By Sagar Jha, Staff Contributor
Halifree Pop Explosion: Don’t break the bank
We’ve all been there. You want to check out some sweet music but don’t want to break the bank. Don’t worry: the Halifax Pop Explosion this year has free concerts featuring bands like Radio Radio, Rebekah Higgs, and The Kestrels to name a few. There are also a lot of other free things happening like the zine fair, a mix-tape swap and a movie presentation by Picnicface.
Kicking off the free version of Pop Explosion on Oct. 19, 6 p.m. at the Citadel Hotel, is DJ James Reid and Long Long Long. Reid fuses many different styles of music, leaving you with chills. Long Long Long revive messy, nostalgic punk rock and are bound to have the whole place jumping.
Other free shows worth checking out include the ones happening in the CKDU lobby. There will be visits from Dance Movie, IT KILLS, Forrest City Lovers, Cousins and two secret guests. These shows will feature a more folk-pop sound. The shows happen Oct. 20-22 starting at 4:00 p.m.; a great way to start your weekend.
The highlight of the free shows has to be the Bonsound Showcase on Oct. 22 starting at 6 p.m. at the Citadel Hotel. Headlining the show is recent Polaris nominee, Radio Radio, who drop the sickest francophone hip-hop sound. The entire Bonsound community is a must-see as it is unique and cultured. It’s going to be a formal freak show.
Halifax Hip-Hop Explosion: The sickest hip-hop
The hip-hop this year is so diverse and features several new sounds on the scene. Some of the big names include Random Recipe, The Wordburglar, and Ghettosocks.
Kicking things off on Oct. 20 is Halifax’s own Ghettosocks at The Paragon. This show is part of the 101.3 The Bounce show. Ghettosocks was named the best local MC by The Coast this year and is without a doubt going to drop his clever lyricism and fresh beats that create a true old-school hip-hop feel. Show starts at 11:30 p.m. and costs $15 at the door or $12 in advance.
Thursday night starting at Tribeca, five bucks is all you need to get yourself a night with the Wordburglar. The Wordburglar has to be one of the most clever rappers ever. He uses incredibly obscure and interesting wordplay and creates an in-your-face style similar to the Beastie Boys. Show starts at 10:00 p.m. and costs $5.
The hip-hop highlight of the festival will happen Saturday night at Tribeca featuring Three Sheet, Random Recipe, and Radio Radio. By now you must have seen Three Sheet posters everywhere. They, like Random Recipe, create all of their percussion on stage through beat-boxing. Random Recipe is what hip-hop has been waiting for. They feature a few lyrical geniuses who create meaningful and personal songs. After the beat-boxing extravaganza, Radio Radio, the fun dance party, will drop their unique Acadian French hip-hop style. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. and costs $10.
Halifolk Pop Explosion: The best of folk music
Holy Folk, there are too many great artists playing this year. Some big names include Basia Bulat, The Mountains and The Trees, Acres & Acres and many, many more.
The first must see show is Oct 21 with Old Man Luedecke and Jon McKiel at St. Matthew’s Church. McKiel uses a raw sounding guitar and his melancholy voice. Old Man Luedecke is a one man, upbeat banjo act who will leave you smiling from ear to ear. The show starts at 8:00 p.m. and costs $18 at the door or $15 in advance.
The In The Dead of Winter Showcase on Oct. 22 at the Company House will feature Acres & Acres, The Wilderness of Manitoba and Erin Costello. Acres & Acres use a very mellow, simple sound. The Wilderness of Manitoba are a multi-talented group that create a haunting and complex sound. Closing the show is ECMA-nominated Erin Costello, who uses her very unique singer-songwriter style to craft more upbeat songs. The show starts at 8:00 p.m., $10.
The most anticipated folk show of the festival is Basia Bulat’s folk-pop sound, performed alongside Symphony Nova Scotia in the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium on Oct. 22. Expect an incredibly unique and dynamic show. The Symphony and her poppy style will hopefully mesh very well together. The show starts at 6:30 p.m., $29.
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