Back in 2008, In the Dead of Winter was the first festival that Mathias Kom played under his Burning Hell moniker. “In those first three or four years, The Burning Hell was primarily an outlet for songwriting,” he says. “I didn’t really expect that it was going to go anywhere in terms of touring.” Now, […]
Music Festivals
Posted inArts + Music
Heat up with the Cold Smoke festival
Just as the weather finally turns to winter, Halifax’s favourite reggae band, Dub Kartel, has lined up the third annual Cold Smoke festival. This kick-ass one-day fest will be setting fire to The Seahorse and the Marquee’s stages to keep you hot-hot-hot. Starting Saturday night, Cold Smoke will showcase some of the best bands from […]
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Yarmouth is ready to play for Nova Scotia Music Week
Fill up a van with your closest friends, burn some CDs (people still do that, right?) and hit the road. This weekend, November 5-8, east coasters will roll into Yarmouth from all over for the annual Nova Scotia Music Week. The fest is two-fold: concerts and conferences neatly packaged into one big week of musical […]
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The Dillinger Escape Plan’s plan
Expect the unexpected from The Dillinger Escape Plan at HPX. Or don’t? “Audiences should expect nothing like all the YouTube videos of us out there,” says singer Greg Puciato. “Those are all fake live videos we disseminate ourselves to throw people off from the reality that it’s kinda like a boy’s choir.” Dillinger’s first visit […]
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Dorothea Paas is out of this world
If Toronto art-rock outfit Dorothea Paas was a movie theatre treat, “we’d be a hot fresh popcorn with Reese’s Pieces in the bag, melting slightly with butter,” says arty Torontonian rocker Dorothea Paas. “Classic, comforting, with a hint of sweetness and something you might not totally expect but you’ll hopefully enjoy!” What started as a […]
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Energy Slime is a yogurt-based band
“Energy Slime is myself and Jessica Delisle, and it began as an outlet for the songs that were too weird, short or drunk for our regular band,” says Vancouver’s Jay Arner. His label, Mint Records, is hosting an HPX showcase on Saturday afternoon with Monomyth, Tough Age and Fake Tears. For this special set, Energy […]
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Halifax tried to kill Gavin Stephens
“The best way to describe my comedy?” asks Toronto comedy veteran Gavin Stephens. “I would say my style is personal and social philosophy, with a heavy nerd influence. And farts.” For 20 years, Stephens has been touring Canada and the world, with regular stops in Halifax. “I once choked on a donair here, so this […]
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Jazz Cartier’s rising star
2015 has been busy for Toronto’s Jaye Adams, best known by his alias Jazz Cartier. His debut album, Marauding in Paradise, came out in April. It later made the Polaris Prize longlist. Adams’ Pop Explosion performance—opening for Travi$ $cott at the Forum Multi-purpose Centre—will be his first show in town. He says he’s excited to […]
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Jean Grae
Since the mid-1990s, Jean Grae has been one of the most prolific female MCs in the game, a mogul as head of her company KAGD, an inspiring role model and a fashion icon. Born in South Africa and raised in New York City, where she still lives, Grae has rapped and produced as an independent […]
Posted inArts + Music
Jean Grae thrives on creative control
Since the mid-1990s, Jean Grae has been one of the most prolific female MCs in the game, a mogul as head of her company KAGD, an inspiring role model and a fashion icon. Born in South Africa and raised in New York City, where she still lives, Grae has rapped and produced as an independent […]
Posted inArts + Music
We’ll always have Alvvays
East coast ex-pats Alvvays are still riding a wave of increasing success and recognition for their self-titled, debut album, released this past July. Alvvays is an album that exhibits a somewhat practical view of love: singer and guitarist Molly Rankin’s lyrical narratives feel romantic and rosy—especially set against the band’s reverby rattle—but they’re told through […]
Posted inArts + Music
Rich Aucoin
Four years ago, Rich Aucoin put on one of HPX’s most memorable shows: a full-record performance of his just-released album We’re All Dying to Live at St. Matthew’s Church, featuring nearly 80 musicians and vocalists on-stage. Now he’s set to one-up that count this year with the help of Symphony Nova Scotia. “I think the […]