Ottawa Cape Breton Session
Sessions
Sun. Jan 5 - Pub Session - 2pm to 5pm Ring in the New Year with some East Coast music! Join us for an open jam session at the Barley Mow, 1541 Merivale Rd. Everyone is welcome - all levels, all instruments. If you like playing, or hearing Cape Breton traditional music this is the place to be. Listeners and/or players welcome - bring the whole family, there is something for everyone on session days at the Barley Mow.
Sun. Jan 19 - Pub Session - 2pm to 5pm
Sun. Feb 2 - Pub Session - 2pm to 5pm Celebrate Groundhog Day with us! Maybe we'll play the same tune over, and over, and over....
Sun. Jan 19 - Pub Session - 2pm to 5pm
Mar 9, 2025 - OCBS concert at Orchard Walk Retirement Residence - 2pm - 4pm. Mark your calendars now! We'll be looking for fiddlers, guitar players, singers, etc. to join us in a St. Patrick's Day concert for the residents.
Cape Breton fiddlers occasionally come and present workshops on fiddle, step dancing and piano here in the National Capital region. We'll make sure that any such events are communicated via our email list, website and social media accounts. There are a few Ottawa-area fiddle teachers who include Cape Breton tunes and stylings in their lessons. More...
Sessions, sessions, sessions - there are lots of Celtic sessions going on in the National Capital Area that include a nice mix of Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton and French Canadian tunes. Check out our Google calendar below for dates and locations.
Connect
Join our Facebook community to find links to online videos, music resources and other Cape Breton goodness. We also share news via Twitter. To see videos from past sessions check out our YouTube channel.
Sign up to receive occasional notices about Ottawa Cape Breton Session events, as well as other events involving Cape Breton music and culture in the National Capital. A newsletter goes out approximately once a month, more often if there are last minute events, or a significant change to a planned event. Past newsletters are here if you want to get an idea of what to expect or catch up on what you missed.
We NEVER share our list with other groups, we may occasionally pass along relevant information from another local group but rest assured that we won't give your email address to anyone else!
Fiddlers/Bands for Hire
Ottawa Cape Breton Session is an informal jam session, not a band, so we don't provide music for concerts or special events. If you are looking for some fiddle or kitchen party type music we offer a few suggestions on the Hire a Band page. ______________________________________________________________________
Cape Breton fiddle music is best learned by ear. Although detailed sheet music and sound files are provided here for learning the basics of a tune , be aware that the tune may sound different when played live. The best way to really learn these tunes is to come out and play along with us at either a house or pub session. You would be more than welcome! The Tunes page contains tunes and sets you are likely to hear at one of our sessions.
Scenes from some of our past pub sessions - always a great time!
Hogman-EH! December 31, 2024
Tue Dec 31 - 2pm to 1am - The Scottish Society of Ottawa (SSO)is proud to present its 13th annual Hogman-EH!, or Scottish New Year’s Eve, the biggest New Year’s Eve party in Ottawa and the largest celebration of its kind outside of Scotland! Details Here
Join the SSO at Ottawa’s take on the famous Scottish New Year celebration – Hogmanay -or, to add a little Canadian flair: Hogman-EH! , featuring good food and sizzling entertainment inspired by Caledonia. The event takes place at a luxurious new venue - the Infinity Convention Centre in South central Ottawa. Free admission to the Hall of Origins 2 pm to 5 pm. Doors open to General Admission ($45 plus tax) at 4:30 pm and party to 1 am. Food voucher is $25. VIP tickets ($75) are still available, or VIP with a delicious 3 course meal by Infinity Chef ($125). Dress is informal but be sure to wear your tartan if you have it. Buy a Ticket
2pm-6pm - (free) Hall of Origins, with Celtic Kitchen Session (featuring among others Denis Lanctot and Kevin Dooley) Bring your instruments and join the fun!
5pm-7pm - Kids Zone; Ottawa Highland Dance Association (OHDA) dancers; Baritone John Young with accompanist Dr. James Wright. Cape Breton fun starts at 6:20 with fiddler Ernie Fraser's band playing some down east/Scottish jigs and reels and Cape Breton Square Sets (Inverness County) led by Beth MacGillivray.
7pm - “New Year’s in Scotland” Countdown, Balloon Drop and Highland Fling.
7:15 - 1am - Main Stage with Brandy n' Port; and the internationally acclaimed Devil’s Brigade. This world-class 7-member band, (formerly known as the American Rogues), boasts both Canadian and American roots – hence their new name that pays homage to the famed multinational WWII commando unit. Their blistering “bag rock” will take us all the way to 1:00.
Sessions
Pub Sessions
Sunday afternoon pub sessions are generally at a pretty fast pace. It is mostly group/session playing with occasional songs or solos. Everyone is welcome to join, with fiddle, guitar, mandolin, accordion or even a cello! Sessions are led by Aylene, or sometimes other folks. Let her, or the pianist Ellen know if you have something special to share with the group.
If you don't play, but love to hear Maritime and Cape Breton music live you're more than welcome to come down to the pub sessions and have some fun. It's always a big and friendly group of folks, a great place to meet old friends and make new ones too. You'll meet lots of other Maritimers in the crowd. Jam ouverte avec concentration sur le pieces de l’ile du Cap Breton, de l’Écosse et de Glengarry. Apportez un instrument ou venez partager une chanson avec nous. Ou, venez savourez la musique et notre plaisir. On ne sait jamais qui s’y présentera, mais c’est certainement toujours un groupe avec un accueil amical avec qui passer l’après-midi.
House Sessions **Looking for hosts for house sessions**
House sessions are are great way to learn new tunes and meet new people and get familiar with the Cape Breton repertoire. House sessions occur on a second or fourth Sunday from 2-5pm . The pace at house sessions varies, new tunes are learned mostly from sheet music. Players take turns hosting house sessions, or sometimes they are hosted by folks who just love to hear the music. The schedule is a bit erratic, when a house session is scheduled it will be posted on the website. Session à vitesse moyennement accéléré où apprender de nouveau ‘sets’ de pieces, généralement à partir de feuilles de musique mais aussi ‘à l’oreil’. Lieu idéal pour faire l’essaie d’une nouvelle chanson, ou pratiquer de nouvelles pieces avant de les jouer à la session au pub. C’est aussi un bon temps pour faire du ‘social’ avec des gens forts sympatiques et pour savourer des grignotines délicieuses.
Host a House Session or Slow Jam
Hosts provide space and chairs (without arms) for anywhere from 6 to 20 fiddlers, and some space for socializing during the break. Session lead, and all other arrangements are through Cape Breton Session. Please do not contact session hosts directly. To get on the email list for slow jams, or if you want to host a slow jam send an email to cbsession@cbsession.com. Hosts can be fiddlers/pianists or just folks who don't mind listening to the same tune played over and over again. Ideally hosts provide an in-tune piano (or keyboard), but we can usually arrange to bring a keyboard and/or some extra chairs if needed. Sessions are BYOB, and players bring along snacks for the break, but usually the hosts provide tea or coffee, or other non-alcoholic beverages (depending on the weather). Slow jams will always require advance sign up, the host locations have varying capacities. If you have not received a registration confirmation you are not signed up - and should not show up. More about slow jams...
