ODOD afterparty w/Jay Mayne, Thrillah, Alfie, Nicole Ariana Thursday, October 23, 11pm The Company House, 2202 Gottingen Street $15 Jay Mayne (above) and Daniel “Thrillah” Kane (right) have been building their rap games all year. In case you’ve been sleeping on it, both Dartmouth-raised rappers have been releasing tracks on the regular, racking up regional […]
Halifax Pop Explosion
Posted inArts + Music
Sandi Rankaduwa’s deep-dish comedy
Sandi Rankaduwa w/Jen Kirkman, Bob Kerr, Jon Blair, Aisha Alfa Friday, October 24, 7pm The Company House, 2202 Gottingen Street $21/$25 “I did the improv intensive program at iO Theatre,” says Sandi Rankaduwa, a Halifax comic who’s been hanging out at Chicago’s best comedy joints for the last year. “It’s a lesser-known improv institution but […]
Posted inArts + Music
Get with Against Me!
Against Me! w/Like A Motorcycle, Weekend Dads, Dyscontrol Thursday, October 23, 8pm Olympic Community Hall, 2304 Hunter Street$40 In 2012, Florida aggro-punk band Against Me! announced that singer Tom Gabel was transitioning to a female identity and would be known as Laura Jane Grace. This year, the band released its sixth full-length album, the walloping […]
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We love Freelove Fenner
Freelove Fenner w/Sheer Agony, Brave Radar Friday, October 24, 2pm Gus’ Pub and Grill, 2605 Agricola Street free Freelove Fenner w/Mozart’s Sister, Un Blonde, Old and Weird Saturday, October 25, 10pm Gus’ Pub and Grill, 2605 Agricola Street $15 Mysterious, moody and cinematic—with recordings that are bell-clear and, well, perfect, Montreal’s Freelove Fenner—Peter Woodford, Caitlin […]
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Gianna Lauren’s a warm outsider
Gianna Lauren w/Cold Specks, Nick Ferrio and His Feelings, Maicamia Saturday, October 25, 9:30pm Marquee Ballroom, 2037 Gottingen Street $27/$30 “If you thought what I did before was outsider, this new record is explosive,” says Halifax singer-songwriter Gianna Lauren. “I’m really looking forward to playing these new songs live.” She says she’s surprised herself with […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Triumphant Tanya Tagaq
Tanya Tagaq w/Paper Beat Scissors Saturday, October 25, 8pm St. Matthew’s United Church, 1479 Barrington Street $33/$35 Throat singer Tanya Tagaq is arguably our nation’s best-known Aboriginal artist. She is also one of the most successful avant-garde artists working in any medium in Canada. Considering the degree to which Canadian cultural interests tend towards the […]
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Let Emoji Scotia plan your HPX
How can something so small and goofy pack such an emotional punch? Ours is not to reason why, so we’ve made the most of the rich tapestry of emojis and created a matrix for you to plan your Pop Explosion viewing by mood.
Posted inArts + Music
Test your Wu-Tang knowledge
1. Bedford’s own Skratch Bastid backed him as a DJ a) Ghostface b) Raekwon c) both 2. Has appeared on 30 Rock, twice a) Ghostface b) Raekwon c) both 3. Has been compared to ancient Greek scribe Homer a) Ghostface b) Raekwon c) both 4. Has ten (10) rap aliases a) Ghostface b) Raekwon c) […]
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HPX by day
It’s worth a mention right off the top that the Halifax Pop Explosion app (available where you buy your apps) is pretty handy for prioritizing your fest. Although if you’re anything like me all you’ve managed to do is created a bunch of scheduling conflicts for yourself. Varied musical interests! Great in every instance but […]
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Pop Explosion 2014
Ah, Thursday of the Halifax Pop Explosion. It’s like you’re in the eye of the hurricane—only it’s not calm at all and you’re drinking Lorelai Gilmore levels of coffee. Solidarity, sister, we’re right there with you. Here’s our guide to making the most out of HPX, right through to the wee hours of Sunday morning. […]