Live Events at Motel Chelsea – Until Sun. March 29th
Motel Chelsea offers you an escape to nature where locals, music-lovers, foodies, culture-seekers, and travellers intersect. Nestled in the Gatineau Hills, where the river and forest trails merge with a vibrant arts culture, the Motel Chelsea is a hub of natural and man-made beauty, and local community.
Here’s what’s on the lineup at Motel Chelsea.
Thursday, March • Live & Local with Rory Taillon • 7:30 pm
Live & Local is a free, community-centered music series celebrating the artists who live and create right here at home, hosted by a different local musician bringing their own sound, collaborators, and creative vision to the stage. Each night features a full set from the host followed by an open, collaborative jam—no two nights the same, always free, always local, always live.
Rory has been touring Canada for over a decade performing on stages from coffee shops and living rooms to concert halls and festivals. He has shared stages with the likes of Stephen Fearing, Zeus, Jeff Martin of the Tea Party, Adrian Sutherland and Julian Taylor to name a few.
Rory was trained as a classical singer from a young age and his years of study are evident in the power and control that he has over his voice. He uses his warm guitar tone, haunting lyrics, dynamic voice, layers of looping and the thumping of his kick drum to take the audience on a journey through his set from exhilarating highs to emotional lows.
Friday, March 13 • The Toasted Westerns • 8:00 pm
Formed in 1988 and known as Ottawa’s Favourite Singing Sandwich, The Toasted Westerns blend decades of folk-fuelled harmony, humour, and heart—now reunited as a rare trio appearance you won’t want to miss at Motel Chelsea. A honky-tonking night that you don’t want to miss!
Tickets: https://www.showpass.
Saturday, March 14 • Jennifer Noxon Album Release • 7:30 pm
Join us for Jennifer Noxon’s 2026 album release, The Gathering. With a presence that is both playful and intimate, Jennifer brings her rich, shimmering voice, poetic knack for detail and infectious melodies to the stage, transporting the listener into the lives and extraordinary moments of ordinary people.
Tickets: https://www.showpass.
Sunday, March 15 • Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Kelly Sloan & JIG • 2:00 pm
Get ready for a great St. Patrick’s Day concert with real Irish folk music! Kelly Sloan & JIG (James, Ian, Greg) have sold out every time they have played a St. Patrick’s Day concert in Ottawa in the last several years. Come out to the Motel Chelsea on March 15th and hear why!
Tickets: https://www.showpass.
Tuesday, March 17 • St. Patrick’s Day Celebration with Ruckustodian & Doug McArthur • 5:00 pm
Join us on Tuesday, March 17 for a cozy, pub-style St. Patrick’s celebration filled with stories, songs, and spirited tunes in true Irish fashion.
Kitchen: 5:00–8:00 pm (reduced menu + Irish feature)
Bar: Open until 11:00 pm
Suggested donation: $10 at the door
We’ll kick off the evening at 5:00 pm with Irish stories and songs from Doug McArthur to set the tone. Around 6:30 pm, settle in for one long, lively set from Ruckustodian — a trad folk trio from the Gatineau Hills bringing tunes and songs from Ireland, Scotland, Newfoundland & Labrador, the Maritimes, and Quebec. We’ll close out the night with an intimate tune circle with selected guest players to keep the spirit going.
Irish Special: Guinness Irish Beef Stew
Rich, fall-apart smoked beef chuck with mushrooms, potatoes, carrots, and fresh herbs, served with toasted sourdough.
Come raise a glass, share a song, and celebrate St. Paddy’s the way it’s meant to be — warm, welcoming, and full of heart. Sláinte!
Thursday, March 19 • Live & Local with Chris White and Special Guests • 7:30 pm – Pass the hat event
Live & Local is a free, community-centered music series celebrating the artists who live and create right here at home, hosted by a different local musician bringing their own sound, collaborators, and creative vision to the stage. Each night features a full set from the host followed by an open, collaborative jam—no two nights the same, always free, always local, always live.
Chris White is a songwriter, radio host, sing-along leader and event organizer who has recorded three albums and hosts ‘Canadian Spaces’ on CKCU FM, Canada’s longest-running folk/roots radio show. He joined forces with CKCU to create the Ottawa Folk Festival in 1993 and served as the artistic director for 16 years. His contributions have been recognized with the Helen Verger Award and the Judy Roy Heart and Soul Award, and he was inducted into the Order of Folk by the Canadian Folk Music Awards organization in 2024.
