It feels that every summer in Halifax brings with it a number of negatives. Bugs buzzing around everywhere. Humidity that can make your skin sweat off. The recurring fear of forest fires.
All of these feelings are valid, but there are also plenty of positives. Taking a dip in the local lakes and visiting beaches. Walking down the street in your favourite shirt and shorts with no need for a jacket. Local ice cream, and local beer gardens.
What really makes summer a positive experience, in this writer’s opinion, are the soundtracks that go along with all of the memories we make. The songs we listen to as we camp out with our friends, take road trips to new destinations, or chill on the deck with an ice-cold drink in hand.
To prepare you for all the memories you’ll be making, we’ll be taking a look at some recent local albums and artists you could be listening to. Better yet, some of these folks have performances you could be attending this summer amongst some of the bigger acts coming to Halifax, of which there is a list provided by The Coast.
Customer Service, to you, after 2000 years
Having released their second EP to you, after 2000 years on Valentine’s Day of this year, Halifax’s Customer Service is an indie rock band tinged with emo tones. They sound like the best college band you’ve ever seen, with lyrics that grapple with the complexities of troubled relationships and coming into yourself. It’s melancholic, but it makes for fantastic summer sunset music and is even better live. They’ll be playing at the Shore Club in Hubbards on July 31 and Aug. 1 if you can make the trip out. Be sure to keep an eye out for any other local dates as they frequent venues around the Halifax area often.
Jah’Mila, Woman of the Sun
Local reggae legend Jah’Mila is hot off an ECMA win for her 2024 album Woman of the Sun, a deep dive into the sounds of her home country Jamaica with plenty of local Halifax influence, including cameos from rappers Aquakulture and Kayo. It exudes confidence in bringing reggae to the forefront of local music—where it should be—and all in all will make you sway back and forth along with Jah’Mila’s soaring vocals and the excellently produced instrumentation. Jah’Mila’s next listed performance will be in October for her program with Symphony Nova Scotia, Jah’Mila’s Radiant Reggae Roots, and while that may be slightly outside of the scope of summer, as the album’s title suggests, her music is best listened to under the sun.
Ben Caplan, The Flood
Ben Caplan’s The Flood, releasing just in time for summer on May 30, is as beautiful as it is sinister. His gruff, low vocal range cuts through the resonating keys, with the title track in particular sounding like a song expertly crafted for a Disney villain. It’s musically complex, lyrically dense, and fun as hell. While Ben Caplan won’t be performing in Halifax until next December, he’ll be playing a free rooftop show at the Marigold Cultural Centre in Truro on Aug. 1 and a ticketed show at the Trinity United Church in New Glasgow and the Evergreen Theatre in Margaretsville on Aug. 9 and Aug. 16 respectively, all before heading on a cross-country tour in November. Check out Caplan’s new album and start prepping for a road trip to see him live.
Verry Gerry, Sunny Beaches
With an album title like Sunny Beaches, it isn’t hard to tell that Verry Gerry’s debut project is meant to be a summer listen, and he nails those vibes well. Loose but intricate instrumentation flow from track to track on this indie pop record, filled to the brim with gentle optimism. It is a stunning debut project from Keith Doiron, with songs that you’ll be humming to yourself throughout the summer season. Keep an eye on Doiron’s Instagram page for any upcoming performances, as he often frequents local venues.
June Body, Last Everythings
June Body’s Last Everythings, released in 2024, is an album of shared heartbreak and learning to move on. It’s thematically melancholic: each song offers such an array of alt-rock sounds that feel right at home for the end of summer. This is a late August listen if there was any. If you want to sit in your feelings and think for a while, reflecting on all you’ve done and all you’ve left to do, wishing there was just a little more time, hoping for something to hang on to, this is the album for you. Choruses that will take permanent residency in your brain as you sit under the dying sunset, trying to figure out what’s next. This description may make it sound depressing, that’s not quite right—it’s just a different kind of optimism.
Maggie Andrew, DAY JOB
Halifax’s alt-pop songstress Maggie Andrew is continuing to make a name for herself, taking home awards for Rock/Alternative Release of the Year and African Canadian Artist of the Year at the ECMAs in May. Her 2024 EP DAY JOB is a rock-pop fusion full of personality, delivering on a girl-boss vibe that will have you singing along. Her most recent single “How to Sing for Money” is a continuation of that sound, proving that she’s a mainstay in the local music scene. She’ll be performing at the Nova Scotia Stampede this year in Truro along with Jimmy Rankin, Matt Anderson and Jodi Guthro, as well as a performance with Neon Dreams and Atay & Jax at the Shore Club in Hubbards.
Alexander Gallant, Rubber Monster Suit
The impeccable Alexander Gallant is as comedic and clever as he is emotionally conscious. His newest project Rubber Monster Suit is a perfect indication of that, mixing his dark humour with his will to find meaning in the crazy, messed up world we inhabit. It’s lyrically dense but not overly so, with his wordplay pairing beautifully with his finger-picked guitar. He’s one of Dartmouth’s premiere folk artists, and his new album deserves your attention, preferably as you sit on the deck with friends and reminisce about better—or worse—times.
This article appears in Jun 1-30, 2025.
