NAC Popular Music and Variety

Small stage,
big spotlight

Fourth Stage concerts and events

Pony Girl at the Fourth Stage © Curtis Perry

Join us at the Fourth Stage, the NAC’s home for emerging, inclusive and boundary-pushing artists. This relaxed, casual venue is Ottawa’s top spot to discover artists from across the country, across the globe, and those making waves on the local scene. Grab a drink from the bar, settle into the comfortable atmosphere and enjoy the show!

Upcoming events

  1. North American Irish Fiddle Champion Kyle Burghout joins forces with flute/whistle player Justin Thériault, and Celtic harpist Susan Toman. These three amazing artists will be at the NAC performing a collection of traditional and contemporary Celtic music from…

  2. Join us for an unforgettable evening of toe-tapping tunes of the Rideau Ramblers and the heartfelt melodies of the Ottawa Celtic Choir! Delight in a captivating blend of Celtic Christmas traditions, as we celebrate the season with lively tunes and cherished songs that…

  3. *This show has sold out for 9 seasons in a row so purchasing advanced tickets is highly recommended* Boasting dozens of appearances on TV, radio and comedy festivals worldwide (and one working laptop between them), Toronto’s best standup comedians bring their A…

  4. Akawui is a Canadian songwriter-composer-performer of Chilean and Mapuche Indigenous origin. He was introduced to South American folk music at a very young age. It is through that experience, as well as his Indigenous cultural heritage, that his musical blending is inspired.…

  5. ¿Quién eres? (Who are you?), singer–songwriter Maritza’s new show, proposes a musical journey about resilience. Known for the depth of her songs and her ability to touch people’s hearts, Maritza released ¿Quién eres?, her…

  6. Take a jazz journey to foreign lands and fantastical places with a sextet from the Ottawa Jazz Orchestra as your global guides. In this programme they will explore some of the grooviest, evocative, and ethnically-inspired tunes from the jazz melting pot with contributions…

  7. The Montréal duo of harpist Sarah Pagé (Nadah El Shazly) and percussionist Patrick Graham (Constantinople) present their new self-titled debut album, Littoral States, alongside Ottawa solo cello powerhouse Raphael Weinroth-Browne for what promises…

  8. Kizaba is an artist whose rich musical style evokes the Congo. Join him on Fumu na betu, an Afro-futuristic journey that blends traditionally inspired songs with soukous, Afrobeat and pop-rock sounds. Accompanied on stage by a Congolese guitarist, a rhythm rock guitarist…

  9. Immerse yourself in the world of Ponteix, Mario Lepage's psychedelic-pop project. Le Canadien errant chronicles the experience of a minority Francophone settling in the heart of a major French-speaking city, and showcases Francophone cultures outside Quebec,…

  10. There is something truly captivating about Newfoundland’s multi-award winning singer-songwriter Kellie Loder. They are a gifted and accomplished storyteller with a voice that conveys warmth and power. Their lyrical brilliance is honest and vulnerable in ways that…

  11. Explosive energy and a lot of fun! El Balcón is coming to the Big Bang Festival for the first time, bringing their lively Latin rhythms that are sure to make the whole family groove! El Balcón captivates audiences with their fiery stage presence and dynamic…

  12. Named after the ravenous Northern Ontario mosquitos that joyfully feasted on the three founding bandmates during their original rehearsals, this group will have you itching to dance! Hailing from the vibrant melting pot of Toronto, Moskitto Bar weaves together a beautiful…

  13. Mayday is the third LP by Montreal-based artist, Myriam Gendron, and she will be performing it at the NAC. It follows her earlier, critically acclaimed albums, Not So Deep As A Well (2014) and Ma délire – Songs of love, lost & found (2021). Prior to…

  14. Since the June 2024 release of his latest album, L’Osstidtour, D-Track has been preparing a unique new show that he’ll be performing across Quebec—and at the NAC, of course!  Known first and foremost for his writing, his authenticity, and…

