Steel Cut Oats had to make a difficult choice. When two members of what was the five-piece indie pop-rock band decided to move on, there were only a few options open to those remaining. They could recruit a fourth member to round out their sound. They could call it quits and go their separate ways. […]
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.
Posted inArts + Music
Artists feeling burned by the East Coast Music Association over late payments
Musicians across Atlantic Canada have been calling out the East Coast Music Association for late payments stemming from showcases during the East Coast Music Awards in Sydney this May. Jake Ballard, a roots rock and blues musician based in Dartmouth, was one of several artists left unpaid until recently. He performed with his band at […]
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Behind the runway: The road to Halifax Fashion Week
Long before Halifax Fashion Week became one of Atlantic Canada’s largest fashion events, Solitha Shortte was producing runway shows driven by her determination, borrowed spaces and money from her own pay cheque. The founder and creative director of The House of Soli says she entered Nova Scotia’s fashion industry not to compete with existing organizers, […]
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Flamenco Fusion Fest brings passionate dancing to Halifax
Flamenco is a way of life for Tamar Ilana. A Toronto-based flamenco performer who has experience dancing and singing all over the world, she’s excited to bring her six-piece ensemble, Tamar Ilana & Ventanas, to Halifax for Flamenco Fusion Fest, a collaborative event put together by Atlantic Flamenco and the non-profit FabCollab in their Women […]
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Independent fashion magazines find new life as Halifax prepares for launch of ‘Valentina’
As independent magazines experience renewed momentum worldwide, Halifax’s growing fashion industry is preparing to add its own voice with the launch of Valentina, a new independent lifestyle and fashion publication dedicated to showcasing Atlantic Canadian talent. The magazine, launching July 25, arrives amid a broader shift in media consumption. A 2026 Reuters Institute study found […]
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Seven great Halifax album releases so far in 2026
Halifax has never been short on musical talent. The album releases from Halifax-based artists so far this year are proof of just how versatile this city’s musicians are. From rock releases that demand you shout along to mellow records that beg your ears to listen closely to every word, there is something for everyone in […]
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From the bedroom to the studio: idialedyournumber deals with change on ‘Teenage Widow’
Jessie Everill’s bedroom is her recording studio. From within her four walls, she’s crafted the DIY emo project idialedyournumber, delivering songs that sway between soft melodies and screeching wails with an incredibly charming lo-fi production. She utilizes digital instruments and plugins to create chaos with chiptune waves and ground-shaking glitch effects. It’s a modern musical […]
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Queer entrepreneurship grows across Canada as Halifax maker finds community
When Raymond McCabe and his husband, Alex, launched their handmade arts business in 2024, the goal was simple: make a living creating art while giving back to the queer community that helped shape them. Two years later, the Halifax couple behind Bobbin’s End is preparing for another busy Pride season, with booths at the Halifax […]
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Good Dear Good leads Nova Scotia Music Week award nominations
Music Nova Scotia has released its Nova Scotia Music Week award nominations, and Good Dear Good looks to be on top with a total of four nominations. The Halifax indie pop-rock band released their newest EP sook last September, which is up for Pop Recording of the Year. They are also nominated for Entertainer of […]
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How a booming fan culture helped Hal-Con sell out months in advance
Months before thousands of fans don elaborate costumes, line up for celebrity panels and fill the halls of the Nova Centre, the work behind Hal-Con is already well underway. For organizers and cosplayers alike, Canada’s largest fan-run science fiction and fantasy convention is no longer a weekend event. It’s a year-round undertaking. That growth has […]
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Talberon Games proves video game development is still alive in Halifax
If you were only to look at the presence of multinational corporate video game developers in Halifax, you might consider the scene to be dead. Earlier this year, Ubisoft shut down its Halifax-based mobile division shortly after they voted to unionize. In 2024, Microsoft shuttered Alpha Dog Studios. Two of the biggest employers in the […]
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Halifax community rallies behind Jah’Mila ahead of international orchestral debut in England
When Halifax singer-songwriter Jah’Mila takes the stage in England next month, she will be carrying both her Jamaican heritage and the support of a Nova Scotia community that has helped shape her career. The JUNO-nominated artist will perform July 2 and 3 with the Welsh National Opera Orchestra at The Grange Festival in Hampshire, England, […]
