Concerts Photos
Coheed and Cambria Bring “This Is Our War” to Ottawa
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa – July 14, 2026
There’s a particular kind of chaos that follows Coheed and Cambria into a room, and Ottawa got the full dose of it on a Tuesday night that felt more like a Saturday. Twenty-plus years into their run, and still touring behind last year’s Vaxis – Act III: The Father of Make Believe, the New York prog-rock lifers proved once again that a good story and a great riff are not mutually exclusive.
The Openers: Cevilain Own Their Hometown Stage
Before the headliners even hit the stage, the local crowd already had something to cheer for. Cevilain, Ottawa’s own, got the rare hometown-opener treatment, and they didn’t waste it. Tight, loud, and relishing the size of the room, the band tore through a set that had the front rows moving well before Coheed‘s set change. There’s something different about watching a band play in their own city, and that energy was written all over the performance.
The Headliners: Hair, Harmonics, and the Keywork
By the time the house lights dropped, the room was packed shoulder to shoulder. Claudio Sanchez took the stage exactly as fans expect him to, guitar slung low and hair a wall of curls.
The production leaned hard into the band’s sci-fi mythology, with the “keywork” logo splashed across the backdrop in shifting reds, blues, and greens throughout the night. Sanchez spent as much time airborne, leaping, crouching, and prowling the lip of the stage, as he did locked into the fretboard, and the rest of the band matched the intensity beat for beat. The rhythm section anchored the heavier cuts while the guitar work carried the band’s trademark blend of melodic hooks and progressive sprawl.
Between songs, the crowd took over almost as much as the band did, fists in the air, singalongs on the choruses, and no shortage of phones raised to catch a moment.
The Takeaway
For a band this deep into a catalog built on interlocking concept albums, Coheed and Cambria‘s live show still manages to feel less like a history lesson and more like a release valve. Ottawa showed up ready to shout every word back, Cevilain proved a hometown opening slot is nothing to waste, and by the time the last chord rang out, it was clear this stop on the This Is Our War tour earned its place in the run.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
COHEED AND CAMBRIA
CEVILIAN
All Photo Credit: Kieran Delport
Concerts Photos
Marianas Trench Pack History Ottawa, With Fionn Opening
Vancouver acts on both ends of the bill. Fionn opened and Marianas Trench headlined at History Ottawa on October 24, 2026.
Fionn, a pair of twins, had a room that was already nearly full by the time they hit the stage, which isn’t always a given for an opener. They made the most of it with a high-energy set that never let up, and with the two working well together, and feeding off each other’s energy. They were rocking out the whole way through, and it set the tone for the night.
Marianas Trench took the stage to a crowd that was loud from the start and sang along throughout, often seeming to carry the songs as much as the band did.
The set covered a wide range of their discography, from newer hits like “Down to You” to older fan favourites like “Stutter” and “Cross My Heart.” Longtime fans and newer ones got their moments, and the crowd knew every word either way.
Frontman Josh Ramsey, on lead vocals and guitar, controlled the room from start to finish. He was engaging and constantly connected with the audience, and his vocals were fantastic. Midway through the night he left the stage and walked through the crowd, a staple of his at many shows. It brought him face to face with the fans singing back at him, a moment I’m sure they’ll never forget.
It was a strong night for Vancouver music in Ottawa: an opener that came to play and a headliner that had the whole room with them.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
MARIANAS TRENCH
FIONN
All Photo Credit: Kieran Delport
Concerts Photos
Epik High Turns Vancouver’s Orpheum Into a Hip-Hop Party
Epik High brought its 3.0 Tour 2026 to Vancouver’s Orpheum on October 20, delivering a night of sharp lyricism, ridiculous humour and plenty of crowd interaction. With BOBO.XX opening the show, the Korean hip-hop trio proved that more than two decades into their career, they still know how to make a concert feel like a party among friends.
BOBO.XX, a musician and photographer who works on Epik High’s video and content, warmed up the audience with a taste of his own sound before handing the stage over to the headliners. Anticipation grew during the break, and the theatre erupted when Tablo, Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz appeared for “High Technology,” followed by “One.”
The group’s chemistry was clear to everyone. Their introductions quickly turned into a comedy routine, complete with DJ Tukutz’s sound effects and playful jabs at one another. Tablo might be the trio’s longtime leader, but Tukutz had recently claimed the title through a band competition, giving the three plenty of material to work with.
That humour carried through the night. Fan-submitted Post-it challenges put the members on the spot, leading to dance covers, awkwardly adorable aegyo and plenty of laughter. The challenges often involved bending the rules, with multiple notes taped together and presented as a single request. The trio’s willingness to make fools of themselves made the audience feel like part of the show rather than spectators.
The music never took a back seat. Tracks such as “ANTIHERO,” “Rosario” and “BURJ KHALIFA” kept the room moving, with the group’s tight delivery matched by DJ Tukutz’s work behind the turntables. The mood shifted for more emotional performances, including “1 Minute, 1 Second” and Mithra Jin’s solo “Will I Be Okay?,” showing a more vulnerable side to the performers.
The most meaningful moment came when Tablo spoke about the group’s long journey. His message was simple: if Epik High could keep pushing forward after 22 years, fans could overcome their own obstacles, too. It gave “Born Hater” an extra punch.
The trio closed with an encore of “EPIKISM” and “Don’t Hate Me,” sending the crowd home smiling. Epik High’s strength lies in the balance between serious musicianship and complete silliness. They can deliver an emotional message one minute and turn a fan-requested dance challenge into a comedy show the next. At the Orpheum, that combination made for a concert that felt personal, unpredictable and a whole lot of fun.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
EPIK HIGH
BOBO.XX
All Photo Credit: Chaehyun Lim