Join us for an unforgettable night at Gaia Farm!
Overview
Celebrate summer with soul-stirring live music at Gaia Farm, Ottawa. The Under the Stars Concert Series – Summer 2025 Edition invites you to experience intimate outdoor performances surrounded by forest, community, and warmth. Set against a serene natural backdrop, this event brings together local talent and heartfelt connection—just 15 minutes from the city center.
What’s included
Live acoustic & indie-folk perfoLive acoustic, folk, world, roots, and indie performances from local and touring artists
Outdoor concert space surrounded by nature
Farm harvested warm beverage
Post-show bonfire jam – open to musicians and guests
Relaxed atmosphere brings kids, picnics, and well-behaved pets
Rain-ready setup with tarps and covered areas to keep the music going
Why You’ll Love It
- Cozy, star-lit forest vibe under summer skies
- Authentic live music in a peaceful setting
- Family-friendly: bring the kids, your dog, your picnic basket
- Community-powered: a gathering of kindred spirits and creatives
What to Bring
- Picnic blanket, or chair for seating
- Reusable water bottles, snacks or dinner
- Your instrument (for the bonfire jam)
- Bug spray, flashlight, cozy layers for evening chill
- Friendly, leashed pets welcome
Post-Concert Jam
After the headliner finishes, the night continues with an open jam session by the fire. Bring your guitar, drum, flute—or just your voice—and join in!
Important Notes
- Outdoor propane heaters will be provided on cooler evenings
- Carpooling encouraged for sustainability
Concert Schedule
October 4th: Evan Runge & Akhil Ravindran Nair
Evan Runge has been playing violin since he was 8 years old. He attended the Conservatory of Music in Rimouski before obtaining a Master’s degree in music from the University of Ottawa. Evan has played with the Ottawa and Gatineau symphonies, regularly performs in retirement homes, and has recorded several albums with local bands. He currently plays with the OmBuds and has been teaching violin for over 20 years. Beyond music, Evan also teaches yoga and breathing techniques with the Art of Living Foundation.
Akhil Ravindran Nair is a talented musician who hails from Kerala, but was born and raised in New Delhi, India. Now based in Ottawa, he has studied Carnatic Classical music and Tabla for more than a decade. Akhil is a versatile musician who can play 13 instruments, primarily percussion. He has performed extensively across India, impressed audiences on a Malayalam reality show, and collaborated with prominent bands and artists. For the past 11 years, he has also shared his knowledge as a teacher with the Art of Living Foundation.
Together, Evan and Akhil bring a unique blend of Western classical and Indian classical traditions — weaving violin, percussion, and a wide range of influences into a dynamic, soulful performance. Their collaboration bridges cultures and captivates audiences with both technical mastery and deep musical expression.
Past Concerts
August 5th: Shawn Mcherson aka Seann Medicina
Seann is a singer-songwriter from Ottawa, Canada. He envelopes listeners with a distinctive blend of Folk, Rock and indie influences drawing from his life experiences and world travels. Weaving lyrics with elegant simplicity and robust honesty, he journeys through feelings of connection, vulnerability and empowerment with his dynamic guitar and versatile voice. Check out Seann’s Spotify Playlist.
August 23rd: Michael Peter Schimp Tremethick
Michael lives on three acres in SW Ontario, growing food, seeds, songs, trees, and moments. Michael believes life is ephemeral, and that art and music, like bread and stories, are best shared with friends. Michael’s songs are singer-songwriter personal mixed with rock love anthem and a scoop of slow blues.
September 6th: Choops McWilliams
Choops is a natural born creator. His first love was the guitar, he started playing at the age of 15 and hasn’t looked back! Choops has played in a variety of different bands and is best known for his powerful acoustic tribal folk sound. In his twenties Choops discovered his second love – crystals and soon became an expert, offering workshops on crystal healing and gridding. He too studied Horticulture and spent many years working with nurseries and landscape companies. He has also studied shamanism and has a beautiful relationship with the natural world. When not in the art studio Choops can be found making music just about anywhere or in the forest looking for sticks! He also sing along with her partner Penny as Sticks and Stones.
September 12th: Christophe Elie
Political Folksinger, Christophe Elie’s most recent album Bridging Borders is a collection of songs that explore both the beauty and challenge of those intersections of culture, language, geography and religion. His primary focus is local, mixing music, art and activism in the community, to protect the limited green space and keep issues of social justice top of mind. Elie also hosts a CKCU radio show called “Songs for the Revolution”, hosts a songwriters group in Ottawa called Writers’ Bloc. Check out more of his work here.
Christophe is offering a 1/2 hr. Introduction to Songwriting workshop as part of our event. September to June each year Christophe hosts a monthly songwriters gathering – “Writers’ Bloc” where aspiring to advanced songwriters meet to talk songwriting and share songs they’re working on. If you’ve ever thought about how to take the next step in your artistic expression, join Christophe for this interactive 1/2 hour focus on writing songs.
September 20th: Nikki Horton (Satira)
Nikki spent the better part of her early twenties exploring the wilds of Alaska, the Yukon, and British Columbia. Living off the grid, she encountered wild bison, tracked moose, made medicine from wild plants, and developed a deep, lasting connection to nature and the surrounding landscape. This is where her inspiration for all things was born.
For the past decade, she has been honing her skills as a naturalist, wilderness skills practitioner, and educator. She is currently the Executive Director of a non-profit organization called Earth Path in Ottawa, Ontario, where she helps connect people to nature. She is also an accomplished writer, musician, and a clinical herbalist.
September 26th: Raphael Weinroth-Browne
Internationally renowned Canadian cellist and composer Raphael Weinroth-Browne has been celebrated for his emotive and virtuosic playing both on stage and in the studio. He has performed on Juno Award-winning albums, appeared on major film and TV soundtracks, and created viral YouTube music videos.
Raphael has toured the world with the Norwegian progressive rock band Leprous and performed at Hellfest, the world’s biggest metal festival. In 2022, he played with Leprous at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall and opened for rock heavyweights Evanescence, Devin Townsend, and Apocalyptica.
His diverse collaborations span genres and cultures, ranging from Iranian to West African music. As a solo artist, he has opened for acclaimed acts including Polish neoclassical pianist Hania Rani, French Nordic folk ensemble SKÁLD, and the National Dance Company of Korea.
In October 2023, Raphael performed his acclaimed solo album Worlds Within with Ottawa Dance Directive in the National Arts Centre’s prestigious Southam Hall to a sold-out audience.
In 2024, he was commissioned by the UK-based company James Wilton Dance to create an original score for their latest work, BACH Reimagined, which he toured extensively with them across the UK and Germany in spring 2025.
Raphael will release his long-awaited second solo album, Lifeblood, in October 2025. Check out his discography on Spotify.
