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It’s time for a Shindig, Halifax

It’s time to bust out those festival outfits and warm up your dance moves, Tigers. Two former Dalhousie University students are bringing yet another new music festival to the East Coast.

This go-around, keep those cowboy boots and cowgirl hats tucked away in your closets because instead of country at Cavendish Beach, we’re getting EDM and hip-hop at Citadel Hill.

Festival co-owner and former Dalhousie student Robbie Sabato says he and his team are on a mission to “build Halifax’s Osheaga” with the launch of Shindig Music Festival, coming to the city this September. 

The perfect time for a new event

The new festival, set to take place at the Garrison Grounds from Sept. 13-14, is hoping to establish itself as Halifax’s next premier music event, at a time when organizers feel the city’s music scene is ready for a breath of fresh air.

“There’s not really many shows that come over to Halifax anymore. It’s not like what it used to be when I was there 15 years ago,” said Sabato.

The festival is set to feature a lineup of big name artists including The Chainsmokers, Polo G, Lil Tecca, Loud Luxury, NLE Choppa and Quavo, as well as Canadian favourites Classified, Frank Walker and Dzeko, and has been in the works for a number of years, according to organizers.

Organizers originally planned to launch the event in 2022 but chose to wait for the right moment to bring the festival to the city, according to Sabato.

“We decided this was the year we had to just do this,” he said. “It’s now or never, I think the city could really use this.”

Bringing the concert experience to Halifax students

Sabato said the event is an opportunity to bring a new music festival to a Halifax student market looking for more chances to see some of their favourite artists closer to home.

“It feels like every other university in Ontario has a festival in their market, whereas Dalhousie students don’t have that,” said Sabato. “We want to offer that service to all these students who want to experience what their friends are experiencing at Western or Queen’s University.”

According to Sabato, the festival is in talks with the Dalhousie Board of Governors to offer a discount code to Dal students, but details have not yet been confirmed. Magnetic World Music Festival, another Halifax EDM festival, has also offered discount codes to Dalhousie students in the past and will offer discount codes for their 2024 festival.

Sabato also added that Shindig Music Festival is open to spectators of all ages but will feature a section for those 19 years of age and older.

“We’re looking to build an event that students get to go to but also that people from the local community can enjoy,” said Sabato.

Establishing a new Halifax music scene staple

Although he doesn’t want to reveal too much before show day, Sabato said the two-day festival promises to be “one of the largest light shows the city has seen in terms of stage production.”

“It’s going to be extremely fun and energetic. I think it’s going to be something that the city hasn’t seen to this level yet,” said Sabato. “We want to make this as incredible as possible.”

According to Sabato, organizers hope to establish the event as a Halifax music scene staple for years to come, with plans to include more stages, bring in new artists and add an additional day to the festival in 2025.

“The possibility and the growth that we see that could happen from this is substantial, and we want to be behind that.”

Sabato said he and his business partner started in the music industry as concert producers in Halifax before moving into music and talent management later in their careers.

“We’ve always wanted to go back to where we both started,” said Sabato. 

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