Live Events at Motel Chelsea – Until Sun. April 12th
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 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.
Tickets: https://www.showpass.
Thursday, April 2 • Live & Local with JJIG (Justin Theriault, James Stephens, Ian Clark & Greg Brown) • 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, with select Thursday evenings 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.
Get ready to turn up the charm and the cheer — because JJIG is bringing a proper Celtic kitchen party to town!
Featuring four of the finest traditional players in the Ottawa/Gatineau region, JJIG unites the formidable talents of James Stephens (fiddle, mandolin, cittern), Justin Thériault (flute, whistle, Irish pipes), Ian Clark (guitar), and our very own Greg Brown (fiddle, concertina, banjo, bouzouki). If you’ve spent any time around the local Celtic scene, you already know these names — and you already know you’re in for something special.
Saturday, 𝐀pril 𝟒 • Family fun Easter Brunch celebration • 10:00am to 2:00 pm
Join Motel Chelsea for a festive, family-friendly brunch that’s all about good food and great memories. Bring the whole family, your biggest smiles, and get ready for a sweet and joyful Easter celebration! They’ll be serving up delicious brunch specials for the grown-ups, plus fun and tasty breakfast options just for the kiddos.
But that’s not all…
• A face painting station
• A kids’ craft table
• Chocolate treasures hidden all around the restaurant for little explorers to find
• And rumour has it… the Easter Bunny might even hop by for a visit!
This event is free to attend but reservations are strongly recommended to make sure your table is ready — be sure to book in advance here: https://shorturl.at/5M6po
Sunday, April 5 • Hey Buster! Kids Show • 2:00 pm
Hey Buster is a Kindie band led by Singer-Songwriter Dads from Ottawa ( Slo’ Tom and Sherwood Lumsden) that features a larger-than-life Raccoon puppet called Buster. They perform original songs from three independently released CDs in an interactive show for children ages 3 to 8 and their parents. The songs range from Mom and Dad approved topics like community and public transportation, to what kids really care about: stinky feet, underwear and boogers
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/
Thursday, April 9 • Minor Gold • 7:30 pm
Minor Gold – ARIA-nominated songwriters Tracy McNeil (CAN) & Dan Parsons (AUS) – embark on their North American album tour for their sophomore album Way to the Sun: a lush, harmony-drenched blend of cosmic country and folk.
Produced by Dan Horne (Mapache, Cass McCombs), Way to the Sun was hailed by UNCUT as “Trippy folk wonderment…the pair have an alluring telepathy, rarely heard since Emmylou & Gram,” crowned Best New Music for July 2025, and held in the top 50 Americana Radio charts for 9 weeks.
Recorded over seven sun-soaked days at Ultimate Hair Farm in Glendale, California, the album slowly emerged like a hazy mirage from a cosmic, suburban dream. Written across Australian highways and finished in Middle America, it’s a bold evolution – seeking light in the shadows, and letting go just enough to watch the sun rise.
After three years of international touring and festival appearances across North America, the UK, and Europe, Minor Gold are back – bringing their irresistible live show and new songs to North American audiences in 2026.
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/
Friday, April 10 • LIVE & LOCAL with Chris MacLean • 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. This is a pass-the-hat event!
Chris MacLean is a 2015 graduate of the Community Choir Leadership Training program in Victoria, BC. Since then, she has been leading The Song Kitchen Choir—a non-auditioned, a cappella community choir—in both Wakefield, QC, and Ottawa, ON. The Song Kitchen is proudly part of the Ubuntu Choirs Network, a community dedicated to the belief that the joy of singing is a universal birthright.
To deepen her own vocal artistry, Chris studies with renowned vocalist and master teacher Rhiannon. In 2018, she completed Rhiannon’s intensive masterclass, All the Way In, focused on vocal improvisation.
Chris also facilitates Circle Singing sessions, drawing directly from techniques pioneered by Bobby McFerrin and further developed by Rhiannon, along with a faculty of world-class improvisational singers. She regularly leads these at summer workshops at the Omega Institute in New York.
Continuing to refine her singing and performance skills, Chris works ongoing with acclaimed singer-songwriter and vocal coach Amanda Mabro.
Saturday, April 11 • Allison Lupton, Shane Cook & Kyle Waymouth • 8:00 pm
Experience the magic of Allison Lupton’s “Words of Love” Tour — a captivating celebration of Canadian folk where Allison’s heartfelt songs, Shane Cook’s electrifying fiddle, and Kyle Waymouth’s dazzling step dance.
Live shows confirm the depth of talent in the trio. Concerts include a glorious mix of blazing fiddle tunes, captivating story songs and spectacular step dance united by the trio’s often humorous introductions. Allison’s original songs fit so perfectly into the treasury of Canadian folk that they could easily be mistaken for traditional numbers. She engages her audiences by teaching them to sing along on choruses, uniting everyone in song. Truly, Allison and her trio carry audiences willingly away to another time then dance them home again.
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/
Sunday, April 12 • Grouyan Gombo • 4:30 pm
The Quebec band Grouyan Gombo delivers a sound inspired by the Cajun and Creole traditions of Louisiana, juxtaposed with their own compositions and arrangements. For several years now, this group has been at the forefront of the evolution of French-language music in America, from old ballads to country, Cajun, pop, and zydeco sounds. Grouyan Gombo’s music reflects the festive and warm atmosphere of these French-speaking traditions.
Musicians Harlan Johnson, Guillaume Jabbour, Michael Ball, Michael Jerome Browne, Carl Rufh & Christina Beaudry-Cardenas make up Grouyan Gombo.
Come and dance your afternoon away! The dance floor is waiting…
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/
