Friday night was a great night to be outside enjoying live local music as Spectrasonic presents: Under The Stars kicked off its first night at the SAW Courtyard in Ottawa.
The evening featured four Ottawa acts which were Linhri, Elle Sherlock, Scary Bear Soundtrack and The New Hires.
Each bringing their own distinct sound and energy to the courtyard.
Opening the night was the duo Linhri, who eased the audience into the evening with their experimental ambient-electronic and shoegaze sound.
Their atmospheric performance created an immersive start to the night, blending electronic textures with dreamy, hazy sounds.
Next up was Elle Sherlock, bringing a darker edge to the evening with her dark-pop and alternative sound.
Her set added another layer of contrast to the lineup, shifting the mood while keeping the night moving.
I mostly came out to see and support Scary Bear Soundtrack, who were celebrating the release of their album past tense future memory.
They put on a great set of indie dream alt-pop, delivering the kind of hazy and melodic performance that made their set one of my highlights of the night.
It was especially nice to see them celebrate the release in front of a local crowd.
Closing out the first night was The New Hires, who brought the energy back up with their lively indie alt-rock set.
Their performance was a fitting way to end the evening, leaving the courtyard on an upbeat note.
Overall, the first night of Under The Stars was a wonderful Friday night of local music.
From Linhri’s experimental ambience and Elle Sherlock’s darker alternative pop to Scary Bear Soundtrack’s dreamy indie sound and The New Hires’ energetic alt-rock, the lineup showcased the variety and creativity coming out of Ottawa’s music scene.
There is something special about being outside on a summer night, surrounded by people supporting local artists and enjoying live music together.
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