Halifax Urban Folk Festival
August 27-September 3
multiple venues
halifaxurbanfolkfestival.com
The Halifax Urban Folk Festival began in The Carleton back in 2009, expanding to multiple venues over the years—nine of them this round, including The Anchor, Timber Lounge, the Marquee and Tempo. The Carleton's flagship shows have come to feature the festival's biggest names backed by the so-billed Halifax All-Stars. This is not one single group of stars—it's a different killer lineup for each show. Here's who'll be getting up with this year's headliners, and some of their credentials:
Art Bergmann
The self-proclaimed "anti-hero-iconoclast of Canadian music" will be joined by Hillsburn's leader Rosanna Burrill, guitarists Dave Casey (Like A Motorcycle) and Zach MacLean (In-Flight Safety), drummer Mark Gillis (Cameron) and Brodie Petersen (Adam Baldwin). Thu Aug 31, The Seahorse, 8pm, $20
John K. Samson
Bringing The Weakerthans' leaders latest LP Winter Wheat to life will be past Weakerthans touring member Daniel Ledwell and fellow Jenn Grant bandmate Michael Belyea on drums, plus Alright Already's Sean MacGillivray on bass. Sat Sep 2, The Carleton, 6pm, $50
Moe Berg
The Pursuit of Happiness' leader will be joined by Canada's All Stars: The Pursuit's guitarist Kris Abbott from Toronto, Newfoundland's Ron Hynes (Hey Rosetta) and Kris MacFarlane (Great Big Sea). The sole Halifax star is blues belter Jessie Brown. Fri Sep 1, The Carleton, 6pm, $50
Tift Merritt
The alt-country American will bring along her partner Eric Heywood, a renowned pedal steel player who has recorded with Bob Dylan, The Jayhawks, The Pretenders and Son Volt. Local representation will be provided by a local trio of vituosos: Keyboardist Leith Fleming-Smith (Matt Mays), guitarist Jamie Robinson (Heather Rankin) and drummer Geoff Arsenault (Matt Andersen). Sun Sep 3, The Carleton, 6pm, $50
Ron Hawkins
The Lowest of the Low's frontperson will be accompanied by the young rock band scrapes. Thu Aug 31, The Seahorse, 8pm, $2