Live Events at Motel Chelsea – Until Thurs. May 28th
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.
Sunday, May 3 • Steve Poltz 2026 Canadian Spring Tour • 4:30 pm – Last show of the tour! Over 60% SOLD
Part musical genius, part chaos gremlin, part self-appointed attorney for dogs, Steve Poltz delivers a raucous, heartfelt, wildly improvised show that leaves audiences laughing, crying, and wondering what just happened.
Steve Poltz has fun on stage. Steve Poltz has fun off stage. Every show has its own vibe. Raucous, joyous, improvisational and always strange. Stellar guitar work and songs that will have you smiling one minute and crying the next. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and raised in Southern California, and now living in Nashville Tennessee. Steve Poltz tours nonstop and is the surprise sleeper hit of any festival. He also thinks he’s an attorney for dogs, but that’s a whole different story. Catch him while you can. He’s elusive like Bigfoot.
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/
LOVE TO FOLK 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆 – Wednesday, July 4th • Fred Eaglesmith • 8:00 pm – OVER 60% SOLD!
𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐅𝐎𝐋𝐊𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆 is our premium concert series of 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐳𝐲, 𝟖𝟓-𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞! Your chance to experience world-class performances up close and persona l— the way music was meant to be heard.
Fred Eaglesmith, the Canadian singer-songwriter and roots music icon, has spent over five decades carving out a singular path in the music world. Known for his raw, storytelling lyrics, gravelly voice, and unapologetic independence, Eaglesmith has become a cult hero to fans of Americana, folk, and country music.
Born in rural Ontario in 1957, he ran away from home at 15, hopping freight trains and living a nomadic life that would later fuel the vivid, working-class narratives in his songs.
With a career spanning more than 25 albums, Eaglesmith has earned a reputation as a prolific and uncompromising artist. His songs, often laced with wit, heartbreak, and a touch of rebellion, have been covered by legends like Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert and countless more.
Tracks like “Time to Get a Gun” and “Freight Train” have become anthems for the disenfranchised, while his live performances- equal parts rock show and revival meeting- have cemented his status as a must-see act.
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/
Thursday, April 30 • Mélisande • 7:30PM
Mélisande, a trailblazing force in Quebec’s electrotrad and acoustic trad scenes, brings her award-nominated, internationally acclaimed quintet and irresistible stage energy to launch her star-studded new album Sur la même longueur d’onde—kicking off a cross-Canada tour that promises to get audiences dancing and singing wherever she goes.
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/
Saturday, May 2 • Russell deCarle • 8:00PM
Award-winning Prairie Oyster co-founder Russell deCarle captivates audiences with his warm, unmistakable voice and genre-blending style, bringing a rich mix of country, jazz, and soul to the stage alongside acclaimed musicians Steve Briggs and Russ Boswell.
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/
Thursday, May7 • Live & Local with Tina & Denis • 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.
Tina and Denis love to crank out old-time Appalachian and Cajun tunes when they’re not tending chickens or making shavings in the timber frame shop. They’ll start the night off with a short set of their favourite corny bubble bath love songs, followed by a set of old-time Appalachian music from themselves, the Fieldville String Band. Afterwards, the floor will be opened up to an old-time jam. Bring a fiddle, guitar or banjo if you want to plunk out some old-time tunes.
Friday, May 8 • The North Sound + Mimi O’Bonsawin • 8:00PM
Experience an unforgettable evening of soul-stirring roots and folk as Saskatoon’s The North Sound—led by Forrest and Nevada Eaglespeaker—bring their heartfelt, story-driven Americana to the stage alongside Mimi O’Bonsawin, whose ethereal, rhythm-rich songs weave land, identity, and joy into a deeply moving and uplifting live performance.
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/
Saturday, MAY 9 • Robert Thomas & The Sessionmen • 8:00 pm
“A vibrant fusion of John Prine’s sharp wit and insight and Lyle Lovett’s musicality paired with the Live energy and spirited performance of their Canadian cousins, Great Big Sea. Thomas and his mates craft an unforgettable musical experience that harmonizes storytelling with dynamic stage presence.” – The LA Times
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/
Thursday, May 14 • Josh & The Dirty Rags • 7:30 pm
Josh & the Dirty Rags is a Dark Folk band that embraces a nomadic lifestyle, performing in dynamic lineups of 3 to 6 musicians. Their music blends captivating folk with vibrant, festive energy, telling deep stories inspired by pirates and adventures. With Josh’s banjo and a theatrical voice that recalls the likes of Tom Waits or Amigo The Devil, the band’s storytelling pulls the listener in from the very first note.
Since forming in 2022, the Montreal-based group has traveled across North America, playing over 300 shows throughout Canada and the United States (at festivals such as Festif!, Festivoix, Moonrunners, and Punk Rock Rodeo) and sharing the stage with artists like Mononc Serge, Pete Bernhard, Yes Ma’am, Clyde McGee, Bosko Baker, and more.
Each performance is a one-of-a-kind, immersive experience that is electrifying and unforgettable. Come on! Step into the world of Josh & the Dirty Rags and let yourself be swept away.
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/
Friday, May 15 • The Salt Cellars • 8:00PM
The Salt Cellars are a Canadian singer-songwriter duo from Maynooth, Ontario. Founded in 2016 by Virginia deCarle (vocals, songwriting) and Rob Bersan (vocals, guitar, songwriting), their music blends Americana, Blues, Folk, Jazz and Pop into heartfelt, story-driven songs that tackle social justice, personal narratives, and emotional truths.
