The Band
Jasen Colson
Drums / Lead Vocals
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, flavourful piano and keyboard stylings and his soaring vocal range to various bands. He has cut 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'. Jasen has most recently been the drummer on Terrence & The High Flyers debut and sophomore LPs 'Butterfly Window' & 'Lovers Lane'. 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 Garden Variety as well as being a solo performer behind the piano. He can also been seen streaming live via his Twitch channel (twitch.tv/jasencolon) three times a week. His versatility and professionalism (not to mention cheery disposition) make him a joy to both those he performs with and those he performs to.
Ryan Wheatley
Bass / Lead Guitar / Vocals
After picking up his first guitar at 12 years old, Ryan knew he wanted to be a musician. He has been playing guitar and bass in venues across Ontario ever since then. After graduating Algonquin College’s Music Industry Arts program, he worked at the infamous Zaphods as a sound tech. This allowed him to watch hundreds of amazing bands and deepened his love of performance. These days, when he isn’t on stage with Garden Variety, he teaches music and coaches bands at the School Of Rock. While he listens to and performs a wide variety of music, Ryan draws his influence from bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Radiohead.
Chris Gagnon
Lead Guitar / Vocals
Chris Gagnon’s guitar playing has been accompanying musicians in the local music scene for several years. A former jazz student at the highly-regarded Concordia University music program, his versatility and adaptability have allowed him to appear on stages for artists such as Nashville recording artists Chris Labelle (formerly of River Town Saints) and Jordan Macintosh. Chris has been making his mark in the Ottawa music community with freelance session work and has had the opportunity to travel across Canada supporting artists of all genres.
Terrence O’Brien
Rhythm Guitar / Lead Vocals
Writing and performing in various projects since the age of 12, Terrence has always had an interest in music and its many forms. He plays a mean rhythm guitar but by far his favorite part of the live show is singing and landing a solid 3-part harmony with the others. He says he listens to ‘absolutely everything’ but has a strong affinity for the sounds and styles of yesteryear. His love of 60s and 70s vintage is readily apparent in the long hair as well as his songwriting and playing style. Always working away either in the studio on some sort of recording or writing the next album for his project ‘Terrence & the High Flyers’, he likes to stay busy.
Matt Spafford
Bass Guitar / Vocals
Matt picked up the bass at just seven years old and was performing live before he hit his teens. Driven by a passion for music and community, he launched a grassroots promotion agency in Ottawa to book touring acts from across North America and Europe—an early sign of his dedication to building scenes, not just playing in them. In 2016, Matt co-founded Ottawa emo outfit Castlefield, recording and touring extensively until 2019. He has since worked as a sought-after session bassist, touring with a number of Canadian and U.S. artists. A career highlight came in 2024 when his indie-rock project Hopper hit the main stage at Ottawa Bluesfest, sharing the bill with the likes of 50 Cent and Mt. Joy.
Today, Matt continues to be a fixture in Ottawa’s live music scene, performing solo and as a member of Garden Variety, as well as with other projects including Dolonia, The Water’s Edge, and The Morning Glories—a tribute to Oasis. Whether laying down low-end grooves or bringing big energy to the stage, Matt brings professionalism, versatility, and heart to every performance.