Live Events at Motel Chelsea – Until Sun. Oct 4th
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, September 17 • LIVE AND LOCAL WITH CLAIRE BESTLAND • PAY WHAT YOU CAN / PASS THE HAT
Live & Local is a free, community-centred music series celebrating the artists who live and create right here at home, with select evenings hosted by a different local musician bringing their own sound, collaborators, and creative vision to the stage.
Seasoned performer Claire Bestland has performed at various venues like the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and the Civic Theatre in New Orleans, the Black Sheep Inn, the National Arts Centre’s 4th Stage, and Berlin’s Hebbel am Ufer Theatre. She has continually deepened her practice by seeking out (and at times studying with) musical heroes such as Roy “Futureman” Wooten, and most recently completed a period of study with Rory Block.
A highly diverse musician, her roots and passion remain with the guitar as a solo instrument of percussive rhythmic patterns, which she develops as a vehicle for innovative emotive expression.
September 19 & 20 • THE DEVIN CUDDY BAND (Son of the Legendary Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo) • 8 pm
The Devin Cuddy Band is a Juno-nominated, Toronto-based roots-country band led by pianist and singer-songwriter Devin Cuddy (son of Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy). Known for their distinctive blend of New Orleans blues and country, the band delivers a sound that’s both rootsy and uniquely their own.
Their latest album, Livin’ Hard Ain’t Easy, was released on April 17, 2026. As Devin describes it: “It’s a return to our original sound. A throwback to Vol. One, where we started. Ultimately, it is a country record, made for and about Canadians. I wrote all the songs about life in Canada—whether it be life on the road, life in love, or life having a beer with a bud.”
𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐓𝐒: September 18th @ 8pm https://events.humanitix.com/
Tickets: September 19th @ 8pm https://events.humanitix.com/
Saturday, September 26 • AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH TIM JOYCE AND THE RADAPAW RAMBLERS
Locally rooted in Wakefield and Chelsea, QC, The Radapaw Ramblers are a collective of seasoned musicians whose blend of country, folk, and roots rock has earned them a devoted following throughout the region. For their September 26th appearance at Motel Chelsea, the band will present something distinctly different, devoting an entire evening to bandleader Tim Joyce’s evocative original songwriting. Drawing from a rich catalogue of mature, deeply personal work, the performance promises a compelling musical journey—one that moves effortlessly between storytelling, reflection, and discovery. Accompanied by virtuoso violinist and composer Jason Hutt, these songs will be expanded through improvisation and musical exploration. A very special performance not to be missed!
The Radapaw Ramblers are:
Tim Joyce – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
Darin Hayduk – lead guitar, backing vocals
Kensel Tracy – keyboards, backing vocals
Ken Byers – bass, backing vocals
Gary Epton – drums
Special Guest: Jason Hutt – violin
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.
Thursday, October 1 • LIVE & LOCAL: CLEAR – 7:30 pm • PAY WHAT YOU CAN
Live & Local is a free, community-centered music series celebrating the artists who live and create right here at home, with select evenings hosted by a different local musician bringing their own sound, collaborators, and creative vision to the stage.
Based in Wakefield, Quebec, CLEAR is an all original singer/songwriter duo featuring Sue Johnson and Christian Patterson. Drawing from folk, pop, and jazz traditions, they create original songs built on memorable melodies, rich harmonies, and honest storytelling.
Friday, October 2nd • PAIGE BALLAGH + KALE PENNY • 8:00 pm
Paige Ballagh and Kale Penny bring a heartfelt co-bill of folk-pop storytelling, magnetic vocals, humour and deeply human songwriting—blending intimate poetry, viral charm and songs that feel like a warm conversation with old friends.
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/
Saturday, October 3rd • THIS IS ANNE ~ OLDER & WISER AND RUSTY & MAJA’S KITCHEN CABARET • 8:00 pm
A fiery, funny, and deeply moving theatrical–musical experience, This Is Anne ~ Older & Wiser and the Kitchen Party Cabaret showcase lifelong collaborators Rusty & Maja blending storytelling, song, and spirited performance into a joy-filled celebration of memory, love, and creative reinvention.
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/
Sunday, October 4th • SKYE CONSORT & EMMA BJÖRLING • 4:30 pm
Skye Consort & Emma Björling perform whirling polskas, groovy reels, passionate love songs and breathtaking hymns all found in or inspired by music from Scandinavia, The British Isles, French Canada and the New World. Their trans-Atlantic arrangements and original compositions spring from an extraordinary collaboration consisting of voices, fiddle, nyckelharpa, cello, bouzouki, banjo, and percussion. Each musician brings their individual passion to both traditional practices and inventive music-making.
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/