Special guests: Mary Gick, Pam Gleeson and Jeff Gleeson
In this concert, Chris White will perform selected songs from his catalogue – some humorous, some heartfelt, some old and some new. The evening will feature contributions from Mary Gick on banjo and voice, and some beautiful original songs from the musical duo of Pam and Jeff Gleeson. The evening will finish up with an old-time music jam for anyone who wants to play, dance or just listen.
Sunday, March 22 • HANNAH GEORGAS • 4:30 pm • SOLD OUT!
Friday, March 27 • Women in Comedy • 8:00 pm
Celebrate International Women’s Month with a powerhouse Women in Comedy showcase featuring host Lauren Lane, comedy icon Merilyn Read (The Tom Green Show), and Montreal headliner Carmina Berbari Daou bringing bold, brilliant laughs all night long.PLUS some every special guest performances.
Lauren Lane (Host)
Lauren is a dynamic stand-up comedian based in Ottawa, renowned for her fearless and relatable humor. Performing up to six shows a week, she brings her sharp wit to stages across Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, and even Austin, Texas.
Merilyn Read
Merilyn Read is a Canadian actor, producer, and all-around creative force with a resume that proves she’s been where the laughs happen. Most notably, she produced the legendary The Tom Green Show, helping bring one of Canada’s most iconic comedy exports from local cable to global fandom.
HEADLINER: Carmina Berbari Daou
Get ready to laugh ’til it hurts with Carmina Berbari Daou, one of Montreal’s sharpest and most original comedic voices on the scene. A fixture in the city’s vibrant stand-up circuit, Carmina has taken her absurd, brilliantly off-kilter observations from local open mics to packed rooms at festivals and clubs.
Known for her razor-sharp wit, unexpected punchlines, and fearless comedic presence, Carmina blends the logically ridiculous with the hilariously real — turning the everyday frustrations and absurdities of life into laugh-out-loud material that hits every audience member right in the funny bone.
She’s performed with top indie collectives, performed at Just for Laughs, and co-produces standout nights like Poly Mic, Thursday Stand-Up? Cool! women’s comedy festival Ladyfest Montreal. She has been featured on stages from Montreal Fringe to sold-out comedy nights in Toronto.
Tickets: https://www.showpass.
Saturday, March 28 • The Barrow Gang Buskers • 8:00 pm
Venues across Ontario agree: The Barrow Gang delivers an unforgettable mix of energy, musicianship, and pure magic. Fronted by George Stryker—a Canadian rockabilly veteran who has shared stages with legends like the Stray Cats, Meat Loaf, and Rosanne Cash—the band is the resident powerhouse at Ottawa’s Atomic Rooster. They have lit up stages from Kemptville to Kingston, from Brockville to Bala, and at iconic spots like the Hard Rock Café, as well as at major regional festivals.
Born as an acoustic busking band during the pandemic, they brought music to the streets when venues were silent. Today, they’re a vibrant, rotating ensemble celebrated for toe-tapping covers, original tunes, and playful stage antics that keep audiences smiling, dancing, and forgetting their troubles.
Beyond the music, The Barrow Gang believes in giving back. Each year, they donate thousands to local charities—most recently contributing nearly $10,000 to a Gatineau shelter supporting women and children escaping violence.
Tickets: https://www.motelchelsea.com/post/saturday-march-28-the-barrow-gang-buskers-8-00pm
Sunday, March 29 • Joey Vinegar Band • 4:30PM
As a singer/songwriter who’s opened shows for bands like the Tragically Hip and The Sheepdogs, – Joey V. delivers raw talent. With a hefty background in multi-instrumentalist music, Joey Vinegar’s got a fresh, inviting and funky style that gets people in the door and on the floor. Pulling from influences such as Bob Dylan, Queen, the Stones and Zeppelin – and also playing with the likes of The Ascot Royals, Jully Black, Maggie Szabo, and the Three Avocados – Joey V’s versatility takes him everywhere from live gigs on Edge 102.1, to playing for Google office events and private yacht parties.
As an Ottawa-based private event musician with guitar, piano, mandolin, banjo, ukulele and bass under his belt, Joey Vinegar is the special ingredient.
