History Ottawa, the city’s newest live music venue, will open to the public on Aug. 20, Live Nation confirmed to OBJ Monday.
In March, the entertainment company said the much-anticipated 2,000-seat venue would open at the corner of Rideau Street and Sussex Drive in August, but didn’t release the opening date.
The venue’s preliminary lineup runs from August to December and includes the following acts: The Wallflowers, Kaleo, The Pretty Reckless, Sabaton, Two Door Cinema Club, Bahamas, Marianas Trench, Talk and Wolf Parade.
“The venue located at 47 Rideau St. will feature state-of-the-art sound and lighting, alongside History’s signature, high-end hospitality, hosting a dynamic range of events – from concerts, live entertainment and galas to community programs and special events. Drawing hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors to the downtown core, the venue is poised to play a major role in revitalizing Ottawa’s entertainment district while driving meaningful economic impact,” Live Nation said in a press release in March.
The venue is expected to put on about 150 events annually, while employing 300 full- and part-time employees.
Speaking to OBJ last month, Ali Shafaee, regional vice-president of Live Nation Canada, said the new venue would also accommodate galas and corporate events with the addition of a 200-person event space and VIP lounge, something that doesn’t exist at the venue’s sister location in Toronto, which opened in 2021 in collaboration with Canadian rap artist Drake.
“Where History Toronto was very much focused on the music side – yes, it would have galas and awards, but it wasn’t a major focus – in Ottawa, it was important to be able to focus on being able to support other major events that happen in the city. We’ve designed the space in a way that the ByWard Market will be able to handle things like that.
“It’s a unique space that we can use during shows, but it works as its own individual space as well,” Shafaee said.
Shafaee said that when the doors open to the public, History Ottawa will bring “something that doesn’t exist in Ottawa.”
“The expectation is we’re going to be bringing a live entertainment venue that can literally do everything,” Shafaee told OBJ last month. “Musically, you’re going to expect everything from country to hip-hop to rock and dance music and Latin. We think the fan experience downtown, whether you’re coming in for a show and having dinner before and drinks after, will allow them to do something that they haven’t been able to do in Ottawa, which is really make a night out of it.”
