7 things to do in Ottawa this week: June 7–13, 2026
illScarlett marks two decades with a hometown show; Noah Gundersen brings Seattle indie folk to the same night; a wet Sunday gives way to warm midweek windows.
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This week's weather splits into two acts: a damp start through Wednesday, then a warm stretch that peaks Friday before a thunderstorm arrives. Plan accordingly, because the best days to be outside land Tuesday through Thursday, and the marquee shows cluster on the weekend when the sky turns uncertain again.
Start with Friday night at the Bronson Centre, where illScarlett plays two shows—one at 7 p.m.—to mark 20 years since the Canadian rock and reggae band formed in 2001. The show carries real weight locally; this is a hometown milestone. If reggae-tinged rock is your lane, this is the one to circle. Same venue, same evening, Noah Gundersen takes the stage at 7:30 p.m., an American indie folk singer-songwriter from Seattle who trades in the quieter end of the singer-songwriter spectrum. Tickets run $45 USD. Both nights offer a rare double-bill moment if you're willing to pick a lane early and commit.
Tuesday evening at the 27 Club, Lia Pappas-Kemps, Rachel Bobbitt, and Hannah Vig share a bill at 7:30 p.m., with tickets from $23 CAD. Pappas-Kemps describes herself as a starry-eyed hillside songwriter—understated and introspective. The 27 Club's intimate room makes this the kind of show where you actually hear what's happening, which matters when the artists are working at that scale.
Comedy lands at the National Arts Centre on Friday and Saturday, June 12 and 13, when Josh Johnson brings his comedy band across three performances. Johnson has built a following by blending stand-up with live musicianship, which translates to something closer to a concert than a traditional comedy set.
Beyond the venues: Sparks Street is getting 13 new murals celebrating Canada's provinces and territories this month, with the Canadiana Block wrapping by July 1. If Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon calls for a walk, Sparks is worth the circuit. The weather hits 28°C on Tuesday and holds warm through Thursday, so outdoor time is free real estate you should take.
For dinner anchoring your evenings, Meet Noodle 又见壹面 on Baseline Road offers straightforward Asian cooking that pairs well with an early show; Bistro Ristoro serves Italian across a compact menu if you want something more refined before heading to the Bronson on Friday. A cozy indoor meal also makes sense on Sunday or Wednesday when rain moves through.
That's Bananas opened recently on Baseline Road with Brazilian street food—pastéis and coxinhas from sisters running a new café—if you want something genuinely fresh to the city this week. The city's own recent food story is worth tasting: BeaverTails, the local pastry institution, has partnered with Kraft Dinner for the summer, serving KD-topped hot dogs and poutine. It's gimmicky, but it's the kind of thing Ottawa loves—the familiar made absurd.
If you have one evening to burn, Friday at the Bronson for illScarlett's 20-year show is the call. A band celebrating two decades in their own city, on a night that still holds decent weather, in a room where you'll actually connect with what's happening. That is a complete evening.