POST-PUNK & HARDCORE PUNK ROCK IN OTTAWA!

MOTORLOAF (ATL)
THE DARK PLAINS (OTT)
DOGS (TOR)

📅 FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2026
🕒 DOORS 7 PM
📍 AVANT GARDE BAR, 135½ BESSERER ST, OTTAWA, ON
🎫 ADVANCE TICKETS: $15
🔞 19+ SHOW

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EYNFMU42u/

THE DARK PLAINS (Ottawa) have been lurking on the fringes of the hardcore scene for several decades. Former members of The Grey, Shotmaker, Okara, Moutanaka, and Three Penny Opera. The Grey released on Lovitt Records and were one of the new non-local bands featured on Rubber Factory's Woodbridge Legion comp. Their drummer Hayden went on to play in METZ.

The Dark Plains groove and pummel at the same time, loud and heavy, developing moods that incorporate their post-hardcore history, and injecting soul into the somber dark emo landscapes they create. RIYL: Shotmaker, The Grey, Metz, Okara, Last Communion, Touching Earth Made Of Steel, Doom & Gloom.

MOTORLOAF (Atlanta) are visiting Canada for the first time. Featuring Nathan (Landmines), Bryan (Forsaken Profits), Pete (Black Cougar Shock Unit, Squadron), and Joel (BCSU, 40 Hells, Squadron). Their debut LP No Happy Endings (Anything But Radio Records) is 13 songs of fast, exciting melodic hardcore in the Dag Nasty tradition, with punchy drums, cutting bass, driving guitars, and vocals landing somewhere between early AFI, Glenn Danzig, and Nerve Agents. Wrapped in Jason Armadillo art so it looks like an old No Idea record. Praised by Razorcake and Artcore UK as an immediate attention grabber.

DOGS (Toronto) Early Pouzza alumni are back after a decade apart, playing their first shows in over 10 years. Dirty fuckin' rock with a punk-metal streak. Revisiting classic tracks like Scorpions of the Night from the 2003 Bottle of Smoke comp, plus Thunderballs and No Quarter Asked from their 2014 7-inch released on Rubber Factory Records and Team Japanadian. Recorded by Brownsound (Sum 41), handmade at Pouzzafest 4 on a picnic table beside the RV. Members of Drift Current, Summer of '92, ColdBlueSky.

Half of Motorloaf and John from DOGS met while touring the UK together years ago in Black Cougar Shock Unit. DOGS and sister band Coldbluesky played with the guys who became The Dark Plains back when they were The Grey in the early 2000s. Across time and space, post-punk and hardcore rock, there will be heavy reunion vibes from decades of friendship.

JDM

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