The music scene in halifax seems to suck.
There is no good bands or shows.
—where they @
This article appears in Apr 23-29, 2009.
Music scene
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What are you looking for? Britney Spears? She ain’t here.
Lots of other good music in Halifax though. Maybe you will have to try something unfamiliar to find out if it qualifies as a “good band or show” by your standards.
We’re seriously lacking in venues… among other things, don’t get me goin’
I don’t really agree that we’re lacking in venues. For a city of this size, we actually have a multitude of venues to accommodate various sizes and types of shows.
I used to live in Calgary, and that’s a city that’s lacking in venues. Calgary’s a city of over a million people, and Halifax puts it to shame music-wise. It was really refreshing to move back to the East Coast and see such a vibrant music scene. I think a lot of people don’t realize how lucky we actually are.
There is a pretty good music scene here, I think anyway, but venues are lacking.
Owen’s in town bro.
What the hell?! Halifax has an awesome music scene… There’s all kinds of venues, they just happen to be small. Try out one of the local bands, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Just don’t expect big acts on a regular basis.
LOL lacking in venues? Throw a rock, you’ll hit one.
How long is a good band going to play for next to nothing over and over at the same venues? Maritimers seem stuck on blues and classic rock in the pubs and if you’re indie you’re playin’ for free if not payin’ to play. The old timers, and there are a lot of them, like classic country. Tourism NS advertises fiddles and shit… haha, there are few places to find that! The big bands don’t come (back) here because the population/draw is so limited compared to Toronto or even Calgary. The demographic is the oldest aged population in Canada. Do the math from afar and you’re not booking your big names here, not often anyway.
I find there are alot of heavy metal, hip hop, dj things going on nothing realy to the inbetween like RHCP, Blind melon etc
Jane— stuff like Blind Melon is long dead (so is Shannon Hoon). We’ll never see a revival of that.
Maybe long dead Fever, but not forgotten by me anyway. And Kay, you seem to be really beating the blues hate to death. I would suggest going to see Garrett Mason next time you have a chance. Best guitar player in NS, and he’ll have you dancing all night.
hmmm, I never quite got paying to go out and hear people play music… unless it’s a concert of some type.
It’s free everywhere else… interweb, radio, hell even street corners at times.
I dunno, I guess I’m just not the musical type….
unless I’ve been to taco bell.
I wish it wasnt long dead 🙁
Jane, it’s really too bad, you just missed Elliott Brood play at the Paragon. I find his vocal style to very similar to Shannon Hoon, and even the band’s sound is somewhat reminiscent of Blind Melon. As for RHCP, yeah, you’re probably not going to see them in Halifax anytime soon, but if you dig that funky sound, you can find it around here. For example, Slowcoaster plays Halifax frequently and offers up some good funky rock, and the Mellotones play regularly at the Seahorse.
To all naysayers, there’s a plethora of genres, sounds and styles being offered up at local venues. Just because there are band names you don’t necessarily recognize, doesn’t mean there’s not something you’d dig. Check the Coast music listings to see what’s happening, and then hit up some band Myspaces to see what they sound like. I’ve discovered a ton of great music this way. As well, you can listen to CBC or CKDU to hear up-and-coming Canadian acts that are likely to play locally at some point.
The music is out there folks, and I really believe there’s something for everyone. With an open mind and a minimal investment of time, you’ll find it.
agreed, musically halifax is pretty awesome (until you start splitting hair, for example, there is no straight-on grindcore band in the area, no real doom metal, and complete and utter lack of harder electronic styles – gabber, hardcore/digital hardcore, glitch, and even jungle, etc, etc). nonetheless, hfx is great for music.
venues are another thing though. inbetween the bar owner that doesnt let your band play at his bar, the places that cost hundreds of bucks to book, and the places no one knows/cares to trek to, that leaves rehearsal spaces and basements as the only viable option. sigh.
but to check out an assortment of local talent, go to Reflections monday nights. they have rockin 4 dollars, a showcase of locals. a dozen bands for $2, you cant go wrong.
BRoc, the best guitar player in NS is in my basement right now but thanks anyway… doesn’t really compare and I’m so sick of the blues.
k, when you don’t split hair what you have is blues and classic rock… “pretty awesome”? How so?
I want to know where all the fuckin’ fiddles and Stompin’ Tom’s are? I saw ’em on TV! I swear! I’ll bet they’re not at Reflections but I’ll go check that out anyway.
Thanks me0w i will keep my open an dcheck them out
🙂
kay: well, hfx has a steady metal scene, a steady punk/hardcore/crust scene, what i know of the rap/hip-hop scene isnt too shabby either, though could be better, the avantgarde/noise/odd scene is also doing quite well (just look at Obey Convention), there are a couple jazz bands around, and even electronically there are enough participants here not to omit that classification.
why don’t you start a band?
haha i have no musical talent maybe i can pull off a kazoo