The Magic Machine
Exactly what you're looking for.
We create surprisingly hummable, temptingly strummable original tunes composed and performed in a manner that it is certain to make you smile. Our on-stage antics and comedy bits will make you laugh. Our lyrics will make your heart skip a beat. Our finale will make you a lifetime fan.
Our premiere EP was released in December 2018! Check it out on our music page!
Jumpin' Joel Flash
JOEL ELLIOTT
Bandmaster
INFLUENCES
Van Morrison, Little Feat, The Allman Brothers, The Rolling Stones, Zappa, John Hiatt, Weird Al Yankovic, 10cc, The Band, The Darkness
OTHER BANDS
Barrelhouse, Fuzzy Bunny Slaughterhouse, Tears from a Rainbow
THEATRE
Phantom of the Opry (Brett Kelly Entertainment) - 2017 - Composer/Musical Director
My Fair Zombie (Brett Kelly Entertainment) - 2016 - Freddie
FILM
Ghost Houndz - 2018 - Luthor
Countrycide - 2017 - Mike
Ghastlies - 2016 - Brock
BIO
Joel is an entertainer, composer, singer, and sometimes actor who developed his
on-the-fly style and triple-octave range through pure repetition. Non-stop rock with various bands and theatre productions over the course of 17 years.
Growing up, Joel played 2nd trumpet in the school band. But singing was really what got him going, and so when he hit the ripe age of 20, he joined his first band, squawked into the mic and never looked back. Since then, he’s played countless shows, written/cowritten dozens of songs, and even composed the score to a musical one time for fun.
Joel is the co-host of The Monday Special Blend on CKCU FM, as well as the Tuesday Open Mic night at Live! on Elgin! Since 2018, he has sat on the Board of Directors for the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition.
In 2017, Joel left his 12-year marketing career to be a full time musician. Let’s see how this plays out.
The Ghost Lights
ROBIN HODGE
Vocals & Tomfoolery
INFLUENCES
Queen, Scissor Sisters, Mother Mother
THEATRE
The Wolves (Theatre Kraken) - 2020 - #00
Othello (Theatre Kraken) - 2018 - Emilia
My Fair Zombie (Brett Kelly Entertainment) - 2016 - Eliza Doolittle
FILM
Ouija Shark - 2020 - Kim
Countrycide - 2017 - Abby
BIO
Robin loves acting, painting and singing. To view her art and other projects, check her out on Instagram! She also occasionally moonlights as her alter-ego, Vera, the plastic-surgery-addicted alien. Check out her Youtube channel!
ZOE TOWNE
Vocals & Sweet moves
INFLUENCES
Taylor Swift, Kate Nash, Frankie Cosmos
OTHER BANDS
Valois
THEATRE
Eddie May Mysteries - 2016-2020 - Olive, Paige, Holly, Sam
Ten Little Sinners (Dead Unicorn Ink) - 2019 -Amelie Blunt
Rideshares and Rope Swings (Two Kind Boys) - 2016 - Gen
FILM
Ouija Shark - 2020 - Jen
Murder in High Heels - 2019 - Ivy
The Dark Side - 2019 - Vanessa
BIO
Currently based in Ottawa, Zoe is an artist with her hands in a lot of cakes and disciplines. Providing vocals for 2 bands, and working as a professional film and theatre actor, you might think that she is too busy for much else, but she also works at a bakery, takes care of her rabbit Molly, and trims her own bangs. What a beast!
Strings & Things
BRAD CUTLER
Lead Guitar & VOCALS
INFLUENCES
Alestorm, KISS, The Darkness, Man-O-War, Foxy Shazam, Lionel Richie, Sarah McLachlan, Slayer, Three Inches of Blood, The Shaggs, Captain Beefheart
OTHER BANDS
Mr. Bojangles and the Mystic Penguin, Big Sister and the Pig Conspiracy, Fuzzy Bunny Slaughterhouse, Tears from a Rainbow
BIO
Brad plays guitar.
@darriusmcguillicutty
JIM MCDOWELL
Keys & Occasional Screaming
INFLUENCES
The Beatles, Iron Maiden, Zappa, Tom Waits, JS Bach, Charlie Winston, Anne Murray, Harry Connick Jr.
OTHER BANDS
Tulips & Devilships, Chris Landry & The Seasick Mommas, Krystal Jyl & the Jacks, TheVenDreddies
THEATRE
Hair (Act Out Theatre) - 2002 - Bass Guitar
BIO
Jim is a partner, a Father & manager at St. John’s Music in Ottawa. Born and raised in Nepean, Jim has been playing live music in the NatCap region since the mid 90’s. Jim’s fancy for jazz started in high school where he played bass and sang in a number of school & community ensembles.
