If you are a local then you may have seen them at the HOPE Volleyball SummerFest.
They’ve played all over the US of Aand recently returned from playing the South by Southwest festival in the lone state, but to Loudlove drummer Dan Loach, there’s something to be said about playing gigs at in your home town. And Ottawa is a great place to call home.

The Ottawa reggae/rock band will be performing at the Ottawa July event HOPE Volleyball SummerFest, Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest, and the Ottawa Reggae Festival this year.

“It’s nice that we don’t have to travel to Toronto or the east coast to play at a good (venue),” said Loach. Music events in July in Ottawa are very popular.

That’s the concept behind the second yearly Ottawa Reggae Festival, said festival director Danielle Vicha.

Ottawa’s music scene has really become larger, said Vicha at the festival’s launch recently. “People are going to shows more, artists are coming here and there are more venues for artists.”

While there are many music events in Ottawa, this July event fills what is mostly an original niche, she said.

“Reggae music is so universal. It’s like rock and roll – it has universal appeal.”

Although the festival includes national and international acts like Shaggy; Kardinal Offishall, one of the biggest hip-hop acts in Canada; dancehall artist Baby Cham and Jamaican reggae singer Tanya Stephens, 75 per cent of the festival’s acts are Canadian, said Vicha, including Ottawa artists Diction and Cris Quammie.

“We want to give people a chance to see Canadian talent,” said Vicha, “and to promote culture, arts and diversity in Ottawa.”

See more Ottawa July Events at OttawaOnCa.com