The Halifax Urban Folk Festival is coming up quickly, and their artistic director has one message to push to anyone interested in attending.
“If you’re sitting on your hands, thinking I’ll just pick up tickets at the last minute, you might want to think twice about that approach,” says Mike Campbell in an interview with The Coast.
This is set to be one of the best lineups yet for HUFF, which started back in 2010 under the stewardship of Campbell. On the Carleton stage will be JUNO award-winning artist Aysanabee (Friday, Oct. 3) and lead singer of the Old 97’s Rhett Miller (Saturday, Oct. 4) who will be playing along with an all-star band full of musical talent from Halifax. Both Aysanabee and Miller will be opening with songwriter circles featuring each other, as well as DeeDee Austin and Brett Matthews (for Aysanabee’s show) and Hearts of Kin and Jon Cornwall (Miller’s show).
Also performing is Irish-Canadian folk singer Irish Mythen, doing a 7:30pm and 9pm show on Thursday, Oct. 2. The proclaimed poet of demimonde himself Ray Bonneville is also set to play at the Carleton on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
As Campbell himself admits, HUFF isn’t just for folk music—it’s for storytellers of all kinds, no matter the genre.
“Because it’s song-based, it really has no constraints when it comes to genre,” says Campbell. “We can put any kind of songwriter in there.”
In that vein, he’s once again partnered with Troy Arsenault who Campbell says has been essential in organizing shows at the Seahorse Tavern and The Basement. The Seahorse will see St. John’s own Nick Earle & the Restless Hearts rock the place on Friday, Oct. 3, and New Brunswick’s The Monoxides take over on Saturday, Oct. 4. The Basement will feature a performance by Americana-blues band Pretty Archie on Thursday, Oct. 2.
Songwriting circles will be held at the Carleton throughout the week leading up to the headline shows. The first is on Monday, Sept. 29, featuring Andre Pettipas, Dave Sampson and Mo Kenney. Another will follow on Tuesday, Sept. 30 with Charlie A’Court, Joce Reyome and Logan Richard. Furthermore, there will be a youth songwriter’s circle on Sunday, Oct. 5 (applications to participate are open until Sept. 1).
“The lineup is great this year,” says Campbell. “I have full confidence we will sell everything out like we usually do.”
From local legends to national treasures, HUFF has attendees covered. In bringing artists like Miller, Campbell says he wants to show them that Canada’s east coast is accessible—and moreover, worth the trip—even if bringing a band and a big payout isn’t always in the cards. Sometimes it means giving artists bands with local all-stars. Other times it means giving them the space to explore where they’ll be playing.
“Everyone has heard about [Halifax’s] musical traditions, they understand the geography. They really want to come here, so giving them the opportunity to do it, where they can actually make some money, is hugely desirable for most people that I approach,” explains Campbell.
Sometimes, it’s just about showing artists a bit of old-fashioned East Coast hospitality.
“I don’t want people to fly in, do a show, and fly out. I will personally hop into my vehicle and take them anywhere they want to go… and I could show them cooler places than Peggy’s Cove.”
For tickets to any of the shows happening during the Halifax Urban Folk Festival, visit their website. As Campbell says, you may want to act fast before they’re sold out.
Correction: On Aug. 22, this story was updated to include the correct times for Irish Mythen’s shows.
This article appears in Aug 1-31, 2025.