Music Festivals

“I have never felt as much like a musical outsider as I have this year,” says experimental sound artist Pete Swanson. Moving from the psychedelic-noise-rock of his former group, Yellow Swans, to the electro-techno of releases like Punk Authority, Swanson notices the reactions to his unconventional and genre-bending productions. “There are preconceived ideas regarding how […]

Astrophysics, Taoism, permaculture, food sovereignty, survivalism, genocide: these are some of the austere themes that preoccupied artist Jody Zinner as she worked on a series of paintings she’ll be showing at the group exhibit Dog Show, as part of OBEY. A sense of alienation while living in Montreal contributed, too. “I was struggling to survive […]

Despite the office-bully attitude of Pissed Jeans—Allentown, Pennsylvania’s raddest hardcore band—frontperson Mark Kosloff says he’s not one for giving wedgies. “I’d rather receive,” he says of the prank that involves yanking someone’s underpants by surprise. “If I could choose, I’d probably want [pro-wrestler] Chyna to wedgie me.” For the band’s first time in Halifax, Pissed […]

“Sometimes I wish for insta-success,” says Ketamines’ Paul Lawton. “But I honestly believe that what I’ve been working at and building will last longer.” The musicians who make up Ketamines have been on their grind a while, participating in a musical chairs-esque rotating cast of characters in the Lethbridge scene. “James Leroy, the other Ketamine, […]

As Grouper, Liz Harris plays unearthly songs that take cues from subconscious states and the natural world. “I had a dream where someone told me waves crash out what we feel inside, and that’s true for me,” Harris says. “The water is really restorative for me. It helps me sort things out, unlocks convoluted emotions, […]

“I sort of feel like we’re walking up a hill, and then soon we’re going to be able to peek over the top of it,” says Aaron Mangle, half of Cousins. “And not be there, but we’ll at least be able to see what’s up there. That’s my goal right now—soon we’ll get a glimpse. […]

As Broken Deer, Lindsay Dobbin spent last winter in an off-the-grid cabin outside of Whitehorse recording Polaraura on two cassette recorders with built-in mics. Sharing the valley with wolves, who started to visit her in dreams, Dobbin began incorporating the sound and feel of the isolated landscape into five improvised tracks. “It was so quiet […]

It’s hard out there for a Halifax reggae act. But for different reasons than you think. “We used to sell out shows twice a year at the Marquee,” says Andru Branch, Halifax’s Juno-nominated reggae star. “The audiences are there but there’s not much of a West Indian community, so it can be hard to find […]

Let’s play a game. Ready? The Ramones. The Talking Heads. Madonna. The Smiths. Depeche Mode. The Pretenders. Regina Spektor. Echo and the Bunnymen. The Cure. Tegan & Sara. Now, does the name Seymour Stein ring a bell? It ought to. Madonna would still be a waitress at Dunkin’ Donuts, David Byrne just a strange yelping […]

1. Open Mic House Best music venue on Monday nights. Real intimate. Real music. Right next to the NSLC on Agricola.  2. Java Blend Best coffee in Halifax. Roasted under that same roof. Delish! 6027 North Street 3. Dee Dee’s Ice Cream Best ice cream around. Made right there in the store with local ingredients. 5668 […]

Halifax will no doubt be abuzz for East Coast Music Week’s stacked showcases, but the influx of talented musicians in town also allows for some significant unofficial concerts. This year’s no-cases include high-profile shows hosted by the Night Danger stage, the Halifax Pavilion and The Now Case, geared towards audiences young and old. For starters, […]