Cape Breton-born Daniel MacNeil couldn’t think of a better fit for his band, Nafas, than the Halifax Jazz Festival. Just like in the jazz genre, improvisation is a big part of Nafas’ traditional Arabic/Turkish music. “It’s actually obligatory in Arabic and Turkish music to improvise, you’re not allowed to play the music without improvising,” says […]
Rebecca Zimmer
Posted inArts + Music
David Virelles Continuum
David Virelles is no stranger to the international jazz scene, especially when it comes to Halifax Jazz Festival both as a solo performer and with his band, Continuum. The Cuban-born pianist was seven years old when he started to study music. “I grew up in a musical household so I was around music since I […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Waterfront wants public voice in Bedford
This week, residents of Bedford will have an opportunity to discuss the waterfront development that has been on hold for almost four years. The Mill Cove development was stopped after the release of the Bedford Waterfront Planning Study in June 2010. Though the report claimed residents were consulted about plans to develop the area, Waterfront […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Tool time
If you need a hammer, you buy one. But what if you could save money, and space, by borrowing one? A group is working to provide this service to the HRM with the Halifax Tool Library, opening in June in the north end. “Part of the beauty of the idea is the simplicity,” says Lars […]
Posted inArts + Music
Welcome to comedy town: Our Ha!ifax ComedyFest coverage
Celebrating 19 years of cracking wise, the Ha!ifax ComedyFest takes over stages and brick walls until April 26. We talk to seven clever comedians—Greg Proops, Orny Adams, Ian Black, Doug Mutai, Steph Tolev, Kaitlin Shuvera and DeAnne Smith—to help you fill your comedy dance card. Click here
Posted inArts + Music
DeAnne Smith’s been everywhere, man
If you ever heard “Nerdy Love Song,” “No Worries” and the more recent “Consensual as Fuck,” you know DeAnne Smith can kill it on the vocal front. If you’ve seen her performances at Just for Laughs, Melbourne Comedy Gala, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, you know she can slay on stage talking about everything from looking like […]
Posted inArts + Music
Steph Tolev is feeling your mustache vibe
When asked how she would describe her act, Toronto native Steph Tolev says she’s “high- energy, self-deprecating and kind of silly. I think I’m saying things that other women are feeling. Hearing a woman talking about her mustache on stage is kind of like, ‘Oh, it’s OK if we have one. We’re allowed to talk […]
Posted inArts + Music
Mayworks Festival starts today
The Mayworks Festival is back and organizer Sébastien Labelle says this will be the most diverse festival in the five years the festival’s been running. “We really are building a festival frame around the events, we want to recognize first where the festival is happening, on Mi’gmaq territory, but also recognize that when we are […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Queen Street’s having a mega yard sale
What better way to celebrate spring than having a yard sale with friends, especially when those friends all own stores along Queen Street’s vintage row. Amanda Bulman, owner of The Attic: Vintage and Vinyl (1526 Queen Street) credits Sherry Lynn Jollymore and Amy Honey, owners of Fancy (1526 Queen Street), with the idea, saying they […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
The Big Ride’s Halifax detour
Clara Hughes may be biking across Canada to raise awareness for mental health issues across the country, but local programs are reaping the rewards. When the Olympic medalist decided to make a stop in Halifax for Clara’s Big Ride on Tuesday, April 15, the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia knew this was a golden […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Come what anime
Matt Rawle hopes to brings Japanese culture to Barrington Street, but not by opening up a new sushi place. His Japanese culture shop, Hibiki Anime Shop (location TBA), will focus on anime and manga products, everything from figurines to posters to DVDs. “I know when I was growing up, I would have killed for there […]
Posted inArts + Music
Artceleration tonight!
Art has the power to change lives, and that’s what Haligonians are going to see at Youth Art Connection’s Artceleration concert tonight at BridgeCAT in Dartmouth. The event will showcase the numerous young adults in Halifax that have worked with YAC founders Ryan Veltmeyer and Ann Denny on building and marketing their passions. “What we […]