What we’re about
Welcome to Note Lovers - Live Music Listening in Ottawa!
This is a group where we welcome you to join us listening to good music here in town. We love local small venues, the kind of place we can chat together before the show. The kind of place we can meet the musicians. Most of the music is jazz, blues, and folk. But now and then some tango, flamenco, rock and musicals. If you are up on Sunday mornings, we do like a classical collection on the Quebec side so check that out. Festivals in summer.
Please buy tickets early when you want to see a show. Small venues with great musicians sell out! Out of courtesy for those on the wait-list, always cancel your RSVP if you are not coming.
I ask that you have a real portrait photo on your MeetUp profile because at these events we really are looking for you. Please look for me, sit with the group, and get to know others who like to listen to live music!
Good times!
Carolyn
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Alexandr Misko, virtuoso fingerstyle guitar at the RedBird!Red Bird Live, Ottawa, ON
Hey note lovers, come join us for Alexandr Misko at the Red Bird!
A German-based virtuoso finger-style guitar prodigy. Check out his videos
a little pulp fiction hereand a bit of A-ha.
Click the link to the Red Bird information and show pass to view his impressive bio. At 25 years old, he's making international waves and has played in Carnegie Hall. He won guitarist of the year through the UK magazine called MusicRadar. I just love how he changes the pitch repeatedly on a given string during his playing. Click the link and you'll feel it. fun! (photo from his YouTube "My New Favorite Riff")
Date: Thursday August 21st, 2025
Time: show up at 7:00 to chat, music 8-10:30pm
Location Red Bird, 1165 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 3X4
Tickets :*UPDATE - IT IS SOLD OUT*
35$ Purchase online at BUY YOUR TICKET HERE!I’ll be there at 7:00 to get a nice seat and you should too. We’ll sit around and chat in a cluster and the music starts at 8. As always, be sure to find me and the group. If your photo is on your profile, I'll be looking for you! Please RSVP to this meetup group if you're coming and cancel your RSVP if you change your mind .
Good times!
- Rhapsody Quartet Sunday morning at Old Aylmer Cultural Centre!Old Aylmer Cultural Centre- La Basoche Hall , Gatineau, QC
Hey Note Lovers, it's Carolyn here. Come join us for Rhapsody Quartet Sunday morning at Old Aylmer Cultural Centre!
This is the 1st of a lovely series of chamber music performances by local classical musicians. You’ll recognise some and be happy to meet the rest at a warm, friendly, croissant-and-coffee Sunday morning performance. Come for the coffee, croissant, company and music. The continental breakfast is included in your ticket.
This concert: Vivaldi's Four Seasons performed by the Rhapsody Quartet, which is an active and versatile group of two violins, one viola and a cello who have been performing together for over 15 years. “They are joy to discover in concert for their spontaneity, their accessible repertoire, their richness and originality of their arrangements, as well as their playful and insightful presentations.”
Date: Sunday September 21, 2025
Time: Show up at 10am for coffee and the music is 11-12.
Location: Old Aylmer Cultural Centre, 120 rue Principale, Gatineau, Québec, Canada, J9H3M3
INFO on the 14-Sunday-morning series: SEASON INFO AND TICKETS!
TICKET OPTIONS:
WHOLE SEASON of 14 shows -a great deal: Works out to 14$ per concert including the brunch. I will post them all. You get 16 “any-day” tickets and there are 14 shows. (They “hold one general admission seat” for you per concert unless you call ahead to modify your RSVP number) You can bring 16 people to the first show or go to every one of the concerts with two spares for a friend, or whatever. If you’re not coming to a show, or you’re bringing 16 people to one show, please let Laurie know by calling. The venue holds 254 in Gatineau. The shows in Aylmer hold 130.
JUST ONE SUNDAY CALL AHEAD: cash at the door $26 includes coffee &croissants. RESERVE BY PHONING Laurie at 819-771-6454 so she holds you a spot (please do. they really prefer this) or just show up (bad idea. you might not get a spot). HOW TO REACH THEM TO RESERVE ONE DAY or ask Laurie stuff
Photo of me below to make it easy for you to find me and I'll update it with what I'll wear closer to the date. *Please be sure that your Meetup profile has your portrait photo because then we'll be looking for you also.
