Primary Colours piano trio performs free concert on a boat down the Rideau Canal
The Canadian jazz ensemble plays a 90-minute set aboard a musician-packed boat starting near the NAC on Saturday, August 8. Find a spot along the canal and let the music come to you.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Primary Colours — a Canadian piano trio building from jazz traditions with influences from Robert Glasper, GoGo Penguin, and Tigran Hamasyan — will perform a free 90-minute concert from a boat drifting down the Rideau Canal on Saturday, August 8, starting at 4:30 p.m.
The trio features Deniz Lim-Sersan on keys, Chris Pond on bass, and José Hernandez García on drums. Their sound blends acoustic and electric elements, moving between head-nodding grooves and soulful melodies driven by improvisational virtuosity.
The boat launches near the NAC under the Rideau Street Bridge and arrives at Lansdowne Park approximately 45 minutes later, then returns. The National Arts Centre recommends finding a spot along the canal — not at the starting point — where you can hear the boat approach and continue past. Pack a picnic, bring folding chairs, and let the music come to you. If you want more than a glimpse, you can cycle along to keep up with the boat, which moves faster than walking pace.
The concert is free and requires no tickets.
Before you go
When and where does Primary Colours perform?
Primary Colours performs on Saturday, August 8, 2026, starting at 4:30 p.m. aboard a boat on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, launching near the NAC under the Rideau Street Bridge.
Do I need a ticket?
No, the concert is free and requires no tickets.
How should I watch from the canal?
The National Arts Centre recommends positioning yourself along the canal rather than at the launch point so you can hear the boat approach and continue past. You can bring a picnic and folding chairs, or cycle alongside the boat to keep up with it.
How long is the concert?
The concert is 90 minutes long.
