Make Great Construction Workers (2020)—and has built a reputation for thoughtful songwriting and engaging live performances.

Evan Rotella
May 2
https://evanrotella.com/

Evan Rotella is a Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for blending folk, roots, and indie influences into thoughtful, melody-driven songs. Originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, and now based in the Niagara Falls area, Rotella has spent much of his career performing across Canada both as a solo artist and in collaborations with other musicians. His music is characterized by introspective lyrics, warm acoustic arrangements, and a laid-back storytelling style rooted in the folk tradition.

Rotella has released several independent recordings and is a regular presence on the Canadian live-music circuit, appearing at clubs, house concerts, and festivals while continuing to develop new material and collaborative projects.

Jeff Tanguay
Final show of Season 16

Jeff Tanguay is an Ottawa–Gatineau–based singer-songwriter and guitarist with deep roots in the region’s music scene. He first came to prominence as a member of The Town Cryers, a well-known Ottawa roots rock and seminal grunge band, and has spent decades performing throughout Ontario and Quebec.

For more than 40 years, Tanguay has also been a longtime bandmate and musical partner of John Allaire, collaborating in numerous projects, bands, and live performances. Known for his strong musicianship and harmony work, he remains an active performer in the local rock and songwriter community through his current band The Life-Size Men.

Miss a week?? Miss A lot!!