Halifax has spoken—these are the best bands of 2024

Music critics the world over have argued that bands are a dying art form.

Music-making has become more accessible than ever due to the prevalence of digital audio workstations. Solo acts with teams of producers dominate pop music charts. Getting musicians with varied instruments in a room to create became difficult during the pandemic. If we were to look exclusively at what sells, we could conclude that bands are a fragment of the past—a holdover from previous generations.

However, this is a rather pessimistic outlook on bands and their relevance. While you won’t see many bands charting the Billboard 200, passionate musicians will always come together to deliver upon a shared vision. Nothing is more healthy for music culture than a group of friends shredding on a stage in a local club, or a duo crafting intricate tunes for their next album from their home studio. While music creation can be an individual endeavour, making music with friends will always be a source of enjoyment for both musicians and listeners.

Collaboration is at the heart of what makes music such a profound art form, and with Halifax’s music scene growing stronger and stronger every year, so too is the selection of bands that you can hear in venues across the city.

Thankfully, our readers have narrowed down seven of the city’s top bands to contend for our annual Best Band award as part of The Coast’s Best of Halifax Reader’s Choice Awards. Consider this a guide to help you navigate through these nominees so you can choose your favourite during our voting period, which is open right now.

The Town Heroes

Our winner from Best of Halifax 2023, The Town Heroes is a mainstay in the Halifax music scene. Fronted by musicians Mike Ryan and Bruce Gillis, the band has many accolades to their name, including 13 Music Nova Scotia Awards and five East Coast Music Association Awards. They deliver alternative rock with a singer-songwriter focus, blending the energy of the former with the introspection of the latter. Their latest album, SINGIN’, builds on this concept through telling vignettes, reflecting on memories and what they mean to us. The Town Heroes give it their all, whether it be in their recordings or when they’re taking the stage, and they’ll be a difficult band to dethrone from The Coast’s number-one spot.

Where Giants Once Stood

Halifax metalheads Where Giants Once Stood have had an impressive year, releasing two new singles in 2024—one, a rage-fuelled banger shredded to perfection in “Try As I May”, and the other, an acoustic cover of “Kryptonite” by 3 Doors Down. They also perform a whole host of rock covers on their popular Twitch channel, highlighting their strength as a cover act while steadily growing a dedicated fan base online.

Michelle Ryder and Side Hustle

This Dartmouth-based six-piece, led by the soaring vocals of one Michelle Ryder, covers a wide array of songs from different genres, all while working on some original tunes. Most notably, the band released two new singles this year— ”Lie To Me” and “Closer To You”, both drenched in ’80s rock nostalgia. It seems Ryder and Side Hustle are picking up speed, and they’re worth keeping an eye on as they release more original music.

Skunk Motel

This all-femme Halifax-based punk outfit has all but smashed its way into the music scene. From playing Nova Scotia Music Week showcases to supporting Sloan in Cape Breton, Skunk Motel was recognized for their loud and moody sound during last year’s Best Of Halifax, where they took home Bronze for Best Punk Band and Silver for Best New Band. With their highly-anticipated debut EP on the way along with several upcoming live shows, Skunk Motel is an act worth following.

Wintersleep

This indie rock band is a veteran of the Halifax music scene with seven studio albums under their belt and having supported high-profile acts such as Pearl Jam. While it’s been a few years since we’ve heard any new material from the band, Wintersleep still performs regularly and will be supporting Our Lady Peace during their cross-country reunion tour in March 2025. They have also teased an upcoming album on their Instagram to look forward to.

Customer Service

Last year’s runner-up in our Best Band category is back again for another shot at the title. This time, Customer Service is fresh off the release of their debut EP, Live More Forever, a love letter to mid-2000s emo with contemporary influences. They are also quite the live act, recently supporting NOBRO during the Halifax Urban Folk Festival in a passionate performance that saw three-fourths of the band shirtless by the end. Momentum will certainly keep building for Customer Service as they perform throughout Canada during the fall.

Convulsion

This metal band is making waves through shows across the city. Convulsion’s blend of groove and death metal inspired by Slipknot, Pantera and Gojira has earned these up-and-comers a hard-fought win at The Pavillion’s Battle of the Bands this year. They are currently working on their debut album with a DIY mentality, funding it through donations and shows. According to social media posts from the band, it’s “halfway done”. For now, they have a demo out on streaming platforms of their song “Gutless”.