A year short of a decade into its existence and Nova Scotia Music Week is ready to test the waters outside the borders of the Halifax Regional Municipality. The province’s annual music showcase is slated for November 10 to 12 in Liverpool. Host Committee Chairs John Wiles and Anne Oakley say the community of just over 3,500 is eager to accept the challenges associated with housing the best the province has to offer.
“They are extremely excited. The venues, the media and the region have all pulled together to make it possible,” the pair says via email. “They want to ensure the artists and Music Nova Scotia enjoy a successful event with warm hospitality and record turnouts for shows.”
Music Nova Scotia’s Keith Publicover—the Chair of Nova Scotia Music Week—adds that the town’s proactive approach resulted in its selection as host.
“The Liverpool committee approached Music Nova Scotia to see if we were interested in moving the event,” he says. “We felt that if the event was staged outside Halifax, it would have more of a conference feel. There was no formal process in place this year, but assuming that the event is successful this year in Liverpool, a formal bidding process will be established.”
Got blues?
It has been the subject of talk circulated in scenester circles for weeks, and the announcement was made official on May 16—blues rock pioneer Bo Diddley will be performing at Dartmouth’s Alderney Landing on August 11. Diddley will incontestably be the central attraction of the Dutch Mason Blues Festival, also featuring shows by the Canadian blues legend for which the three-day festival is named and his Juno-winning son, Garrett. Rounding out the line-up are the likes of Ottawa’s Roxanne Potvin, Texas’s TuTu Jones, Charlie A’Court and Matt Minglewood. Early bird tickets are now available at the Alderney Landing box office at 461-8401.
DEAD!!!!
We know what you’re thinking at this point—it’s been dead as the Ottawa Senators’ playoff hopes since Willie Nelson left town. With few exceptions, it’s certainly been too calm these past few weeks to satisfy healthy musical appetites needing to be serenaded with increased regularity. Where’s the storm!?
Part of a more volatile forecast hits Toronto from June 8 to10 during North by Northeast, where local faces Adam Puddington & The Proof, Dave Carmichael, City Field, Galore (including former Cool Blue Halo vocalist Barry Walsh) and King Konqueror all perform.
After that, hang in there for June shows in Halifax including a pair of strong double bills concerning the likes of Stabilo with Mobile on June 3, followed by Pilate with Wintersleep on June 23. Defunct post-grunge act I Mother Earth’s second frontman Brian Byrne appears with a freshman, country-tinged solo effort on June 9 at Stage Nine, and Immaculate Machine plays in Hell on June 29, the same evening Will Hoge graces the stage at The Seahorse.
In other news, Bruce Cockburn has announced a performance date on October 14 at the Dalhousie Arts Centre, and tickets are on sale for All-American Rejects beginning May 27 at the Arts Centre box office.
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