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The Olympic Symphonium: We have fun

Fredericton-based folkies make serious music, as found on the new LP Beauty in the Tension, but they have a good time too.

The Olympic Symphonium w/Jennah Barry Friday, April 20, 8:30pm The Bus Stop Theatre, 2203 Gottingen Street $20

By Jonathan Briggins Apr 19, 2018

The Olympic Symphonium Jennah Barry Dennis Goodwin Beauty in the Tension Forward Music Group The Bus Stop Theatre

The King's Chapel Choir's heavy splash of eternal

The choir serves up another helping of Italian composer Monteverdi.

The Splendour of Venice Sunday, April 15, 4pm Cathedral Church of All Saints 1330 Cathedral Lane $15-$100 tickethalifax.com

By Brandon Young Apr 12, 2018

Monteverdi Paul Halley Splendour of Venice King's Chapel Choir Cathedral Church of All Saints

Stars shine on

Nearly 20 years in, all the Montreal love-poppers are looking for is connection.

Stars w/Jenn Grant Friday, April 13, 9pm The Marquee Ballroom 2037 Gottingen Street $38-$43 sonicconcerts.com

By Morgan Mullin Apr 12, 2018

Stars Amy Millan There Is No Love in Fluorescent Light Peter Katis Torquil Campbell The Marquee Ballroom

Washing machine's clean slate

The Halifax four-piece goes deep with ’80s-leaning tones and lots of heart.

Washing Machine release w/Booji Boys, Surveillance, Valerie Thursday, April 5, 10pm The Seahorse Tavern, 2037 Gottingen Street $7

By Brennan McCracken Apr 5, 2018

Washing Machine Noel Macdonald Booji Boys Tom Burke Dylan Chew Cody Googoo Walk It Back The Seahorse Tavern

Wade through Nadah El Shazly’s marshland

The Cairo-based composer shares her instantly classic debut recording, Ahwar, this week.

Nadah El Shazly w/JOYFULTALK Saturday, March 31, 8:30pm Garrison Brewery, 1149 Marginal Road $20/pwyc

By Brandon Young Mar 29, 2018

Nadah El Shazly JOYFULTALK Obey Obey Convention Ahwar Garrison Brewing Company and Cold Beer Store Halifax Central Library

The nature of Construction & Destruction

The foggy art-rock duo listens and observes.

Construction & Destruction w/Julie Doiron, Jon McKiel Friday, March 30, 8pm Radstorm, 6050 Almon Street $10/pwyc Construction & Destruction might be among the most mythologized bands in this corner of the world, and it's not hard to see why: For years, partners Colleen Collins and Dave Trenaman have been quietly making foggy, artful rock from their seaside home in Port Greville.

By Brennan McCracken Mar 29, 2018

Colleen Collins Construction & Destruction David Trenaman Radstorm

Heaven for Real trips out with <i>Live in Japan</i>

Heaven for Real trips out with Live in Japan

The band releases its travel diary in cassette form.

Heaven for Real EP release w/Century Egg, Aquakultre Friday, March 30, 10pm The Seahorse Tavern, 2037 Gottingen Street $10 Local experimental rock heroes Heaven For Real are emerging from a relatively quiet few months this week with a renewed energy and a brand-new tape, Live In Japan.

By Brennan McCracken Mar 29, 2018

Mark Grundy Scott Grundy Nathan Doucet Cheryl Hann Heaven For Real Live in Japan Mint Records The Seahorse Tavern

Liam Corcoran builds Nevahland

Two Hours Traffic leader crafts new sounds and stories on his debut solo album.

Liam Corcoran w/Tyler Messick Friday, March 23, 10pm The Carleton, 1685 Argyle Street $10 Four years after the breakup of Charlottetown indie rock band Two Hours Traffic, frontperson Liam Corcoran tried something different for his debut solo album.

By Jonathan Briggins Mar 22, 2018

Liam Corcoran Nevahland Two Hours Traffic The Meds Racoon Bandit Calm Baretta The Carleton

Rich Aucoin celebrates life

Rich Aucoin offers his hometown a taste of new music this week before spending the spring touring by bicycle.

Rich Aucoin Hold EP release w/Chudi Harris Thursday, March 15, 9pm The Seahorse Tavern, 2037 Gotttingen Street $15 After talking bit over the phone about his meditative songwriting method—a process influenced by his King's philosophy degree—Rich Aucoin off-handedly sums up his artistic ethos in one succinct sentence: "You don't have to wait around for a birthday to celebrate life."

By Matt Williams Mar 15, 2018

The Seahorse Tavern Rich Aucoin Hold Hold EP sharks

Miesha Louie’s Girls trip

Punk duo Miesha and the Spanks hits Halifax with a new record, Girls Girls Girls, hot off the presses.

Miesha and the Spanks Thursday, March 15, 10pm Gus' Pub, 2605 Agricola Street $Rockin for Dollar$ Monday, March 19, 10pm The Seahorse Tavern, 2037 Gottingen Street

By Tara Thorne Mar 15, 2018

Miesha and the Spanks Miesha Louie Sean Hamilton Calgary The Buzzcocks Danny Farrant Paul Rawson Gus' Pub & Grill The Seahorse Tavern

Said the Whale’s song explosion

To celebrate the anniversary of As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide, the band launches a song-by-song podcast. But first, St. Patrick’s Day in Halifax.

