In the grand tradition of outsider music and art festivals in Canada, OBEY stands at the top. Like its contemporaries (your Wyrd Fests, your Somewhere There Festivals, your Toronto Thaws, your Festival International de Musique Actuelles), for seven years running, OBEY pushes boundaries, defies genres and stokes creative fires. Art In Fest, OBEY’s standalone contemporary art festival begins Tuesday, May 20, harnessing emerging local and visiting artistic talent into galleries and alternative spaces. It’s one sacred week for weirdos, so open your head and take it all in.
This article appears in May 15-21, 2014.
Another incredible Obey Convention is in the books. I can’t remember which one I first attended, but it was awhile ago – at least five years, and with each passing year, I continue to be further blown away by the awesome, varied eclectic acts we in Halifax are fortunate enough to be exposed to thanks to the folks responsible for Obey. I’ve lived a lot of places and seen a LOT of great shows, but the Obey Convention is turning into one of my favorite and consistently memorable opportunities to experience true art and be exposed to some incredible talent and meet like-minded souls from my own backyard and beyond. Thanks to everyone who puts this amazing thing together. I am already looking forward to next year and the surprises it has in store. BRAVO