Also Cool Mag

02/08/2025

Side by Side Weekend Marks Five Years of DIY at Club SAW

Read Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter and Rebecca Judd's review of the dazzling, community-forward fifth edition of Side by Side Weekend, held at Club SAW in Downtown Ottawa.

31/07/2025

Besties: our July recap newsletter just hit your inbox 💌🏃🏼‍♀️ A quick check-in during festival season and the peak of summer’s frenzy ☀️ Link in bio (but you should subscribe if you haven’t already 🫶🏻🙄)

31/07/2025

Check your inbox! 💌 Our July recap newsletter just dropped 🍦

Toronto Synth-Punk Outfit Slash Need Announces Debut Album With New Single "Double Dare" Is taking charge on your summer bucket list? Toronto synth-punk duo Slash Need has just the antidote. Released earlier this season, the pair's new single "Double Dare" will pump you up to make yourself heard. R...

28/07/2025

Sustaining Pique: Debaser’s Summer Success and the Road Ahead

Ahead of the fall 2025 edition of Pique, Debaser launches the Pique Sustainability Fund – to ensure a brighter, more dynamic arts and culture landscape across Ottawa and beyond. Learn more on Also Cool.

15/07/2025

Big gig announcement ‼️ Also Cool is stoked to be co-presenting Polaris Music Prize short-listers Ribbon Skirt alongside Gus Englehorn & cootie catcher at Toronto’s Project Nowhere on October 2nd at Nineteen Seventy Eight 🌀

Festival passes on sale now 💫 Individual day passes coming Friday, July 18th 🎟️

https://www.projectnowhere.org/

Graphics by Derek Mckeon

07/07/2025

On behalf of Also Cool Mag and Bird Lips Zine, THANK YOU to everyone who made The Show That Changed My Life a huge success❣️⚡️

This zine-making workshop celebrated the power of media and the magic of shared creativity 🎨 We were so blown away with your creations and enthusiasm!

Special thank you as well to Ten Toes Coffee House for fueling the fun ☕️🍕 Ottawa, we hope to do this again soon 💓

20/06/2025

HiTech Talks Detroit Punk, Anime and More at Pique (Video Interview)

HiTech Talks Detroit Punk, Anime and More at Pique (Video Interview)

14/06/2025

For those tired of playing nice, Slash Need dares you to talk back 🐾🗣️

The Toronto industrial performance art outfit announced the arrival of their debut album “Sit and Grin” with its lead single “Double Dare” — an explosive exploration of the emotional turmoil caused by feeling unheard in a friendship 🥀

Watch the “Double Dare” music video, co-directed by vocalist Dusty Lee alongside friends Katerina Zoumboulakis & Lea Rose Sebastianis, and editor Chris Levett, ahead of their performance at Ottawa’s Side By Side Weekend on July 25th at SAW Centre 🎥

Announcing the arrival of their debut album "Sit and Grin", Toronto synth-punk duo Slash Need shares their new single "Double Dare".

12/06/2025

Hey OTT, listen up 🎶 We’re partnering with on The Show That Changed My Life – a zine-making workshop celebrating the power of music, arts, and culture 💓

As curators and appreciators of live events, we’re constantly inspired by the magic of shared creativity. Join AC and BLZ at to grab a delicious bite/brew and create a zine inspired by the show that changed YOUR life!

🌟 July 3, 2025 | 6PM-8PM
📍 , 593 Bank St., Ottawa (please note that the event space is located down a flight of stairs and may not be accessible to everyone)
💸 Free to participate - but registration is required
📖 Zine-making supplies provided (or bring your own)
🍴Food and drink NOT included with registration – grab some while you work!

Link you-know-where to register 💓 Happy zine-making ✂️

10/06/2025

we are soooo back at on June 26th with & 🥵

We can’t wait to get fweaky 🤝 Live acts go first & then we’ll be communally DJing all night long 💋

Advance tix are available now via 🎟️ Tix will also be available at the door day of!

09/06/2025

What is the importance of connecting music lovers from urban and remote communities? BleuBleu Co-Founders Anne-Julie St-Laurent and Myriam Sophie Deslauriers sought out to do just that 7 years ago when they launched their music festival in the quaint town of Carleton-sur-Mer, Quebec. 💙🎶

Listen back to our audio interview with the minds behind one of the provinces most eclectic festivals - live now on the site! This year’s edition kicks off next Friday, June 20th ☀️

Photo by Elise Jetté

Now in its seventh year, Festival BleuBleu returns to Carleton-sur-Mer, Quebec, from June 20-23, 2025. The Co-Founders of this annual hidden gem event, Anne-Julie St-Laurent and Myriam Sophie Deslauriers, share what its like to make music festival magic in the remote eastern Canadian town.

05/06/2025

Fast, loud, & unfiltered 🌸 .i.t.s.collective invites to Montreal at this weekend 🥵 Get the scoop & your tix on our site 💋