Pique spring edition returns this March with its second multi-day edition of the signature music and arts festival, taking over the Arts Court in downtown Ottawa. Featuring groundbreaking performances, striking art installations, and thought-provoking presentations, Pique is a convergence of creativity and innovation that welcomes international artists and communities.
Taking place on International Women’s Day, the Pique spring edition spotlights women and gender nonconforming people who demonstrate artistic innovation and leadership, and kicks off the festival’s 5th season with its signature curatorial eclecticism by bringing together club futurism, intercultural ambient-electronic, jazz-hop vanguardism, vocal experimentation, leftfield pop music, drag brilliance, soft sculpture installation, and lots more. Plus with artist talks and workshops exploring equitable music futures, Pique is a lab, an incubator, and a playground for audiences of all kinds. Admission is pay-what-you-can and all-ages.
Featuring performances and presentations by international and out-of-town artists including modular synth princess Arushi Jain, genre-blending club DJ BAMBII, soulful songwriter-producer keiyaA, raga-inspired vocalist-synthesist Piu, club queen party-girl DJ sam blake, leftfield pop savant Sarah Feldman, powerhouse emcee sydanie, Ethio jazz-meets-trip-hop song conjurer Witch Prophet, as well as Meara O’Reilly’s a capella medieval hocket compositions performed by vocalists Mingjia Chen + Linnea Sablosky.
Bridging global underground communities with the local music scene, Pique will also feature local artists including pop songwriter and DJ FIAMMA, experimental rap/breakbeat duo jules filmhouse + Infatuation, local nightlife connoisseurs Jayel and ttrills, and expectation-defying drag from Sunshine Glitterchild and Kiki Coe.
Plus, striking installations from Aylin Abbasi and Carmina Miana presented in partnership with Bourse Tontine in recognition of International Women’s Day, playful inflatables by Studio Rat, and the opening of a solo exhibition by multidimensional local artist Bucko in SAW Gallery. With more than 15 artists, three stages and four installations across two days of programming, there is so much to experience at Pique!
As always, tickets to Pique are pay-what-you-can with a suggested price range of $45-75 (taxes and fees included), or choose-your-own-price. Tickets are available here.
Lineup
Friday March 7:
Saturday, March 8:
Meara O'Reilly's Hockets For Two Voices - performed by Mingjia Chen + Linnea Sablosky