Peter Brötzmann, Last Lizard Friday, May 22, 7:30pm Fort Massey United Church 5303 Tobin Street $25 “I like spontaneous collaborations without too much thinking involved,” says Montreal’s Alex Zhang Hungtai AKA Last Lizard, formerly KA Dirty Beaches. The experimental tenor saxophonist was last in town for the 2013 Halifax Pop Explosion. He did an improv set […]
Music Festivals
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Submit to OBEY Convention 2015
Now in its eighth year, the OBEY Convention proudly waves the flag of the underground, the avant-garde, the experimental and all contemporary noise and art for four full days in May. It’s a chance to shine spring sun on the deep corners of the subterrestrial. Let’s hear it for the weird ones. In the jungle […]
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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 […]
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In the jungle with RAMZi
Container, RAMZi, JFM, DJ Doris, DJ A.S. Pearson Friday, May 22, 10pm Menz & Mollyz Bar, 2182 Gottingen Street $15 As RAMZi, Phoebé Guillemont creates electronic music with tropical and psychedelic flashes that bridges the gap between her solo bedroom studio and dance floor wild parties. Guillemont packs layers and influences into her songs, her […]
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Laxmi Adhikari’s sweet harmonium
Tonja Gunvaldsen Klaasen, Laxmi Adhikari Sunday, May 24, 4:30-6pm Common Roots Urban Farm free Before Laxmi Adhikari and his wife Raj Adhikari moved to Halifax in 2011 from Nepal, they had over three decades of playing music under their belts—Laxmi on the harmonium and Raj on the Madal drum—their son also performs music, but he’s […]
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Alana Yorke’s life is but a Dream
Alana Yorke w/Brinleigh, Greg MacPherson, The Skydiggers Thursday, January 22 Bus Stop Theatre, 2203 Gottingen Street 8:30pm, $20 “I’ve been making music forever,” says Alana Yorke. And anyone who listens to Dream Magic—the local composer/singer/pianist’s latest—can hear the years of experience. “Ian [Bent, Yorke’s partner] is my co-producer and arranger for specifically orchestral instruments like […]
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Owen Pallett’s In Conflict resolution
Owen Pallett w/Dance Movie Thursday, January 22, 8pm The Seahorse Tavern, 2037 Gottingen Street $25 Owen Pallett is one of the busiest musicians in Canada. With a solo career spanning a Polaris Prize win, multiple records—including his latest, In Conflict—he’s a recent member of international musical explosion Arcade Fire, garnered an Academy Award nomination for […]
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IDOW musicians’ picks
Brinleigh picks “The Company Store” by Greg MacPherson: I snuck into my first bar, The Upstairs Club in Sydney, to see Greg perform. I was wide-eyed and 16 with a satchel full of homemade apple wine. His well-defined biceps inspired me to do push-ups every day. Corey Isenor picks “Place I Call Home” by Spencer […]
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Open Waters Festival entices you in
Open Waters Festival Friday, January 9, 7:30pm to Saturday, January 10, 7:30pm Dalhousie Arts Centre and Atlantica Hotel Commons Room Festival pass $40/$35, Single entrance $20 902-494-3820 artscentre.dal.ca Is there a difference between hearing music and really listening to it? For Paul Cram, artistic director of the Upstream Music Association, the distinction can be explosive. […]
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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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A woman like Bettye LaVette
With a music career spanning over 50 years, Bettye LaVette doesn’t miss a beat. As America’s great lady of soul, she was born to sing. Her latest release, Thankful N’ Thoughtful, showcases her legendary voice–sexy, raw and unhinged. She takes the stage along with Nova Scotia Super Soul Review at Halifax Jazz Festival July 9. […]