Here we are, doggies. Tonight is the first evening of the Halifax Pop Explosion, five full days of the coolest bands in hip-hop, indie rock, indie pop and regular pop. There’s also a symphony experience, an incredible comedy lineup, songs for the folkier set, an HPX Conference, the Collide Creative Technology Conference and much more. If you haven’t […]
Halifax Pop Explosion
DJ/producer Ryan Hemsworth—the Q&A
Last May, Halifax-bred Ryan Hemsworth began releasing underground jams by new DJs to his fans as Secret Songs. On Wednesday he’s bringing his faves here for HPX’s Secret Songs Showcase, and it’s gonna be fire. Just 25, Hemsworth is a veritable DJ superstar. He’s played Pitchfork Music Festival and Coachella, remixed some of pop and […]
True rock, harsh and clean
“Rock music is pretty meat and potatoes. That’s all good, but we try to throw a lime wedge or some cilantro in there too,” says Charles Austin, one of the master chefs behind Halifax’s Psychic Fair. Since 2013, Psychic Fair—also with scene veterans Cliff Gibb, Andrew Glencross and Josh Salter—has been spicing up the band’s personal […]
Wednesday’s 10 things to read about
[Image-1] 1 Well this is a bit of monstrous bullshit: a condo development has built a wall over the basketball courts used by neighbouring St. Joseph’s A McKay School. CBC’s Brett Ruskin took some photos and looked into the obnoxious wall, put up by Louis Lawen’s Dexel Developments. Originally, Dexel was to provide a new […]
2015 Halifax Pop Explosion initial lineup announced
It might not feel like it, but October is a long way off. Even so, you can now spend the rest of your summer dreaming about Halifax Pop Explosion‘s stellar lineup. Some of the acts gracing your fave stages this fall include: Travi$ Scott, Dillinger Escape Plan, Purity Ring, Alvvays, Majical Cloudz, Andy Shauf, The […]
HPX: Day three, in words
Halifax is making a very typical Halifax impression for all these out-of-towners by insisting on raining constantly for the entire duration of the Halifax Pop Explosion. That said, it hasn’t “dampened” enthusiasm (HAHA GOOD ONE) at all and last night’s shows were a pretty good time. I got to the Olympic Centre early to see […]
HPX: Day two, in words
I love watching Andy Bush yell. And he yells a lot as the host of Good Morning Tonight, a live talk-show produced by HPX comedy whiz Stephan MacLeod, which features Andy’s “dad” Rollie Bush (Mark Little) desperately trying to derail all of Andy’s attempts at even marginal success. Joined onstage by “Positive” Geordie Miller and […]
Being Mozart’s Sister
Mozart’s Sister w/ Twin Shadow, Most People, Coco Barracuda Friday, October 24, 8pm Olympic Community Hall, 2304 Hunter Street $39/$40 Mozart’s Sister w/Freelove Fenner, Un Blonde, Old and Weird Saturday, October 25, 10pm Gus’ Pub, 2605 Agricola Street $15 “I don’t really know how you measure success,” says Caila Thompson-Hannant, the voice and mind behind […]
Ryan Hemsworth’s not alone
Ryan Hemsworth w/Danny Brown, Tennyson, Weirdo Click Saturday, October 25, 7pm Halifax Forum, 2901 Windsor Street $39/$45 Halifax-born, internationally adored DJ and producer Ryan Hemsworth (and former Coast writer, incidentally) just got back from Japan. He’s predictably tired but extremely happy. If you follow him on any social media, you’ll understand this was a big […]