  15. Duke Ellington’s landmark symphonic jazz composition, Black, Brown and Beige is perhaps the most significant work in the jazz repertory. Composed as a musical parallel to the history of the Negro in America, it tells the history of African Americans through…

  16. Samba Touré's music is characterized by hypnotic guitar grooves radiating with the intensity of the desert sun. It transcends borders, creating an authentic and groundbreaking sonic landscape—a journey of emotional depth and rhythmic brilliance where…

  17. Golden-era taste, future-era based. Tylenol 3 for capitalist migraines. Resistance-based debauchery for disaffected baddies. Super Duty Tough Work is a constantly evolving art-rap ensemble with their intentions set on pushing a radical politic of revolution, party and…

  18. No matter what type of concert goer you are, you’re bound to enjoy AySay’s show at the NAC.   For the active listener, AySay’s music is colorful, interwoven and surprising. For the dancing listener, the music will be enthralling, groovy and…

  19. There’s something decidedly touching about Étienne Fletcher’s world. In his slightly husky voice, the singer–songwriter finds the right words to put life, death, and everything in between into song. Étienne Fletcher brings an intimate…

  20. Cadence Weapon is Edmonton-born, Hamilton-based rapper, producer, writer and poet Rollie Pemberton. His 2021 album Parallel World won Canada’s Polaris Music Prize. The son of a pioneering hip-hop radio DJ, Pemberton grew up around a diverse library of…

  21. Pianist Tadd Dameron was one of the most influential and innovative composers in jazz during the swing and bebop eras. Although he wrote music for many other bands including those led by Count Basie, Artie Shaw, and Dizzy Gillespie, it is the magical music…

  22. With a vision and a song, brothers Nolan & Ethan Wilde set out to make their mark. If you're yearning for a taste of refreshing country rock that seamlessly blends soulful melodies with heartfelt lyrics, look no further than Brothers Wilde.

  23. The North Sound, formed in 2014 by lead singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Forrest Eaglespeaker and his partner Nevada Freistadt, who composes and provides vocal harmonies, is coming to the NAC with songs from their upcoming new album! Be one of the first to…

  24. Safia Nolin’s powerful political voice makes her a standout figure in today’s arts scene, with a career that explores identity, difference and life in the margins. As a racialized woman and a lesbian who takes an out-of-the-box approach to her art form, she…

  25. Céleste Lévis grew up in Timmins, Ontario. Music came into her life relatively late, after serious health problems forced her to give up all sporting activities. In her darkest moments, music gave her a second life.  Céleste released her…

  26. Boogát is back at the NAC with a new album!  Entitled Del Horizonte (from the expression “beyond the horizon”), the artist’s new show pushes the festive vibe even further, with video projections that encourage audience interaction…

  27. The Ottawa Jazz Orchestra concludes a smashing season with a show of musical mirth and mayhem featuring pianist Mike Manny and guitarist Magnus Paulson. These two giants of the Ottawa jazz scene have, incredibly, never performed together before. This makes…

  28. Orchidae is the solo project of Yolande Laroche, a queer Canadian Taiwanese artist based in Gatineau, Quebec. She draws inspiration from her Mandarin name 兰 (Lan), symbolizing the orchid flower. The name Orchidae reflects the artist's cultural heritage and…

  29. Born into a line of drummers through his grandfather, Donald Dogbo is a visionary Ivorian artist-musician, drummer, arranger, and composer based in Canada. After several years as Senegalese rapper Didier Awadi's drummer, he moved to Canada in 2014, where he immediately…

  30. The Atlantic Jazz Collective is coming to the National Arts Centre with their brand-new music from their Seascape album set to release on May 2nd. The Atlantic Jazz Collective is a group of 3 JUNO award-winning artists from Canada’s Atlantic Region: Saxophonist Mike…

  31. *This show has sold out for 9 seasons in a row so purchasing advanced tickets is highly recommended* Boasting dozens of appearances on TV, radio and comedy festivals worldwide (and one working laptop between them), Toronto’s best standup comedians bring their A…

Past events

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