It’s a good year to be a girl making country music, from Kacey Musgraves and Ashley Monroe challenging genre conventions to Rayna Jaymes and Juliette Barnes singing through the drama on Nashville. “I think there’s something of a revival happening right now, and I hope it’s not a trend,” says Whitney Rose, calling from the […]
The Carleton Music Bar & Grill
Posted inArts + Music
This Sound Will Save You’s emotional rescue
Halifax’s hard-working electro-pop three-piece, This Sound Will Save You, releases its debut album, Let the Light Lead You, at the Carleton on Monday. With multi-instrumentalist Matt Fudge, vocalist/UK-transplant Chloe Jones and Nico Orengo on drums, the album shows off the emotive depth and wealth of feeling that infuses the band. “We wanted a record where […]
Posted inArts + Music
Freshman guitars and Econoline vans
Aidan Knight’s father, an avid guitar collector, bought him his first guitar—a gorgeous 1958 Guild M-65 Freshman, manufactured in Hoboken, New Jersey—when Knight was still a teenager. It remains his favourite guitar. Small coincidence, perhaps, that one of the character-driven songs off his new LP, Small Reveal, chronicles a lonely clerk dreaming of love while […]
Posted inArts + Music
Into the Wilderness
Toronto-based folk group The Wilderness of Manitoba will be promoting its third album at The Carleton on Tuesday, April 9. In Island of Echoes, Will Whitwham and Amanda Balsys harmonize with newest band member Wes McClintock to create a smooth sound that begs for nostalgia. Along with percussionist Sean Lancaric, everyone in the group has […]
Posted inArts + Music
See the Light
The benefit that’s been rocking the US since the early 2000s, and internationally (including Ontario) for several years as well, is finally making its way east. “It’s the first ever Halifax Light of Day,” says Peter Elkas who will be performing at The Carleton on Sunday to help raise money for Parkinson’s Disease research. “We […]
Posted inArts + Music
Raise the roof
Since 2004, music blog Herohill has posted hundreds of reviews and news about local indie musicians. Based in Halifax, Bryan Acker and Shane Nadeau, the folk-focused creators of the site, are also jurors for the Polaris Music Prize, SOCAN and the Junos. Not bad for a couple of music bloggers. But after years of pro […]
Posted inArts + Music
Someone special
Rose Cousins will be fresh off a tour with Ari Hest when she makes her way to The Carleton for her three-day spread early next week. And touring with Hest was all kinds of awesome. “He’s freaking dreamy,” says Cousins. “I wish his voice was a sleeping bag and I could crawl into it.” It’s […]
Posted inFood + Drink
Mixed media
Autumn: A season of changing leaves, crisp breezes and fuzzy sweaters. It’s also harvest time, which means a cornucopia of flavours has arrived in time to create some tantalizing seasonal cocktails. You can’t just drink pumpkin spice lattes and apple cider all month, so why not try one of these unique recipes from some of […]
Posted inFood + Drink
Beep tight
It’s been a little over a month since Farmers Dairy brought Beep back into the homes and hearts of Haligonians. The supernaturally sweet blend of orange, apple, apricot and prune juices isn’t for everyone. But, to borrow a slogan, those who like it like it a lot. Initial batches sold out faster than could be […]
Posted inArts + Music
Less booze and more fun with Lowest of the Low
Twenty years and 65,000 copies sold later, Shakespeare My Butt is back on store shelves and the Lowest of the Low is back on the road to promote its debut album re-release. A title mocking the narcissistic writer’s ego is “still relevant to the way we see music,” says the Low’s frontman Ron Hawkins. The […]
Posted inArts + Music
MNS Open Mic Now Absolut(ely) Thursdays
Music Nova Scotia’s Open Mic has teamed up with the Carleton to become Absolut Thursdays. These evenings, held at the Carleton, will still feature an open-mic format but there will be added incentives to keep performers on their toes. These include theme nights pre-determined by the public, and tribute nights, where each performer will have […]
Posted inArts + Music
Eeny, meeny, miny, Pop
Three days left. Fifteen venues. A shitton of bands. The sum: too many choices to be made in the next 72 hours. If spontaneity’s your thing, tuck this geographical list of bar-only Halifax Pop Explosion venues (there are nine) in your pocket today, so that when you—or someone you know—-inevitably arrives at the Paragon at […]