BLUE RODEO, BOBBY BAZINI, JOEL PLASKETT, AMELIA CURRAN, BASIA BULAT AND MANY MORE!

October 14, 2016 – OTTAWA (Canada) – Now in its 6^th season, the all-Canadian music series NAC Presents, in partnership with BMO Financial Group, is proud to announce its complete 2016-17 season. Following the announcement in spring 2016 of 34 fall and Holiday shows, NAC Presents is pleased to be adding more than 30 new artists to the winter and spring lineup. From folk to pop, to country and francophone music, Ottawa will certainly be treated to a diverse array of amazing performances - all of which are happening under one roof! Despite the fact that the NAC is undergoing major renovations this year, it is still open and geared up to welcome Canadian music lovers.

Here are the newly added artists who will be performing in the four different NAC venues, from January to May 2017: LeE HARVeY OsMOND, Yann  Perreau with Laurence Nerbonne, Bobby Bazini, Jordan Officer, Rose Cousins, Blue Rodeo, Harry Manx, Jean-Michel Blais, The Once, Yao, Iskwé, Simon Denizart Trio, Basia Bulat, Wesli, Joseph Edgar, Fred Eaglesmith, Alejandra Ribera, Joel Plaskett, Steve Hill, Jenn Grant, Danny Michel, Mehdi Cayenne, Jim Bryson with Petr Cancura’s Crossroads, ILAM, Ron Sexsmith, Caroline Savoie, Matthew Barber & Jill Barber, Catherine Major, Amelia Curran and Bon Débarras.

Programmed by Simone Deneau, this season marks her last as Executive Producer as she retired in June after a remarkable 38 year career at the NAC. “It is with a little sadness—but also a great deal of pride and anticipation—that I present my last season as Producer of the all Canadian music series at the National Arts Centre.” Simone has passed the baton to Heather Gibson, former Executive Director of the Halifax Jazz Fest and Founder of In the Dead of Winter Music Festival, who is thrilled to be starting this new adventure at the NAC. “I am thrilled to be a part of the 2016-17 NAC Presents season. Simone Deneau has gathered some of Canada's best singer songwriters in our biggest season yet - over 65 shows! From emerging artists to national icons, I am confident this will be a spectacular season of NAC Presents”, says Heather.

Tickets for the new concerts are on sale to the general public as of October 21 at 10 a.m. on ticketmaster.ca.

SOUTHAM HALL

Some of Canada’s most prominent singer-songwriters have performed on this stage, and now with a complete makeover, will reopen its doors starting with folk/soul artist Bobby Bazini. After a successful show in the Theatre last year, Bobby comes back on February 4 with a new album Summer Is Gone. Canadian rock superstars Blue Rodeo then takes the stage two nights in a row, February 18 and 19, with songs from their new album 1000 Arms that will be released on October 28. Finally, beloved Nova Scotia rocker Joel Plaskett returns to the NAC on March 18 with one of the most diverse and fan-pleasing albums of his career.

THEATRE

Creating musical short stories that wed the tradition of the Blues with the depth of classical Indian ragas, Harry Manx steps on stage February 18. On February 24, the Newfoundland-based band The Once will

offer the joyous, harmony-rich acoustic music that have made them such favorites in their homeland and across Canada. 2016 Polaris nominee Basia Bulat performs bright pop songs from her latest album Good Advice on March 10, followed by three time JUNO nominee Jenn Grant on March 25 who will perform new compositions from an album set to be released early 2017. One of Canada’s most influential singer-songwriters Ron Sexsmith will please the crowd with his poetic songs on April 29, and on May 6, brother and sister Matthew Barber and Jill Barber join forces with songs from The Family Album. Last but not least, St.John’s native and master contemporary songstress Amelia Curran is back on May 13 with her latest album They Promised You Mercy.  

STUDIO SHOWS

On January 20, Hamilton’s LeE HARVeY OsMOND performs his third solo album Beautiful Scars, which journeys between the quiet, smouldering, raging, moving and sad. On January 28, rock-electro francophone artist Yann Perreau will be playing songs from his latest album Le fantastique des astres with guest Laurence Nerbonne, a 2016-17 Radio-Canada Révélation artist. Next, Montreal composer, singer, and guitarist Jordan Officer (February 16) will charm the crowd with his  trademark blue/jazz/country sound, and after performing with Royal Wood and the NAC Orchestra this past May, Rose Cousins comes back February 17 to give a solo show. She will be releasing a brand new album early 2017. Country-folk singer/songwriter Fred Eaglesmith, brings his heartland narratives on March 16, and on March 17, Alejandra Ribera will lure the audience into an intimate world with material from her critically acclaimed La boca. On March 18, singer and guitarist extraordinaire Steve Hill will invite listeners into a world of musical madness in the form of blues and rock ‘n’ roll and on March 25, environmentalist, pacifist, romanticist, archivist and space enthusiast Danny Michel returns with Matadora, his newest and most deeply humanist album to date. On May 12, Quebec singer-songwriter Catherine Major is back for a second time at the NAC with her album La maison du monde and Ottawa-based singer-songwriter, instrumentalist and producer Jim Bryson will round out the Crossroads series as Programming Manager at the TD Ottawa Jazz festival and saxophonist Petr Cancura puts a jazz twist on his music on April 21.

BACK STAGE SHOWS

The new Back Stage venue welcomes French Canadian composer and pianist from Montreal Jean-Michel Blais*on February 24, followed by Ottawa-based multitalented artist and poet YAO* on February 25, who is launching a new album, Lapsus, on November 4. On March 3, singer-songwriter Iskwé, who draws upon her Cree/Dene and Irish roots, brings her sound filled with booming bass lines and heavy beats with her new album Sometimes. The following night, Radio-Canada Jazz Révélation Simon Denizart Trio* (March 4) will liven up the stage with songs that draw influence from European jazz and world music. With his complex musical arrangements and universal messages of hope, Wesli* brings his groove to the Back Stage on March 10 and singer-songwriter from Moncton, New-Brunswick, Joseph Edgar will astonish the audience with his catchy melodies and immense creativity on March 11. Ottawa’s own very energetic Mehdi Cayenne* is back on March 30 after a remarkable performance at NAC Presents 5^th anniversary party in January 2016 and on April 28, Radio-Canada's World Music Revelation, ILAM* will offer a rhythmic blend of reggae and blues with inclinations of Afro-folk. On May 6, winner of the 2015 edition of “Festival international de la chanson de Granby”, Caroline Savoie makes her debut performance at the NAC with her first eponymous album. Lastly, Bon débarras on May 25 brings its folk music that is deeply rooted in French-speaking America.

*Performances as part of the Slaight Family Foundation

ABOUT NAC PRESENTS

NAC Presents thanks title partner BMO Financial Group for their long-standing leadership support of this series. NAC Presents is grateful to the Slaight Family Foundation, whose Slaight Family Fund for Emerging Artists supports performances by emerging artists featured in the NAC Presents 2016–17 season. They include Jadea Kelly with guests Sweet Alibi, Andy Shauf, Jason Bajada, Bïa, Joëlle Saint-Pierre, MISC, Jessica Mitchell and The Abrams.

NAC Presents would also like to acknowledge its official hotel partner, Hotel Indigo Ottawa, and the official car of NAC Presents, Mark Motors of Ottawa – Audi.