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Nap Eyes’ subjective science

The band’s Halifax-based leader Nigel Chapman ruminates on his concrete, visible sound objects. Eyes’ subjective science

Nap Eyes w/Surveillance & MTCHCRFT Thursday, August 9, 8pm The Seahorse, 2037 Gottingen Street, $10

By Brennan McCracken Aug 9, 2018

Nap Eyes, I’m Bad Now, Nigel Chapman, Josh Salter, Brad Loughead, Seamus Dalton The Seahorse Tavern

Nancy Wilson rocks on

Four decades in, the Heart singer is still making new music she’s excited about—while trying to heal her famous family rift.

Nancy Wilson w/Roadcase Royale Wednesday, August 15, 8pm Rebecca Cohn Auditorium 6101 University Avenue $50-$65

By Alison Lang Aug 9, 2018

Nancy Wilson, Ann Wilson, Heart, Roadcase Royale, Liv Warfield, New Power Generation, Prince, iconic Rebecca Cohn Auditorium

Goldilox, just right

After a decade in the business, bad major label deals and a name change, pop has a new disco queen—and she comes from Cape Breton.

“In 2018, Goldilox found herself thrown back into time—into a far-out and colourful world where disco was in the air and everyone was getting high,” reads an old-school radio announcer’s voice in the singer’s Instagram story. “Recorded at Studio 108 in Paris, France, this new album witnesses Goldi’s path to Very Best.

By Brandon Young Aug 2, 2018

Goldilox, My Name is Kay, Kristin Boutilier, Cape Breton, Sydney, Very Best, pop, 70s, disco

Get lifted with The PepTides

The nine members arrive from Ottawa on a wave of love, affection and a sneak peek at new jams.

The PepTides August 6-7, 8pm The Carleton, 1685 Argyle Street $10

By Brandon Young Aug 2, 2018

The PepTides, Galapagos, Kurt Vonnegut, Ottawa, Scottie Irving, LGBTQ+ The Carleton

Thorgy Thor hits all the right notes

“Queen of classical music” serves orchestral realness to Halifax crowds.

Thorgy and the Thorchestra July 27-28, 7:30pm Rebecca Cohn Auditorium 6101 University Avenue $25-$55

By Brandon Young Jul 26, 2018

Thorgy Thor, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Pride 2018, LGBTQ+, Symphony Nova Scotia Rebecca Cohn Auditorium

FOONYAP’s vessel for feeling

The Calgary artist loops violin, mandolin and vocals for a unique and captivating distillation of indie-rock.

FOONYAP w/BUDI and Special Costello Saturday, July 21, 9pm (Artist talk 2-4pm) Khyber Centre for the Arts 1880 Hollis Street $10

By Brennan McCracken Jul 19, 2018

FOONYAP, Palimpsest, Woodpigeon Khyber Centre for the Arts

Jazz Fest: Daniel Caesar

One of the country’s hottest R&B stars brings his fire to Halifax to close out the festival.

Daniel Caesar w/Charlotte Day Wilson Sunday, July 15, 8:30pm Waterfront Stage $32-$38

By Brandon Young Jul 12, 2018

Halifax Jazz Festival, jazz fest, Daniel Caesar, Polaris Prize, Toronto, Get You, Freudian Jazz Fest Main Stage

Jazz Fest: Land of Talk

Liz Powell is feeling like she won’t have to disappear again

Land of Talk Thursday, July 12, 7pm St. Matthew's United Church $35

By Morgan Mullin Jul 12, 2018

Halifax Jazz Festival, jazz fest, Land of Talk, Montreal St. Matthew's United Church

Jazz Fest: Charlotte Day Wilson

The self-made soul star wrote Stone Woman when she couldn’t feel anything. But she’s figuring things out now. Maybe.

Charlotte Day Wilson w/Daniel Caesar Sunday, July 15, 8:30pm Waterfront Stage $32-$38

By Brennan McCracken Jul 12, 2018

Halifax Jazz Fest, Jazz Fest, Charlotte Day Wilson, Stone Woman, Polaris Prize, Dalhousie Jazz Fest Main Stage

Jazz Fest: Jeri Brown

The Halifax-based vocal dynamo is equally versed in the classics and the avant garde.

Jeri Brown Friday, July 13, 11:15pm The Carleton $20

By Brennan McCracken Jul 12, 2018

Halifax Jazz Festival, Jazz Fest 2018, Jeri Brown, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie The Carleton

Meet the infectious Fungus

The local trio marries 90s grunge with country and blues on its debut EP D’well.

Fungus EP release w/No, It's Fine., Dimension Boys, Stand Back Friday, July 6, 10pm Gus' Pub, 2605 Agricola Street $6/$8

By Tara Thorne Jul 5, 2018

Fungus, Vivika Ballard, D’well, 90s, country rock Gus' Pub & Grill

X-Plycit and Mackie are on the come-up

Local rappers merge life and art with their first co-headlining tour.

