03/20/2026
Hello everyone,
We wanted to take a moment and provide an update on our plans for 2026.
After much discussion and deliberation, we have decided to press pause for this year. We will not be organizing a festival in 2026, and we’re taking a break from producing and promoting shows.
We didn’t come to this decision lightly. The festival means a lot to us and we know this kind of thing means a lot for Ottawa. We presented the 5th edition of the festival in 2025 and while relishing that accomplishment, we’ve also been thinking about how to balance the capacity of a small team of volunteers with how we want to continue operating Side By Side to participate in the music scene and contribute to the community; so we’re going to get some rest and regroup.
It’s a humbling and rewarding experience to build something for people to connect and participate. We are so grateful for the privilege of serving the community, for everyone who has been part of the festival and our events in any way, and for everyone who has reached out so far about working together this year.
This is not “goodbye”, this is a “see you around the scene”. Tony plays in the band .party, Fabien performs as .mosh and organizes Social Club, and Eric goes to a ton of shows all over town. Come say hi!
Please continue supporting local events, artists, and organizers. Keep it up, Ottawa. We’ll be right here.
With peace and love,
Tony, Fabien, and Eric
PS / ICYMI: We’ve working with a great group of students at for their upcoming event April 18th at .613 Give them a follow and join us at the event!
