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 […]
Music Festivals
Posted inArts + Music
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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Jump into Hopscotch Halifax
Hopscotch Halifax is quickly becoming one of the city’s best annual music festivals. From live street art demos to the country’s champion battle rappers to American DJs and local dancers, this year’s Hopscotch pulls out the big guns with Orlando’s DJ Dallask and festival headliners Indiana’s Freddie Gibbs and Long Island MC Rakim. This year, […]
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Sharon Jones: The hardest working woman in show biz
Sharon Jones’ success has been a long time coming. At 58, the soul singer received her first Grammy nomination this year. But working so hard for so long, Jones doesn’t take her success for granted. While she’s been singing since childhood and recording for 20 years, Jones’ passionate soul tunes only started to receive wider […]
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Tragic and hopeful Vulva Culture
Moss Lime, Bonnie Doon, Vulva Culture Saturday, May 23, 12pm The Bus Stop Theatre, 2203 Gottingen Street $10 “There was a girl at our show in Newfoundland who told me ‘You guys sound like a lot of drugs on a rocking chair underwater,’” says Vulva Culture drummer Bianca Palmer. “I was like ‘Shut up, that’s […]
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Gift From God are on a journey
Tasseomancy, Gift From God Sunday, May 24, 2pm Halifax Music Co-op 2107 Brunswick Street $10 Born from an intuitive sense of harmony between its members, Gift from God is a collaboration rooted in improvisation. At their OBEY show, Lindsay Dobbin (drums), Kira Daube (vocals) and Elizabeth Johnson (keyboards) will feed off of both a shared musical […]