X-Plycit & Mackie 902 Lit Tour w/Stack Loot Divide, Kam Speech, Scence, The UnderDogs, Connor Moore, J-Pimpin, CHELL, Devon Paul Muzik Thursday, June 28, 8pm Menz & Mollyz, 2182 Gottingen Street $10

By Brandon Young Jun 28, 2018

X-Plycit & Mackie 902 Lit Tour w/Stack Loot Divide, Kam Speech, Scence, The UnderDogs, Connor Moore, J-Pimpin, CHELL & Devon Paul Muzik Menz & Mollyz Bar

Stand Back delivers

The young Dartmouth trio pulls on 1970s influences and the members’ lifelong friendships to craft its debut album.

Stand Back w/Second Line Parade, Roadside Scarecrow

By Jonathan Briggins Jun 28, 2018

Stand Back, Stand Back The Album, Aidan Coady, Ben Matthews, Jacob Ballard, Sloan, Halifax rock The Carleton

Kilmore’s Call

On its new LP Call of the Void, the hard-rock Halifax outfit deals with the everyday pressures of life.

Kilmore w/Which Witch is Which, The Holy Snappers, Hatchet Lake Saturday, June 23, 10pm Gus' Pub, 2605 Agricola Street $10 ($20 with CD) Three years after releasing its debut City Lights EP, Kilmore dims the lights and cranks up the darkness on its new full-length.

By Jonathan Briggins Jun 21, 2018

Kilmore Call of the Void City Lights Heather Harris metal Gus' Pub & Grill

Going with Partner’s flow

Josée Caron and Lucy Niles return to Halifax with more riffs, more jokes and more awards.

Partner w/No, It's Fine., Century Egg Thursday, June 21, 8pm The Seahorse Tavern, 2037 Gottingen Street $17.50 adv/$25 door About two-thirds of the way into In Search of Lost Time, the long-awaited debut album from Windsor, ON-via-Sackville, NB rock band Partner, a voice solemnly offers a proclamation about the state of music and its listeners: "The world needs a good band right now, a really good band," it says, suggesting a sort of mission statement for Partner.

By Brennan McCracken Jun 21, 2018

Partner Lucy Niles Josee Caron In Search of Lost Time SOCAN Songwriting Prize 2018 LGBTQ+ The Seahorse Tavern

The Old Confidence Lodge: Sonic and iconic

A look at Riverport’s Old Confidence Lodge, the 89-year-old seaside venue and recording studio that has had an undeniable influence on the south shore’s music and arts scene.

There is something so unmistakably whole about people, whether thoroughbred or import, from the south shore of Nova Scotia. The stretch of land and water running from Lunenburg County to Yarmouth and curling up into Digby breeds a good, honest and endlessly admirable people.

By Hillary Windsor Jun 14, 2018

Old Confidence Lodge Diego Medina Jennah Barry Caribou Run Riverport south shore

Upstream’s cool and composing

The Upstream Music Association tries some new things and pays tribute to Paul Cram with a special show this week.

International Music Concert Saturday, June 16, 7:30pm Halifax Central Library, 5440 Spring Garden Road $20 New Directions UP Sunday, June 17, 8pm The Halifax Music Co-op, 2164 Barrington Street $10-$25

By Josefa Cameron Jun 14, 2018

Steele my Sunset

Matt Steele & The Corvette Sunset pops off with the release of Half Girl Half Ghost.

Matt Steele & The Corvette Sunset album release w/The Kents, Lazeez, Nick Faye & The Deputies Thursday, June 7, 8pm The Seahorse Tavern 2037 Gottingen Street $10 eventbrite.com Matt Steele is accustomed to taking the stage with various musicians behind him."It was a lot of moving the guitar neck up and down to signal, 'Here is the next song' or 'Here is the next section,'" says Steele, recalling a previous show.

By Rebecca Dingwell Jun 7, 2018

Matt Steele Matt Steele and the Corvette Sunset Devin Shael Fox Kyle MacDougall Will Hansen Marcus Tracey The Seahorse Tavern

Reeny Smith: Pop and power

With Reeny Smith’s debut full-length WWII: Strength. Courage. Love. finally on the horizon, the North Preston R&B artist talks family, heart and empowerment.

CIOE 97.5 FM East Coast Music Showcase w/Reeny Smith, John Gracie, Makayla Lynn, JJ Roots and more Saturday, June 2, 6pm Spatz Theatre, 1855 Trollope Street $25 tickethalifax.com Growing up in the church, R&B-singer Reeny Smith witnessed first-hand the powerful effects of words and music.

By Brandon Young May 31, 2018

Reeny Smith I Am Reeny WWII: Strength. Courage. Love. Spatz Theatre

OBEY XI: Sarah Hennies

The composer, percussionist and filmmaker defines her own identity.

Sarah Hennies w/Melody McKiver Friday, May 25, 7:30pm Bus Stop Theatre, 2203 Gottingen Street $20, all ages

By Brennan McCracken May 24, 2018

OBEY OBEY Convention XI Sarah Hennies Contralto percussion Halifax North Memorial Public Library The Bus Stop Theatre

OBEY XI: Yohvn Blvck

Words pulled the Halifax-based rapper out of his closed-off youth.

Yohvn Blvck w/DIáSPORA Saturday, May 27, 2pm Seven Bays Bouldering, 2019 Gottingen Street free, all ages “Growing up in Antigua, there was never a place for anyone to express themselves in that shared manner.

By Brennan McCracken May 24, 2018

OBEY OBEY Convention XI Yohvn Blvck Edwin Hull Seven Bays Bouldering