Ottawa venues host DIANA, The Wooden Sky in coming days

DIANA @ House of TARG on Friday, 9 p.m., $12

When DIANA released adebut album in 2013, the public's response took the Toronto band by surprise.

Carmen Elle, the band's singer, had just joined the group. They had jammed and put the record together in laid-back, piece-by-piece fashion. Suddenly without much of a buildup DIANA was in the spotlight, and record labels were calling. It was a lot to take in, so theystepped back for a few years to reassess.

Now, DIANA is back with a strong sophomore album that confirms the band's flare for crafting breezy, synth-heavy pop songs. Familiar Touch reveals a group that's grown more confident, with a feel that's somewhere between 80s New Romanticism and 90s dance music and really good.

For their show at House of TARG, they'll be joined by Mozart's Sister and Cabaal.

Morris Ogbowu @ Pressed on Saturday, 8 p.m., $5

Morris Ogbowu was born in Nigeria, but he's Ottawa-based these days. A relatively new voice in the Canadian hip-hop scene, he's already one of the brightest and most ear-catching, opening for acts like Polaris-nominated Toronto rapper Jazz Cartier.

Ogbowu's music speaks for itself. It's dark and graphic, with rhymes that don't shy away from topics like racial tensions and police brutality. That's balanced out by a soulfulness gleaned from Ogbowu's easy beats and groovy, textured samples.

Saturday's show at Pressed will be a night of quality hip hop, with fellow Ottawa rapper Henchman of the Bear Trap Gang collectivejoining Ogbowu on the bill.

I Can't Believe It's Not: TALKING HEADS @ St. Alban's on Saturday, 8 p.m., $20

Tickets are going quickly for the latest edition of Arboretum's "I Can't Believe It's Not" series. Past concerts have been dedicated to the likes of David Bowie and Fleetwood Mac and if you've gone to one, you'll know it's a good time. The latest focus of musical attention by the ICBIN crowd: Talking Heads.

The show will be made up of songs from the seminal band's first five studio albums, from 77through to Speaking In Tongues and the list of performers is as impressive as ever. It'll include members of The Acorn, Jon Hynes, Wooden Stars, Bonnie Doon and The Heavy Medicine Band, with opening sets by Fiver and The Luyas (who'll also join in the cover tune action).

They'll be burning down the house at this once in a lifetime show. Like,this must be the place you spend your Saturday night or you're on a road to nowhere, lyrically speaking.

The Wooden Sky's Annual Holiday Revue @ St. Alban's on Monday, 7 p.m., $25

St. Alban's is the place to be for another show, too on Monday. That's when the church hosts The Wooden Sky's Annual Holiday Revue for charity.

The concert has become a tradition for the Toronto indie-folk band, and since its inceptionthey've raised more than $15,000 for a variety of organizations.

Monday's show at St. Alban's marks the seventh edition,and the second time The Wooden Sky has brought the holiday concert to Ottawa. Proceeds will support Carty House, a local not-for-profit organization that provides transitional housing for female refugee claimants. If you choose to pay more than the requested $25 for your ticket, it'll mean a bigger donation to Carty House.