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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

OBEY XI: Science Project

Halifax punk band comes of the basement, into OBEY for (maybe) one time only.

Science Project Thursday, May 24, 10pm Garrison Brewery, 1149 Marginal Road $10 Cody Googoo has been prolific in the Halifax punk and noise scene for the past number of years, playing in countless bands including Unreal Thought and young legends Booji Boys.

By Brennan McCracken May 24, 2018

OBEY OBEY Convention XI Cody Googoo Science Project Booji Boys Kayla Stevens Unreal Thought Demented Rock for Depraved Humans Basement Blues Nathan Doucet Taylor Furey

Now streaming: Smaller Hearts, <i>Smaller Hearts</i>

Now streaming: Smaller Hearts, Smaller Hearts

Kristina Parlee and Ron Bates reinvent Homo Duplex for something even poppier.

Kristina Parlee and Ron Bates have been recording and performing as Homo Duplex since 2010, releasing synth-heavy EPs and seven-inches every year or two.

By Tara Thorne May 17, 2018

Smaller Hearts Homo Duplex Shellac Bob Weston synth pop Ron Bates Kristina Parlee

A beautiful archive of our people

With Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa, the Indigenous musicologist Jeremy Dutcher has captured and shared his community’s culture on its own terms.

On his new album Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa, Jeremy Dutcher challenges collectively held understandings of how and why we document cultural heritage.

By Brennan McCracken May 10, 2018

Jeremy Dutcher Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa Kent Monkman Frances Densmore Tobique First Nation Wolostoq Wolastoqey Maggie Paul William Mechling St. Matthew's United Church

ECMA30: KINLEY

After 10 steady years playing downstage in Hey Rosetta!, Kinley Dowling moves into her own light with Letters Never Sent, a collection of songs that put voice to what she couldn’t say.

East Coast Music Awards w/KINLEY, Classified, The Once, Port Cities, Joel Plaskett Emergency and more Thu May 3, 8pm Scotiabank Centre, 1800 Argyle Street Kinley Dowling isn't one to perform solo, but she's no stranger to taking the stage.

By Rebecca Dingwell May 3, 2018

Kinley Kinley Dowling Hey Rosetta ECMA ECMA30 East Coast Music Awards Neptune Theatre Scotiabank Stage Video

ECMA30: Sloan

One of Halifax’s biggest success stories comes home for the big birthday bash.

Sloan w/Adyn Townes, Walrus, Hello Delaware, The Town Heroes Thu May 3, 9:30pm, Marquee Ballroom, 2037 Gottingen Street, $25 Halifax is a university town, and universities love to fête their famous alumni.

By Ryan McNutt May 3, 2018

Sloan 12 ECMA ECMA30 East Coast Music Awards The Marquee Ballroom

ECMA30: Kayo

A bittersweet combination of success and heartbreak informs Winter in St. Lucia.

Kayo w/Wolf Castle, Mitchell Bailey, Wordburglar, Universal Soul, Quake Matthews Thu May 3, 10:30pm The Toothy Moose, 1661 Argyle Street Kayo takes the call in the middle of his workout, mostly calisthenics.

By Tara Thorne May 3, 2018

Kayo Filbert Salton Winter in St Lucia ECMA ECMA 30 East Coast Music Awards Toothy Moose Cabaret

ECMA30: Jenn Grant

With six nominations for Paradise, one of Halifax’s best voices gears up to celebrate with a handful of shows this weekend.

Jenn Grant w/Sorrey, Gabrielle Papillon, Alana Yorke and more Fri May 4, 8pm, The Marquee Ballroom, 2037 Gottingen Street Argyle Street Fest w/Jenn Grant, Dylan Menzie, Villages, The Once, City Natives Sat May 5, noon

By Brennan McCracken May 3, 2018

ECMA ECMA30 East Coast Music Awards Jenn Grant Paradise The Marquee Ballroom Casino Nova Scotia, Schooner Room

ECMA30: Rose Cousins

After her biggest year yet—and with eight ECMA nominations to show for it—the Halifax-based musician is honing in on songwriting.

East Coast Music Awards w/Rose Cousins, Measha Brueggergosman, Neon Dreams, Makayla Lynn and more Thu, May 3, 8pm Scotiabank Centre, 1800 Argyle Street Songwriters’ Circle w/Rose Cousins, Jenn Grant, Reeny Smith and more Sun, May 5, 2pm The Schooner Room, 1983 Upper Water Street

By Rebecca Dingwell May 3, 2018

Rose Cousins Natural Conclusion ECMA30 ECMA East Coast Music Awards Scotiabank Centre Casino Nova Scotia, Schooner Room