Though piano was his first instrument, it was only in recent years that he has been an active piano player on the scene, with the former focus being on bass or acoustic/electric guitar.
In 2017, Jim met the love of his life while rehearsing with Chris Landry & The Seasick Mommas, and the two of them started their own group; Tulips & Devilships. The combination of Life and Music partnership has take them to the East coast of Canada as part of VIA Rail’s Artist on Board program, various Ontario cities, Newfoundland, and all the way to Iceland!
When not playing music, Jim makes good bad jokes.
KIM VALENTINE
Ukulele & hype
INFLUENCES
Dolly Parton, Chris DeBurgh, Cher, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Mantra Music
FILM
Ghastlies - 2016 - Sloane
Raiders of the Lost Shark - 2015 - Rita (uncredited)
Homicycle - 2014 - Brock’s Girl 3
BIO
Kim Valentine is an Ottawa born multidisciplinary artist.
Starting as a child collecting buttons of interesting character, Kim always felt the need to make and create. The appetite may have been real, but there was no calling to anything in particular. So she tried everything... Cooking, macrame, knitting, drawing. Taking real pleasure in each new creative endeavour, she experimented ever more with her own creativity. When she began to paint, A new passion for art was born, and her fear of trying new mediums started to melt away, and in its place a desire for further exploration was born.
Kim creates art & art events from (and in) her home studio, affectionately called The Artery.
Rhythm
ASHLEY NEWALL
LEAD BASS
INFLUENCES
Ben Folds, The Beatles, Jellyfish, Kula Shaker, Supertramp, The Police, Lowest of the Low, Barenaked Ladies, Walter Ostanek
OTHER BANDS
Newall & the Gang, Sven @ Würk, Brown Paper Bag, Pyramids of Mars, Danielle Allard, Dave Norris & Local Ivan, Lisa Fowler & the Prowlers, The Big Bend, Shannon Rose & the Thorns, The New Directions, Reverse Time Travel
THEATRE
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - 1991 - Dirty Old Man
BIO
Ashley Newall was born in Aurora, ON, and as a singer-songwriter has released 5 EPs and one Greatest Hits double-album (entitled Greatest Misses). In 2006 he began on the multi-instrumentalist path playing percussion in Shannon Rose & the Thorns, who then forced him to take up bass -an instrument he took to instantly- when the bass player moved away.
Ashley hosted open mic nights in Ottawa for nearly a decade (and may someday take up the mantle again!), and also hosted his own battle-of-the-bands series, Play for the Pot. Along the way he's played Ottawa Bluesfest, Ottawa Jazzfest, and Junofest.
@ashleynewall
JASEN COLSON
DRUMS & vOCALS
INFLUENCES
Yes, Genesis, The Police, Alan Parsons Project, Elton John, Supertramp, Dream Theater, Bruford, Brand X
OTHER BANDS
Smokey Murder Sticks, Ignition, Progressive Jazz, The Shells, Twelve34, Kingston Fog, Siobhan, Epyllion, Tribe Royal, Jasen Colson Band, Brown Paper Bag, Sven @ Wurk, Mob Mentality, Laura Gagnon, Danielle Allard
THEATRE
Phantom of the Opry (Brett Kelly Entertainment) - 2017 - Keys
BIO
A performing singer since the age of eight and multi-instrumentalist since the age of 12, Jasen has made a name for himself as a versatile musician in the Ottawa scene. Jasen has lent his nearly 30 years of drumming chops to various bands, cutting numerous recordings as a band member as well as a session player.
Noteable projects include Danielle Allard's 2018 EP Passing Notes, Tribe Royal's 2018 double-A-side Road To Muscle Shoals (recorded by legendary producer Norbert Putnam) and his 2012 solo tour-de-force Tomorrow Is Another Day. As a live performer, Jasen has shared stages with some big names (Shania Twain as well as Irish punk legends Terry Woods and Phil Chevron to name a few) and has crossed continents on a few occasions.
He is currently a popular player in Ottawa's nightlife entertainment business and can be frequently seen as lead vocalist/drummer with Brown Paper Bag as well as the comedy music duo Sven @ Wurk. His versatility and professionalism (not to mention cheery disposition) make him a joy to both those he performs with and those he performs to.