From poetic verses to clever turns of phrase. Catchy melodies to soft but powerful chord progressions. There’s much to appreciate about the songwriting process, whether it be lyrical or compositional. Most artists will tell you one of two stories—a tune that came to them out of nowhere, or a demo that’s been sitting unfinished […]
Arts + Music
Live theatre, art exhibits, comedy, literary, spoken word – The Coast guide to Halifax and Dartmouth, NS . The downtown, local arts scene – plays, writers, actors, artists and performers. Painting, sculpture, photography, stand-up, stage.
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MusicNL award winner Valmy to tell stories from the in-between at Nowadays Festival
Several weeks ago at the Marigold Cultural Centre in Truro, I had the opportunity to see one of Newfoundland’s premier folk singers share her stories to a half-filled theatre. On a stage decorated with moss and occupied by a lone amp and two guitars, the audience was graced with tales of wandering the coastline […]
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Nowadays Festival is in full swing—what you need to know
The second-annual Nowadays Festival in Dartmouth officially kicks off on Oct. 10 with an incredible lineup of musicians and poets from around the country. Having started last year hoping to fill a void left by the Halifax Pop Explosion, Nowadays features an array of artists from vastly different genres and styles in venues across […]
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Get into the Halloween spirit with this special candlelight concert
A classical quartet, dimly lit by hundreds of candles, can convey many emotions—intimacy, romance, relaxation, and in some circumstances, it can even create an eerie atmosphere. For their upcoming performance, Candlelight Concerts and Fever will opt for the latter as they present a memorable night of Halloween-themed tunes played by the Listeso Quartet as they […]
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Halifax has spoken—these are the best bands of 2024
Music critics the world over have argued that bands are a dying art form. Music-making has become more accessible than ever due to the prevalence of digital audio workstations. Solo acts with teams of producers dominate pop music charts. Getting musicians with varied instruments in a room to create became difficult during the pandemic. […]
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These are the best music videos of 2024 according to Halifax
The Best Of Halifax voting is now in full swing, and as the votes come pouring in for Halifax’s favourite restaurants, artists, performers and more, we wanted to break down a few categories to help you decide who you’ll vote for. The first of these is the music video category. Writing, performing and producing music […]
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Danny Brown and Jadakiss headlining Halifax’s Hopscotch Festival
The full lineup for this year’s Hopscotch Festival in Halifax is out, and the weekend is being headlined by two hip hop powerhouses with distinct and unique voices. Detroit rapper Danny Brown and East Coast hip hop veteran Jadakiss will headline the festival over its two-day run, with Brown performing at the Light House […]
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Immersive and interactive theatre production is a “goosebumpy” experience
After 9/11 happened, things changed dramatically at the border. What used to be simple and carefree became complicated and scary; there was an air of paranoia about travel and about who could and should be allowed to cross the border into the United States. After that fateful September morning, Tim Carlson had a very difficult […]
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The Prismatic Arts Festival is on now—here’s what you need to know
Today marks the beginning of the Prismatic Arts Festival in Halifax, an annual celebration of the multidisciplinary arts by Indigenous artists and artists of colour. Taking place in venues across the city, the festival features art exhibitions, live music and theatre performances, film screenings, as well as several industry events such as its The […]
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Murdoch Mysteries in Concert is in Halifax this weekend
CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries is as beloved as it is extensive. As the show ramps up for its 18th season, it will also be gracing fans in Halifax with a special evening celebrating the show’s legacy. Murdoch Mysteries in Concert is being held at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium on Friday and Saturday Sep. 27 and […]
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Polaris finalists NOBRO ready to take on the Halifax Urban Folk Festival
It’s hard to find a band more passionately liberating than NOBRO. The all-femme punk band from Montreal has risen to prominence throughout the country on the strength of their anthemic debut album, Set Your Pussy Free, released in October 2023. This landed the four-piece a spot on the Polaris Music Prize shortlist for 2024. […]
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This is so punk: Anti-capitalist venue selling bonds to buy its building
Radstorm, Halifax’s space for do-it-yourself music and all-ages shows, is raising money to buy its building. So far, the campaign has been a success. Through a bond program called RadBond, the venue at 2177 Gottingen Street is letting people invest in the future of RadStorm. It’s a move the anti-capitalist non-profit says is necessary […]
