I first saw BASYL when he opened for Danny Brown at Hopscotch Festival in 2024. Before that, I only knew some of the bigger names in the Halifax hip-hop scene, the people whose legacies had already been well-defined. Unfortunately, up-and-comers were not in my purview as much at the time. BASYL is the artist who […]
Music
The best coverage of local arts & entertainment news in Halifax
Bette MacDonald, Maynard Morrison to host 2026 East Coast Music Awards
The East Coast Music Association has announced renowned performers Bette MacDonald and Maynard Morrison to host next year’s East Coast Music Awards, which will be taking place in Sydney. The husband-and-wife duo are both known across the country for their work in television, theatre, and more. MacDonald is an award winning actor, writer and comedian […]
Customer Service proves sadness can be fun with new music video
Customer Service’s newest music video is a hilarious drag-fueled accompaniment to an emotional track full of longing and a tinge of hope, and it feels like a balance only they can strike. The Halifax-based emo band released their single “Never Meant To” on Sept. 10 in the lead-up to their third EP, If You’re Here, […]
Jah’Mila brings reggae and orchestra together in Halifax premiere
This fall, JUNO-nominated reggae powerhouse Jah’Mila reunites with Symphony Nova Scotia to premiere an electrifying new program, Oct. 3 and 4 at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. Radiant Reggae Roots is a brand-new program of original music marking a new chapter for Jah’Mila as she performs popular hits from past albums, including her JUNO Award-nominated debut […]
Loviet is finding a sound to call her own on new single “Stiffy”
If you’ve had the chance to see Loviet live, you would know that she carries the energy of a ’90s era alt rocker who couldn’t care less about what you think of her. In other words, she’s cool. Really cool. Loviet, based in both Halifax and Toronto, is becoming a touring tour-de-force, frequently tackling gigs […]
Good Dear Good’s ‘forlorn dance music’ is back with new EP ‘Sook’
The phrase ‘opposites attract’ comes to mind when thinking of Good Dear Good, one of the city’s premier indie pop-rock bands. Their music twists listeners’ expectations, pairing positive, upbeat tunes and honey-sweet harmonies with gloom and doom lyrics. Typically, you would expect songs with lyrics about settling for love despite unideal conditions to be a […]
Hospital Gossip’s new single “In Rain” will leave a legacy
What does it mean to leave a legacy? It’s a difficult question to answer. Thoughts may drift towards what we’ve accomplished—the biggest impacts we’ve made, contributions to our crafts, and what we chose to put out into the world. Hospital Gossip’s newest single, “In Rain”, is a reflection on legacy. Rather than focus on the […]
East Coast Music Association in turmoil? Ex-CEO speaks out
The East Coast Music Association, responsible for the annual East Coast Music Awards, is facing another wave of backlash for allegedly underpaying artists and for their antiquated bylaws. This time, it comes from its former CEO. Blanche Israël, an accomplished musician and artist manager, was appointed CEO of the ECMA back in February 2024. This […]
Halifax Urban Folk Festival bringing Rhett Miller, Aysanabee and more
The Halifax Urban Folk Festival is coming up quickly, and their artistic director has one message to push to anyone interested in attending. “If you’re sitting on your hands, thinking I’ll just pick up tickets at the last minute, you might want to think twice about that approach,” says Mike Campbell in an interview with […]
Everything you need to know about Nova Scotia Music Week 2025
It’s almost time again for Nova Scotia Music Week, an annual celebration of the province’s music community through awards, showcases, workshops and most importantly, connections. Just last week, Music Nova Scotia shared its third round of showcasing artists for the 2025 awards, taking place in Yarmouth from Thursday, Oct. 23 to Sunday, Oct. 26. Within […]
This Halifax hip-hop artist will liberate your mind and soul
The 2024 Hopscotch Festival that took place in October of last year brought Danny Brown and Jadakiss to Atlantic Canada’s biggest city. And yet, it was another artist who stole the spotlight when he raised Palestine’s flag to the audience, having them chant “Free Palestine,” before delivering the set of a lifetime, hyping up the […]
Skunk Motel proving their punk-rock versatility with new EP
All-girl punk band Skunk Motel is riding high after releasing their debut EP on June 20. Having performed at several Music Nova Scotia showcases and being crowned The Coast’s gold winner for Best Punk Band in 2024, the four members of Skunk Motel have continued to up the ante with their five-track debut, wearing all […]

