By Nick Jean
While we’re in the heights of summer, getting over the hangover of the past weekend’s peak summer festivals, it’s hard to believe it’s already time to be thinking about the next season. A perennial highlight of the fall festival calendar is the Halifax Pop Explosion (HPX,) this year taking place Oct. 19-22, and yesterday they released their line-up.
Headlining the festival is the veteran Newfoundland band Hey Rosetta! who are always a hit. Also in the large type are Basia Bulat, PUP and White Lung, any of whom could be riding high on a Polaris Music Prize win. Holy Fuck, The Barr Brothers and Tuns round out the favourites from the top of the chart, but, as is always the case, there’s plenty of excellent music to be found in the “small print” acts.
Hannah Georgas, Mo Kenney (supported by Symphony Nova Scotia,) Royal Canoe and Nap Eyes are all must-see shows. If you’re looking for something a little noisier, check out Pkew Pkew Pkew, Fake Palms or Monomyth. Folk? Supermoon. Pop? Alana Yorke. Hip hop? City Natives. And of course lots of rock. There is someone performing for almost any genre you can name. (Sorry, no polka… yet.)
HPX is promising more acts will be announced between now and opening night, so keep tuned to their social media for updates. Of course, you can always point your browsers to their website to fill yourself in, as well as grab your tickets or wristbands and subscribe for their mailing list.
Bet you thought you were done with the Maritime FOMO. Two weeks after HPX, Nova Scotia plays host to yet another totally stacked festival, Nova Scotia Music Week (NSMW.) In-Flight Safety (who will be performing) shared their poster yesterday as well. There is some cross-over acts, but a whole lot of other amazing music to be heard as well. Check out this line-up, too.
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