Shannon Webb-Campbell

Local troubadour Jon McKiel is being pulled in every direction. While he ponders the great nature versus nurture debate, he finds himself home in Halifax for a few weeks—he holds postal codes both in town and in Calgary—with little free time on his hands. On the brink of releasing The Nature of Things, a 10-track […]

Newfoundland’s Don Brownrigg sounds like home. The displaced islander hangs his hat in Halifax, but the self-proclaimed stray will always belong to the landscape of the Codroy Valley. He celebrates his wandering ways with the release of Wander Songs, a debut full-length, with his wordy friend Tanya Davis at The Khyber on Friday night. “Tanya […]

Ontario’s bookish songwriter Nathan Lawr has added scholar to his lengthy list of talents, but will squeeze in a brief tour before returning to a rigorous academic timetable of history courses at Laurentian University. He rolls into town for an acoustic solo stint with FemBots and Rich Aucoin on April 28 at The Seahorse. “I’ve […]

Listen to “Tonight Tonite” off the album Pop-Up Book. On the afternoon before he leaves on tour with ever-expanding band The Sleepless Nights—Halifax’s version of Broken Social Scene—Matt MacDonald, a co-conspirator behind the peachy power-pop duo The Superfantastics, finds time to chat about their quirky, irresistibly adorable, full-length concept album Pop-Up Book. “My parents had […]

Age agrees with Jann Arden. known for her humorous zeal, hearty stance and sentimentally loaded songs “Insensitive,” “Good Mother” and “Could I Be Your Girl,” the prominent songwriter has reshaped her perspective, turned up the volume and transformed herself emotionally and physically. At 45 years old, she recently shed a reported 50 pounds, sifted through […]

Life as a touring Canadian musician is, at the best of times, wearisome. Three days into Jon-Rae and the River’s ambitious cross-country tour with The Constantines, the van breaks down and the band gets stranded in Newfoundland. Instead of huffing and puffing, the indie-rockers soak in the sights and sounds before making their way to […]

Brampton’s spontaneous concourse The Junction are a triad of energy, power and personality. The versatile group returns to Halifax to promote its debut self-titled full-length at Hell’s Kitchen on March 16. “Originally the band name came from a Jamiroquai lyric. We were in grade 9 at the time,” says bassist Matt Jameson, calling from Toronto. […]

Moncton’s group of disobedient misfits Rock’n Rebels roll into town this week for a gig with local revolutionary rockers War Pony and The Stolen Minks. The stellar rebellious line-up is forming to celebrate Rock’n Rebels’ third release Nocturnal Hearts, with a boozy, late night of punkabilly at The Speakeasy on March 10. “We describe our […]

Halifax’s Reels might have to steal some wheels—as the band’s track record for cross-country touring isn’t so promising. Last time the trio of tested musicians packed up and headed west, they returned home with a new automobile in tow. Their well mapped-out route begins with a CD release show for their sophomore album Autumn Country […]

Based on a 12-bar structure, blues music embodies a ballsy sense of catharsis, skilled inventiveness and an acute sense of musicianship. Often, blues lyrics are thickened with a sense of moody subjectivity, yet the rich melodies are a far cry from depressing, says Ottawa’s blues boy Steve Marriner, who rolls into town for a double […]