Halifax’s literary scene has reason to celebrate: local author and professor David Huebert has been named a finalist for the 49th annual Amazon Canada First Novel Award for his debut novel Oil People. Huebert moved to southwestern Ontario for his PhD. During this time, he was fascinated by the towns and villages he found as […]
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
‘Gimme Shelter’ benefit concert to support women and children in Halifax
Some of Nova Scotia’s most celebrated female vocalists will take the stage this weekend for Gimme Shelter—a benefit concert supporting women and children in need of safe housing. The event takes place Saturday, May 17 at Paul O’Regan Hall in the Halifax Central Library. Proceeds from the evening will go to Adsum for Women & Children, […]
Posted inArts + Music
Andre Pettipas channels heartbreak and healing into new single “Gypsophila”
Nova Scotia’s Andre Pettipas is no stranger to songs with soul — but his new single “Gypsophila” might just be his most personal work yet. Written in memory of his niece, Blake Everleigh, who passed away at just three months old from SIDS, Gypsophila stands as a haunting, heartfelt tribute born out of grief, sobriety, […]
Posted inArts + Music
Motherhood is a calling
Family pictures line the walls. Handmade cards, paintings, and elephant-themed motifs adorn the Pérusse-Shortte residence. Mirrors reflect light, and books line the cabinets. “When my mom walks in the room, people smile,” Siena Pérusse-Shortte, 11, said as she unpacks her school bag. Meanwhile, her mother, Moashella Shortte, adjusts an elephant ornament. “Elephants inspire me, they […]
Posted inArts + Music
Here’s every 2025 ECMA-nominated Halifax musician and industry professional
The East Coast Music Awards are now underway. From May 7-11, artists from all over Atlantic Canada will meet in St. John’s, N.L., for a weekend of workshops, performances, and of course, an awards ceremony celebrating the best and brightest in the East Coast music scene. While this festival hasn’t been without its controversies—mainly, the […]
Posted inArts + Music
This golden superstar is living up to the buzz(er)
In a heartwarming moment that had the East Coast buzzing, DeeDee Austin received the prestigious golden buzzer on Canada’s Got Talent last month—marking a milestone in the young artist’s already impressive career. With her soulful performance and powerful presence, Austin captured the attention of the judges, particularly Howie Mandel, who gave her the golden buzzer, […]
Posted inArts + Music
Every big show happening in Halifax in May 2025
Temperatures are rising, the sun is shining and the shows coming to Halifax in May are hot! As always, The Coast has you covered with everything that’s happening in the city this month. Casey & Diana In 1991, at the height of the AIDS crisis, the residents of Casey House—Toronto’s first free-standing AIDS Hospice—receive word […]
Posted inArts + Music
The beauty behind Bologna Colorado
You may not know what a Bologna Colorado is, but you’ll want to after you experience one of their live shows. The four-piece from Halifax is committed to bursting your eardrums with screeching guitar riffs, pounding drums and impassioned, raw vocals. All of this kinetic energy has been harnessed in the band’s latest single, “GET […]
Posted inArts + Music
Braden Lam’s experience manifests in his full-length album, ‘The Cloudmaker’s Cry’
Braden Lam is exactly where he wants to be. The indie-folk musician who has called Dartmouth home for nearly a decade is nearly two weeks in from releasing his first full-length album, The Cloudmaker’s Cry. It’s a place he never could have imagined himself when he finished university and couldn’t find work at the height […]
Posted inArts + Music
Local artist turns grief into a thing of beauty
The space feels sacred; the stories it holds makes the air thick. Each piece of art is given space and room to breathe. Each story is tragic and each painting is beautiful, somehow capturing the essence of the loss without descending into darkness. As I walk around the show at Applehead Studios on Barrington Street […]
Posted inArts + Music
Step right into summer with Verry Gerry’s debut album Sunny Beaches
Although the weather would have you convinced otherwise, summer is indeed right around the corner. We’re halfway through spring—halfway to sun rays and shorts. Verry Gerry’s debut album, Sunny Beaches, may be exactly what you need to push yourself towards the finish line. Released last month, the 10-track album is a marvel of indie-pop bliss. […]
Posted inArts + Music
Emerging Lens Cultural Film Festival to celebrate 15th anniversary on National Canadian Film Day
It all started 15 years ago because people in Black communities had nowhere to tell their stories. That first year, the Emerging Lens Cultural Film Festival screened about eight films. This year, they received over 100 submissions from all around the world. “This year, about 50 per cent of the films are local, but we […]