In January 2016, the all Canadian singer-songwriters series NAC Presents celebrated 5 years of loving Canadian music with a live show entitled #FOMO featuring A Tribe Called Red, U.S. Girls, Mehdi Cayenne and The Lionyls. Fantastic live art was provided by Ariane Beauchamp and Robbie of Ottawa’s Fall Down Gallery. Seeing a national institution continue to surprise, inspire and reinvent itself up close through excellent curation, programming and execution is both awesome and encouraging. It was a blast to be a part of the event and to try and distil the energy that was in the National Arts Centre that night into a brief film. There was so much fun footage to work with that it was difficult to encompass a wide ranging showcase into 1 minute and 20 seconds, but I’m delighted with the results, and hopefully it succeeds in it’s task of giving you a case of #FOMO. Filmed by Alexander Vlad and Alex Brazeau for the National Arts Centre. Music by A Tribe Called Red.
VIDEO: Lost To The River Documentary Episode 1
Follow indie rockers Lost To The River’s recording process at Gallery Studios in Ottawa, Canada through a three part mini documentary. Formerly known as Miss Polygamy, it has been an honour, and frankly a ton of fun to document the band over the years and to witness their evolution into a more mature, cohesive unit. Shot and edited by Alexander Vlad, with additional camera by Val Volfson, look out for the second episode in the coming days! Check out Lost To The River online at LTTRMusic.com and discover some incredible new music.
MUSIC VIDEO: Loren Dayle – Get It How You Live
Check out this music video we shot for Loren Dayle during the summer. Simple concept and a very quick shoot, it was fun to see it come together so fluidly. Shot by Alexander Vlad and Christopher Eades. Edited by Alexander Vlad (mostly on a plane).
Tons more content on LorenDayle.com check it out!
EVENT: One Bad Son, The Wild & Iconoclast @ Maverick’s
The day after St-Patrick’s day is usually associated with calling in sick and stepping around puddles of green hurl, but this year (and please for every year after) it was all about rock & roll. Ottawa bad boys of rock and longtime collaborators, Iconoclast, teamed up with Kelowna-based The Wild to rile the crowd up for tour headliners One Bad Son, who in turn blew the roof off of Maverick’s and brought signs of life back to a deeply hungover Rideau Street.
Continue reading “EVENT: One Bad Son, The Wild & Iconoclast @ Maverick’s”
EVENT: Dear Blackwolf @ Irene’s
On a blustery March night, Dear Blackwolf (Arturo Portocarrero and Joseph Perry) took to the stage at Irene’s in Ottawa to drive home the final leg of their tour with The Wicked Mercy and Brandon Allen. Described as a “high octane blues rock due” they blend roots and rock genres to create something guitarist Joseph calls rumble music. Photographed by Alexander Vlad.
Check em out online, they’re definitely worth a listen!
EVENT: GRILLZ & GLAM VALENTINES DAY EDITION
There is a reason that Grillz & Glam has been going strong for over four years now, at Babylon Nightclub.
Come and rediscover that reason, and come party with us as well. Every second friday of the month.
Shot by Christopher.
DAILY EDIT: DJ Michael Wayne
Trying to continue this trend of photographs from warmer weather, here’s a strobist portrait of Ottawa DJ/producer Michael Wayne. Two speedlites bracketed together on Mike’s right, each on 1/2 power and another on his left also at 1/2, triggered with Pocket Wizards. Due to silly lack of an ND filter in the kit at the time, it was shot at f20, 1/160. Photographed by Alexander Vlad with assistance from Alex Brazeau.
DAILY EDIT: Philly Moves
Here’s a few shots of some of our favourite Toronto friends, Tynan Tragic and Jonny Rockwell from Canadian rap duo Philly Moves. Shot by Alexander Vlad in Toronto, summer 2014.
MUSIC VIDEO: Riff Raff The Neon One
DAILY EDIT: Sean Paul
Otherwise known as That Time I Shot Sean Paul In The Rain. Photographed at the 26th annual Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival in 2013 in less than ideal weather. You can blame the last night of 2014 as to why I’m starting 2015 with a two year old photo of Sean Paul in the summer. The show also had Massari and Mia Martina as support.
MUSIC VIDEO: Iconoclast No Closure
Music video for No Closure, by Ottawa hard rock outfit Iconoclast. Shot in Ottawa and Brockville, Ontario by Alexander Vlad and Christopher Eades.
EVENT: Frenzy w/ Sweater Beats
Here is a set of photos from December’s edition of Frenzy, featuring Sweater Beats from NYC. Shot by Alexander Vlad, the event went down at Babylon Nightclub in Ottawa on Decemeber 5th, 2014.
EVENT: Mercury Lounge 18th Anniversary
Mercury Lounge is as close as a club can come to being an institution of musical excellence, and having celebrated their 18th anniversary they are showing no signs of letting up anytime soon. Photographed by Alexander Vlad.