Gold Winner The Seahorse Tavern Silver Winner 
Michael’s Bar and Grill Bronze Winner 
The Marquee Ballroom Congrats, Seahorse! Pop a bottle (or a keg) of Horsepower and dance on those long communal tables (which were around long before communal dining became A Thing) and celebrate your best venue win. “A venue is only as great […]
Michael’s Bar & Grill
Posted inArts + Music
This Ship’s sea of noise
This Ship might be the heaviest east coast band to wield synth keytar. But the lighthearted bunch gets serious in a heartbeat, just as quickly as a melodious Ship verse shifts into chorus roar. The band’s latest EP, What’s Left to Burn, trades the hypnotizing layers of its debut for three live-off-the-floor burners. The songs […]
Posted inArts + Music
The Plan, boss, The Plan!
Yet again, Halifax Pop Explosion has spurred a much-anticipated reunion of a seminal local band. This year, The Plan, a post-hardcore group featuring members of North of America, Equation of State and Cold Warps, will end a 12-year period of inactivity by performing at the festival. The band’s original lifespan was a scant and feverish […]
Posted inArts + Music
Myles Deck and the Fuzz’s regrowth
“I always thought we were a really awesome rock and roll band. We played every show like it was our last,” says Myles Deck. From about 2006 to 2011, Myles Deck and the Fuzz was Halifax’s most intense live act, taking cues from the stage presence of Iggy Pop and James Brown. “I wanted to […]
Posted inArts + Music
Poirier’s eclectic circus
Did you know that you love dancehall, soca and afropop music? Montreal-based DJ and producer Poirier is going to prove that you do, even if you may not know it yet. Poirier’s music is a fresh blend of big sexy beats and deep bass, with an international feel that you don’t often hear in Halifax. […]
Posted inArts + Music
Vital Remains’ devil’s path
Vital Remains is having a bit of the hair of the dog. Calling on the road from Toronto, guitarist Tony Lazaro is washing down some eggs and hot sauce with a Heineken. Our conversation is broken up with the odd mumbled “good morning” from his bandmates. It’s 1pm. That alone should go to show, even […]
Posted inArts + Music
She bop
Venus Envy, Halifax’s favourite sex positive shop, is celebrating 15 years of business. To celebrate, on May 3, Venus Envy is throwing a party worthy of Bacchus himself. It’s hard to imagine a time before our beloved Venus Envy rose up from the seafoam on a half shell and took its familiar place on the […]
Posted inArts + Music
Shotgun Jimmie is Everything all at once
When Shotgun Jimmie rolls into Michael’s Bar & Grill on Saturday, he’ll probably be the happiest guy in town. The Sackville-turned-Manitoban one-man rock ‘n’ roll band releases Everything, Everything, 16 diverse four-track recordings on clear vinyl with special guests like Julie Doiron and trombones. He reunites with Jon McKiel and Old & Weird, also joined […]
Posted inArts + Music
Hitman take a hit
Movies would have us believe that a hitman is stealthy, works quickly and doesn’t leave a trace. Halifax stoner metal band Hitman, however, makes quite a bit of noise, leaves trails of empty bottles in its wake and took about a year to make the new three-song EP, Whiskey Downfall. For fans of Black Label […]
Posted inArts + Music
Tied with a Bowie
Slap on your blond shag wigs, ruffled shirts and tight pants. And don’t forget your crystal ball—CKDU is turning 28 (in terms of years on air, which is like dog years for radio stations) and there’s going to be prizes for dressing the part. But, why Bowie? “Why not Bowie?” challenges station coordinator Gianna Lauren. […]
Posted inArts + Music
Cold Warps mix it up
When Halifax/Ottawa band Cold Warps released their self-titled album in 2009, they didn’t try too hard. In fact, they barely tried at all. And when they followed up with an OMG-I’m-having-so-much-fun-in-the-summer-sun pop explosion—Endless Bummer, that is—they also weren’t thinking too much about their sound. But now, after all the positive response to both albums, they […]
Posted inFood + Drink
All those jazz bars
Bearly’s House of Blues & Ribs You can get your fill of some killer blues music pretty much every night of the week at Bearly’s. It boasts such local acts as Morgan Davis, Roger Howse and Garett Mason. At this classic-looking joint, you’ll always feel welcome as you mix with a crowd of young and […]