Please RSVP to this meetup group if you're coming and cancel your RSVP if you change your mind.
Good times!
- Ottawa Jazz Orchestra: Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite at NAC 4th Stage!NAC 1 Elgin Street Fourth stage, Ottawa , ON
Hey Note Lovers, it's Carolyn here. Come join us for Ottawa Jazz Orchestra: Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite at NAC 4th Stage!
BUY THE 8PM SHOW!! (not the afternoon)
BUY YOUR TICKET HERE! *UPDATE IT IS SOLD OUT*
purchase online, in person at the NAC Box Office, or by calling the box office at (613) 947-7000 x620.Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite
Inspired by the 1963-64 world tours of the Ellington orchestra, The “Far East Suite” is a captivating masterpiece that vividly captures the sounds and sights that enchanted Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn during their travels through countries such as Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Afghanistan, India, Iran, and Japan. Despite being one of Ellington’s most beloved suites, it is very rarely heard live.
Join a 15-piece band from the Ottawa Jazz Orchestra for a thrilling all-Ellington programme featuring selections from Afro Bossa, Queen’s Suite, Latin American Suite, New Orleans Suite, and more, and then culminating in a complete performance of the seminal Far East Suite in all its groovy glory.Time: Show up at 7:30. Be on time to sit with the group! There will be a line up. Music is 8pm.
Location: Fourth Stage. NAC -National Arts Centre 1 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5W1
It’s a lovely venue with tables for four. We’ll get a few of those in a bunch and enjoy a drink before the performance. Photo of me below and I'll update it with what I'll wear closer to the date. Please be sure that your Meetup profile has your portrait photo because then we'll be looking for you also. Please **RSVP to this meetup group if you're coming and cancel your RSVP if you change your mind. **
Good times!
- Pierre Bensusan, beautiful finger-style guitar, at the Red Bird!Red Bird Live, Ottawa, ON
Hey, Note Lovers, it's Carolyn here. Come join us for Pierre Bensusan at the Red Bird!
If World Music means the fusion of traditional, contemporary, jazz, classical and pop music, then Bensusan is one of the most eloquent World Music musicians of our time. A pianist in his beginnings then self-taught on the guitar, the originality of his style makes him one of today’s greatest guitarists and composers for the instrument. Also called “The Prince of DADGAD”, the Rose d'Or of the Montreux Festival, elected Best Guitarist of World Music by the readers of Guitar Player Magazine! His triple album "Encore" won the Grand Prix of the Independent Music Awards in the category Best Live Album... Since his first performances in 1974 in France, the guitarist has sold half a million albums and given thousands of concerts around the globe, both solo and through numerous collaborations.
Pierre Bensusan is an adventurer of unusual lands. His almost “sacred” music is an intimate and orchestral hymn, a solo crossing on a multi-shell Lowden guitar subjected to the natural elements with sound molecules and finger pulp on an ebony fingerboard for open tuning - an unique and transparent technique, under the fingers of an adventurous pilgrim.
“Listening to Pierre's music is rejuvenating. Beside his extraordinary touch and tone, the notes and melody appeal directly to the tender side of our human nature” Steve Vai
“This is beautiful... Pierre is one of the GREATS!!!” Tommy Emmanuel Cgp.
With only his steel-string-acoustic guitar – and sometimes his rich, affecting voice – Mr Bensusan can disassemble your heart and hand it back to you restored and renewed. As he did to mine tonight. A true giant.” James Volpe Rotondi (former senior editor at Guitar Player Magazine) all from RedBird, photo from PierreBensusan.com
LISTEN HERE!
Date: Sunday October 5th, 2025Location Red Bird, 1165 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 3X4
Time: I’ll arrive by 7:00 and you should too to get a nice seat. The show is 8-10:30Tickets :*UPDATE - IT IS SOLD OUT*
38$. Buy early: BUY YOUR TICKET HERE!Photo of me below to make it easy for you to find me and I'll update it with what I'll wear closer to the date. *please be sure that your Meetup profile has your portrait photo because then we'll be looking for you also. Please **RSVP to this meetup group if you're coming and cancel your RSVP if you change your mind. **
Good times!
