Come party! Empress Effects is celebrating 20 years of sonic innovation—and you’re invited.

Hosted at Ottawa’s historic and iconic Saint Brigid's Centre for the Arts, this all-day music and gear event combines a 20th anniversary party, pedal and guitar expo, and live music performances to bring you the world’s first Music Festiversary (“Musexpedal Festiversguitary” didn’t have the same ring to it, but you get the gist).

Meet over 25 pedal and guitar makers from around the world and try out their incredible products in our interactive showroom. Catch live performances by Menno Versteeg (of Hollerado), Boyhood, Tyler Larson (Music is Win), True Cuckoo, Ottawa’s own F8-bit, and Andy Pitcher. Every ticket includes tokens to play the Clawmpress—a frickin’ Empress-branded claw machine packed with prizes—and yep, there’s a cozy pub downstairs serving food and drinks all day.

With all this and more, this is the first (and only) Music Festiversary you don’t want to miss.

Tickets / Passes


General Admission + Menno Versteeg & Boyhood - $45 

Includes everything in the General Admission tier (see below), plus exclusive access to the evening performance by Menno Versteeg (of Hollerado), with Boyhood opening. This special show will close out the Festiversary.

General Admission - $10

For only $10, you get access to a full day of gear, music, and prizes. Your ticket includes:

Featured Musicians

Catch clinics and performances from some of the most exciting artists in the gear world:

  • Tyler Larson (Music is Win) – clinic

  • True Cuckoo – clinic & performance

  • F8-bit – performance

  • Andy Pitcher – clinic & performance

Want to see Menno Versteeg and Boyhood? Grab the $45 ticket above!

Pedal & Guitar Showroom

Meet and try gear from over 25 boutique pedal and guitar companies:

  • Belvedere Instrument Co

  • Caroline Guitar Co

  • Chase Bliss

  • Demedash Effects

  • EarthQuaker Devices

  • Electronic Audio Experiments / Asheville Music Tools

  • Fairfield Circuitry

  • Fish Circuits

  • Frank Brothers Guitars

  • GUPtech

  • Hologram Electronics

  • KGR Harmony

  • Lewis Guitars

  • Matthews Effects

  • Mayfly Audio

  • Meris

  • Millimetric Instruments

  • Montreal Assembly

  • Old Blood Noise Endeavors

  • Poly Effects

  • Robertson Amplification

  • SolidGoldFX / Diamond Pedals

  • Summer School Electronics

  • Supercool Pedals

  • Templo Amplification Devices

  • Winnipeg Electrical Co

Clawmpress Tokens

Your ticket includes 5 tokens for the Clawmpress—our Empress-branded claw machine stocked with guitar pedals, merch, plushies, and more.

Empress Art Installation

Walk through 20 years of Empress history via a custom multi-station installation, created by Montreal artist and musician Amery Sandford.

Music Performances

The Empress Effects Music Festiversary isn’t just about celebrating our 20th anniversary—it’s also a celebration of the incredible musicians who use our pedals. Throughout the day (included with General Admission), you’ll catch performances by Andy Pitcher, F8-bit, and True Cuckoo. The event wraps up with a special evening show by Menno Versteeg (of Hollerado), with Boyhood opening. The full schedule will be announced soon, so stay tuned!

Pedal & Guitar Demos

Come try the gear you’ve been drooling over, live and in person. With over 25 pedal and guitar makers exhibiting, the Festiversary Showroom is your chance to get hands-on with some of the most innovative, sought-after tools in the scene.

Want to know who’s coming? The full list is above—and yes, it’s stacked.

Clinics

Take a break from trying gear yourself and learn how some of the best in the industry do it. Throughout the day, you’ll have the chance to sit in on exclusive clinics with Andy Pitcher, Tyler Larson (Music is Win), True Cuckoo, and even Menno Versteeg (of Hollerado). Come get inspired!

The Clawmpress Claw Machine

Every Festiversary ticket includes tokens for the Clawmpress, our custom Empress claw machine that’s loaded with prizes. From pedals and shirts to plushies and surprise gear, you never know what you’ll walk away with… but it’s gonna be good.

Empress’ Art Installation

We’ve teamed up with Montreal artist and musician Amery Sandford to create a one-of-a-kind, multi-sensory art installation. Each station pairs an original poster by Amery with a curated set of Empress pedals and a ZOIA running a unique loop. As you explore, you can interact with the pedals to shape and transform the sound in real time—meaning the music of the Festiversary is, quite literally, in your hands. It’s part art show, part pedal demo, part living soundtrack.

Venue Details & Accessibility

Accessibility

Please note that this is a heritage building and it is not wheelchair accessible. The restrooms are located on the lower level, and there is no elevator or ramp connecting the upper and lower floors. Using stairs is needed to access any part of the building.

Food & Beverage

There will be food and beverages available for purchase at the Brigid’s Well Pub (located on the lower level of Saint Brigid’s). 

Parking

The venue does not have any public parking.

Street Parking

The City of Ottawa allows up to 3 consecutive hours of street parking anywhere within the city limits unless otherwise indicated. You can therefore park on any street near the venue, provided that parking is permitted - please refer to the posted signage for exact parking regulations and payment requirements. (Review the City of Ottawa Parking Restrictions in advance). Street parking directly adjacent to the venue includes:

  • 1 hour street parking on St. Patrick Street

  • 2 hour street parking on Cumberland Street

  • 2 hour street parking on Murray Street

Parking Garage

The City of Ottawa has a parking garage available nearby that is only a 4 minute walk to Saint Brigid’s:

DALHOUSIE GARAGE (LOT 5)

Entrance 1: 141 Clarence Street

Entrance 2: 162 Murray Street

  • Maximum vehicle height: 2 metres

  • 459 total spaces, six accessible spaces

  • Two Electric Vehicle charging stations, two Communauto car-sharing spaces

RATES:

Monday to Friday

  • 6 am to 6 pm: $1.50 per 30 min, $14 max

  • 6 pm to 6 am: $1.25 per 30 min, $5 max

Saturday, Sunday and holidays:

  • 6 am to 6 pm: $1.25 per 30 min, $6 max

  • 6 pm to 6 am: $1.25 per 30 min, $5 max

Parking Lots

There are two, independently operated parking lots within a 4 minute walking distance to Saint Brigid’s (both offer a flat rate / day rate):

  • Corner of St. Patrick Street and Dalhousie Street; and

  • 227 Dalhousie Street.

There is also an ImPark parking lot located within a 7 minute walking distance to Saint Brigid’s:

 

June 12, 2025