New Ottawa Music Festival Is A Capital Idea!

05/02/07 5:30pm

by Caitlin Crockard (CHARTattack)

OTTAWA — Make room, Ottawans, there's another summer festival in the already crowded event schedule for the capital. A partial lineup for Capital Idea! has just been announced, and it's a direct appeal to indie-rock lovers.

From June 21 to 30, bands such as The Walkmen, Destroyer and Fiery Furnaces are set to play a series of venues across the downtown core.

The festival was dreamed up and produced by Calum Marsh, a local music writer and fan who's been dipping his toes into show promotions under the name Mocking Music.

"Ottawa has a reputation for music festivals as the result of the successes of Bluesfest and the jazz festival," Marsh says. "But I've never liked outdoor festivals, and the programming at those festivals isn't catered toward me.

"The 'indie' niche, if you want to call it that, doesn't have a recognizable face representing it in Ottawa. I guess that's the role I wanted to take on. This is Ottawa's answer to Pop Montreal or NXNE. I'd like to dispel the myth that Ottawa isn't a hot spot for live music. We can be if we want it to be. This festival, I think, might suggest that."

The capital has always been a funny place for live music. Once in a while, an enterprising promoter manages to convince touring bands to stop off in town on their way between Montreal and Toronto. But popular indie acts just as often pass right on by. Marsh has, for the past year, been convincing more and more bands of Ottawa's charms. Past Mocking Music shows include The Books and Castanets.

Marsh is excited about some of his higher-profile bookings for Capital Idea!

"The Walkmen are definitely the biggest name on the list, and originally I would have thought them too high-profile to fly in just for this, so that's definitely something I've been quick to brag about. But Xiu Xiu is my favourite band ever, so I'm probably most excited to see them again."

The response so far from bands has been encouraging, Marsh says. "Last week, Dan Boeckner from Wolf Parade came up to me after his show, asking me if I was the guy who was putting together the festival. That made me feel good, to know that musicians and music fans are excited about something I've put together."

Tickets for some shows are on sale already, and a festival pass will be available soon. Check out the Mocking Music blog for more details.

Although more acts will still be announced, here's the lineup so far:

The Walkmen
The Fiery Furnaces
Destroyer
Xiu Xiu
Sunset Rubdown
Frog Eyes
Girl Talk
The Russian Futurists
Damo Suzuki
The Wrens
Born Ruffians
Hot Springs
The Chinese Stars
Montag
Miracle Fortress
Parts And Labor
Chris Garneau
Crystal Castles
Relief Maps
My Dad Vs Yours
As The Poets Affirm
Acres
Poorfolk
City Of A Hundred Spires