Whether on stage or in the studio, they invite listeners into a world of connection, resonance, and reflection.
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/
Sunday, May 17 • Melissa Payne with opening support KYLER TAPSCOTT • 4:30 pm
Hailing from Ennismore, Ontario, singer-songwriter and fiddle player Melissa Payne brings her signature small-town charm, quick wit, and big-hearted storytelling to every stage she steps on. Whether she’s standing on kick drums and tables or sitting still and pulling at the heartstrings with songs like “Strong Heart,” Melissa knows how to captivate a room.
She has opened for iconic Canadian acts like Blue Rodeo and shared stages with artists including Matt Mays, Terra Lightfoot, and many more. This May, Melissa releases brand-new music and can’t wait to share fresh songs with both familiar faces and new friends in Chelsea, Quebec.
Stay tuned for her upcoming single “John Prine Cassette Tape,” featuring the salty East Coast vocals of Adam Baldwin — a heartfelt nod to the music that shaped her.
Join Melissa Payne and her band for a night of storytelling, charm, and high-energy connection at Motel Chelsea.
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/
Thursday, May 21 • Live & Local with Phil Jenkins • 7:30 pm
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.
Phil has been an active part of the Gatineau Hills music scene for years, performing with local bands Riverbend and Striving for Beauty, and bringing his popular Beatles tribute and protest song shows to Motel Chelsea on multiple occasions.
This special Live & Local performance features two engaging sets: the first half showcases Phil’s original music, followed by an interactive singalong where the audience helps choose the next song—complete with song sheets so everyone can join in.
Friday, May 22 • Bobby Dove • 8:00 pm
Bobby Dove is a Montreal-born singer-songwriter and a magnetic presence in the world of Country and Americana music. With a voice as powerful as their storytelling, this trans/non-binary troubadour pays tribute to the golden age of honky tonk, while crafting original, emotionally charged songs that “blend genres with the touch of a master.” (Mary Gauthier)
Currently based in rural Manitoba, Bobby Dove just released their upcoming full-length album “Fortune Teller” on April 24th 2026. Produced by Aaron Goldstein (Cowboy Junkies/Kathleen Edwards/City and Colour), the new record features 13 tracks, including a co-write/duet with Grammy winning singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale.
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/
Saturday, May 23 • Abigail Lapell • 8:00 pm
Award-winning Toronto singer-songwriter Abigail Lapell captures the urgency and beauty of motherhood on her new album Shadow Child.
Award-winning Toronto singer-songwriter Abigail Lapell was pregnant with her first child when she booked studio time on Vancouver Island to make an album about motherhood. The nine songs on Shadow Child — one for each month of gestation — had to be ready before then, and her return flight was booked on the last day she could safely fly in her third trimester.
Lapell’s road to motherhood was fraught, involving years of IVF and a 2023 miscarriage — that she experienced on stage while on tour. (She finished her set.) Her son was born in November 2024. The song cycle of Shadow Child covers joy and loss, using metaphors from Maritime tragedy, reproductive health, and lives altered by the arrival of a newborn. The title track refers to ultrasound imaging of “a liminal person that doesn’t quite exist yet,” says Lapell. “Their status is ontologically blurry.”
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/
Sunday, May 24 • An Afternoon of Poetry with Robyn Sarah and Ken Victor • 2:00 pm
This is a free event, but space is limited—please RSVP by clicking the ticket link and completing all required information to secure your spot; if you reserve, we kindly ask that you attend so others don’t miss out.
Poet, writer, literary editor, and musician, Robyn Sarah is the author of twelve poetry collections, including, most recently, We’re Somewhere Else Now, and My Shoes Are Killing Me, winner of the 2015 Governor General’s Award for poetry and the Canadian Jewish Literary Award for poetry. She has also published two collections of short stories, a book of essays on poetry, and a music memoir. She served as poetry editor for Cormorant Books from 2010 to 2020. Robyn Sarah lives in Montreal.
Thursday, May 28 • The Sadies • 7:30 pm — OVER 50% SOLD
New record “Colder Streams” is the sound of everything coming together for The Sadies. Long confident that the result of their recordings is far more important than adhering to any schedules or deadlines – they took their time on this one.
The songs here are ambitious and accomplished. Having had that extra time to grow benefited these tracks, and they stand up alongside any of their earlier work. As Mike Stax of Ugly Things Magazine once opined “Most bands only get worse with age – much, much worse – The Sadies continue to confound us by getting better and better”.
Once this album was finished, the band were eager to get out and play in support of this new album. Tour plans were already well underway when the devastating news of Dallas’ unexpected death on February 17th, 2022, stopped everything in its tracks.
Needing music to help process and heal, Travis worked out new arrangements for many of the “Colder Streams” tracks. This labour of love had him combine both his and Dallas’ guitar parts, as well as tackling vocals for all these songs by himself. This decision to play both to honour Dallas’ memory and to promote the release of the album that supporters had waited so long to hear.
At the JUNO Awards in Edmonton in March of 2023, The Sadies won the JUNO for “Colder Streams” for Adult Alternative Album of The Year, a proud but bittersweet moment for the band. Most recently “Colder Streams” made the Polaris Music Prize Short List for 2023.
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/