Into the Night Festival night two w/Said the Whale, The Town Heroes, Rain Over St. Ambrose and The Drug Rugs Saturday, March 17, 8:30pm Olympic Hall, 2304 Hunter Street $25-$45, tickethalifax.com When Vancouver's Said the Whale headline the Into the Night festival on St. Patrick's Day, it'll be business as usual on a booze-soaked day full of excess.

By Jonathan Briggins Mar 15, 2018

Said the Whale Into the Night Groundswell As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide Olympic Community Hall

Moonwake is in the zone

The atmospheric Halifax six-piece aims to push people to new places.

Moonwake w/Aquakultre, Loveland Thursday, March 1, 9pm The Carleton, 1685 Argyle Street $10 For musician Braden Nelson, some of the most exciting sounds can emerge when people find themselves outside of their musical comfort zone.

By Brennan McCracken Mar 1, 2018

Moonwake Braden Nelson Sean Clancey Shileen Gillis Adam Ritchie James Shaw Teddy Skiffington The Carleton

Dean Jarvis, back home

The music director for Alessia Cara and The Weeknd returns to Nova Scotia for the ANSMA awards.

African Nova Scotian Music Association awards show Saturday, February 24, 7pm Rebecca Cohn Auditorium 6101 University Avenue $15-$59 902-494-3820 People across the country celebrated as Toronto-born artist Alessia Cara won a Grammy last month.

By Jayde Tynes Feb 22, 2018

ANSMA African Nova Scotian Music Association ANSMA Awards Dean Jarvis The Weeknd Nelly Furtado Alessia Cara Rebecca Cohn Auditorium

Lea Bertucci, sonic phenomenon

New York artist showcases her innovative practice and treats listeners to her latest compositions this week.

Lea Bertucci w/Taral Naik, Daniel MacNeil Friday, February 16, 7:30pm The Khyber Centre for the Arts, 1880 Hollis Street $20/pwyc/free under 19 It would be a fallacy to call composer, sound designer and multi-instrumentalist Lea Bertucci merely a musician, because she's so much more.

By Brandon Young Feb 15, 2018

Lea Bertucci OBEY OBEY Festival Khyber Centre for the Arts

Hillsburn’s wilder heart

The Halifax band’s gradual expansion, ascension and new album.

The town of Hillsburn is a tiny dot on the Bay of Fundy, outside Annapolis Royal, between two coves, Parkers and Delaps.

By Tara Thorne Feb 1, 2018

Hillsburn Paul Aarntzen Rosanna Burrill Clayton Burrill Gary Burrill Clare Macdonald Jackson Fairfax-Perry The Wilder Beyond In the Battle Years GroundSwell Music

Becoming Elijah Will

Classified’s R&B protege celebrates his new EP 3am Friday at the Seahorse.

Elijah Will 3am release party w/Universal Soul, DJ IV and OKAY TK Friday, February 2, 10pm The Seahorse Tavern, 2037 Gottingen Street

By Tara Thorne Feb 1, 2018

The Seahorse Tavern Elijah Will Elijah Wohlmuth Classified Luke Boyd 3am Will Smith Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Winter's tone

All of our In The Dead of Winter Festival coverage, right here.

The IDOW Festival is a bright, warm light in the darkness of the season (if only it were warm enough to melt the snow).

By Team Coast Jan 18, 2018

All along, Waxahatchee

Katie Crutchfield, maker of one of last year’s best records, is taking that buzz and going home.

Waxahatchee w/The Weather Station, Owen Meany's Batting Stance, Corey Gulkin Friday, January 19, 7pm The Marquee Ballroom, 2037 Gottingen Street $25 adv/$30 door

By Tara Thorne Jan 18, 2018

The Marquee Ballroom

Matt Mays moves up

After more than 20 years of playing music, the Dartmouth native headlines his local arena.

Matt Mays w/July Talk, The Beaches Saturday, January 20, 8pm Scotiabank Centre, 1800 Argyle Street $37.50-$57.50 sonicconcerts.com Matt Mays camped out overnight to get tickets for a Neil Young & Crazy Horse show at the arena formerly known as the Metro Centre on November 5, 1996.

By Jonathan Briggins Jan 18, 2018

music Halifax music Matt Mays Once Upon A Hell of a Time July Talk The Beaches Scotiabank Centre

Fiver’s audible history

Simone Schmidt dove deep into the background of an insane asylum and emerged with the stunning Audible Songs from Rockwood.

Fiver w/Stewart Legere, Lydia Persaud, Brooklyn Doran Thursday, January 18, 7:30pm The Carleton, 1685 Argyle Street $20 adv/$25 door Simone Schmidt's fascination with history began, like so many do, with a newspaper.

By Brennan McCracken Jan 18, 2018

Fiver Simone Schmidt IDOW IDOW2018 In the Dead of Winter The Carleton Music Bar & Grill