Monday, November 18 marks day one of CKDU 88.1FM’s annual funding drive, a week packed with events and a constant (reassuring?) on-air pledge-a-thon in support of the campus community station. Why should you fork it over? Get this: CKDU is open to all, with free monthly orientations for students and community members and over 100 […]
Stephanie Johns
flossin'
off on a natural charge bon voyage
Posted inArts + Music
Heart to Heartbeat
Filmed over five brisk fall weeks in Halifax, Emmy-nominated director Andrea Dorfman’s (Parsley Days, Love That Boy) newest film, Heartbeat wrapped last week, to be released by Mongrel Media in 2014. I had the good fortune of being a part of it—full disclosure, I play a small role as a musician in the film—and having […]
Posted inArts + Music
Danse Lhasa Danse—one night only
Live Art Dance’s latest production, Danse Lhasa Danse is a multi-discipline tribute to platinum award-winning songwriter and performer Lhasa de Sela. More of a music show than a dance performance, and slightly out of the ordinary compared to Live Art’s regular fare, Danse Lhasa Danse features vocalists Alejandra Ribeira, Karen Young, Bïa and Alexandre Désilets and […]
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Santiago’s cinema
Acclaimed Argentinian filmmaker Santiago Giralt will be in Halifax for a month starting Thursday, November 7, and if you don’t make the most of it, may god have mercy on your filmmaking (and/or film-loving) soul. The lauded independent filmmaker, actor, playwright and novelist was invited by AFCOOP and Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery to share […]
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Our poster past
In the 1990s, the art of Scott Tappen was Halifax’s visual representation to the prying eyes trying to take a peek at the “new Seattle.” Perhaps expecting to see a quaint fishing town that somehow tripped over grunge, Tappen’s posters were a point of pride—skillfully done, fun and inspiring. In short, he made us look […]
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Flip side
Not quite a year ago, Montreal jazz musician Peggy Hogan had some downtime after releasing a solo album. Idle hands are the devil’s tools and Hua Li was born. Using her Chinese name, Hua Li became Hogan’s alter ego, the ultimate bad bitch/femcee who runs the party and has the best makeup. “Hua Li was […]
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Islands are forever
“I don’t believe it’s the last record, but if it is, I think I will be satisfied with the body of work left behind. Ski Mask would be a graceful exit,” says Islands’ Nicholas Thorburn. “Stylistically, the music represents the entire catalogue and even the songwriting spans the last seven years, so it is an […]
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No Joy’s luck
“We do not wear earplugs and as a result are deaf which leads us to turn up our amps even louder,” says No Joy’s Jasamine White-Gluz. Fair enough, considering the intense wall of sound No Joy produces every night. With Laura Lloyd, White-Gluz’s reverb-heavy guitar fill every empty space of the Montreal band’s latest, Wait […]
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HPX by day
Halifax Pop Explosion started on Tuesday, but if you haven’t made your musical schedule yet, I’m here. Of course you should fit in everyone we wrote about too, but that’s on you. Thursday Today we’re making a rap-punk-garage rock sandwich, but don’t forget to eat real food on today’s journey. Bring some trail mix, your […]
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HPX day 1: OK ready let’s go
I live right around the corner from the Atlantica (AKA the HPX box office) and I really got to get right into the Halloween-for-adults-feeling of everyone running in to the hotel to get their passes last night. My first question to anyone reading this is what to do with my bracelet. Or rather, my arm […]
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How It’s Made: 22 Minutes edition
Continuing with the comedy avalanche that is a major part of the Halifax Pop Explosion, This Hour Has 22 Minutes Presents: Meet The Writing Team Behind the Comedy pulls back the curtain to reveal the wizards behind the long-running political comedy show (Thursday, October 24, 7pm, The Seahorse Tavern, $15). It’s one measure inside baseball, […]
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Killer style
Of Killer Mike’s July set at Chicago’s Pitchfork Music Festival, journalist Greg Kot wrote: “Atlanta MC Killer Mike puts his stamp on the festival as he gets choked up talking about hip-hop as a lifeline deeper than any political party or religious institution. He threads stories about his life through the songs, displaying a rare […]