Sandy Hill singers and songwriters will perform in Bagelshop Musicfest

John Hymson

The Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli is once again hosting Musicfest at 1321 Wellington Street West starting June 5. This year 40 Ottawa-based musicians will participate in the free concert series, including 2024 Juno nominated singer/songwriter Steph La Rochelle, country singer Nayana (over 2 million streams on Spotify), Lazzy Lung (one of top 3 unsigned acts by Rolling Stone), and Miss McLeod (performed at the Apollo Theater). All shows hosted by Ottawa’s Kristy Hagerman.

Sandy Hill musicians Malaïka Urbani and John Lats are also a part of this year’s lineup.

Malaïka Urbani is a Rwandan/Italian musician who draws from “diverse music styles and cultures influenced by operatic training.” When asked what one should expect from her performance she responded, “People can expect me to have fun. I’m just grateful to be able to create music, and I think that gratitude is contagious. Being on stage also allows me to play into specific characters/archetypes/roles and dive into storytelling on all different levels. As Black people, our [representation] in so many different fields are often undervalued and overlooked. Being someone’s first encounter with live classical music as a Queer Black singer and composer is an incredible experience. The realization that this can be for us too; seeing people feel seen through me and my work means the world to me.”

Singer/songwriter John Lats, originally from Plantagenet, in eastern Ontario, arrived in Ottawa for university and decided to stay. Self-described as “a blend of alternative and pop rock with nostalgic, lush, and haunting aesthetics,” Lats’ performance promises to be fused with “honesty, passion, and vulnerability. Many of my songs depict personal experiences in a relatable fashion.”

Lats attributes his pursuit of music as a career to moving feedback he got from his brother after his first public performance. “In tenth grade, I played and sang one of my first original songs in front of a large crowd for the first time. The experience was terrifying and thrilling.”

Lats continues the story, “I performed an original acoustic rap song that touched on the pressures of following in the footsteps of adults who supposedly know what is best for the youth’s future. After this performance, my older brother confessed to me that he cried during the performance because he was both proud of me for stepping out of my comfort zone and because he could relate to my lyrics.”

 

The Ottawa Bagelshop Musicfest

June 5 – August 11
Every Wednesday and Sunday at 2:30 pm.

1321 Wellington Street West
All are welcome, shows free. Seating first come, first served

Visit www.ottawabagelshop.com (Events) for the full festival line up