X
Halifax is a city known for its music. Take a walk downtown any night of the week, and you can find everything from bar bands bashing out East Coast-inspired classics to up-and-coming singer-songwriters, hip-hop and EDM artists spinning beats, symphonic collaborations, experimental jazz, and more.
When you combine that rich musical tradition with our reputation for being some of the best hosts in Canada, you’re in for one heck of a good time.
When Halifax hosted the 53rd annual JUNO Awards from March 21-24, 2024, it was the city’s second time hosting the year’s biggest celebration of Canadian music. And Halifax knows how to put on a musical weekend to remember.
JUNOFest: A Celebration of Canadian Music
The JUNOs are about more than just the awards—although that’s an important component—they’re an opportunity for Canadian musicians and music-lovers to come together to celebrate the country’s deep musical talent.
Over two nights, 100+ bands took the stage for JUNOFest. There’s nothing quite like Halifax in full musical festival mode. The city comes alive as music lovers venue-hop, taking in the sights and sounds of their favourite musicians.
Friday night’s lineup included local favourites like Jah’Mila, Leanne Hoffman, Rich Aucoin, alongside national acts like The East Pointers, Cloverdale, and Quote the Raven, to name just a few. Saturday’s JUNOFest lineup featured City Natives, Haviah Mighty, Lisa Leblanc and many more.
JUNO Block Party
Music wasn’t just relegated to indoor venues over 2024’s JUNO Week. Over three electrifying nights, Halifax hosted the first-ever JUNO Block Party sponsored by FACTOR just footsteps from the Halifax waterfront.
The Block Party weekend kicked off with the JUNO Kick-Off Concert powered by Support4Culture. The night featured a tribute to Mi’kmaw culture featuring City Natives and Joce Reyome. It also included Classified’s “Welcome to the Martimes” set, which featured David Myles, JRDN, and O’Sound, along with other special guests. Then, to close off the party, International Ambassador for DJ Culture—and Halifax’s own—Skratch Bastid took to the ones and twos for an old school dance party.
Junior JUNOS
The 2024 JUNOs weren’t just for the 19+ crowd. On March 24, at the Paul O’Regan Hall at the Halifax Central Library, JUNO nominees Ginalina and Splash N’ Boots played a free show for kids and kids at heart. The family-friendly event offered an opportunity for even the youngest music lovers to take part in the JUNO weekend festivities.
Making Music Accessible
It takes an entire city to host an event like the JUNOs—and that includes thinking about how to make it easier for music fans to take in the sights and sounds of JUNO week. For the 2024 celebrations, event organizers partnered with Halifax Transit to provide sustainable transportation initiatives. This included the JUNO Express, a bus that travelled between venues on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
The JUNOs also partnered to provide Park and Ride Shuttles from Sackville and Portland Hills bus terminals, making it easier for folks to enjoy the festivities responsibly and avoid navigating the busy downtown core. Finally, Halifax Transit also offered extended Alderney Ferry Service to make sure folks on both sides of the harbour could enjoy all the event had to offer.
The Main Event: JUNO Awards Night
Of course, no JUNO week is complete without the main event—the JUNO Awards. 2024 marked the 53rd edition of the awards that celebrate the best of Canada’s musical talent. The ceremony was hosted by Canadian music icon Nelly Furtado and featured performances by Furtado, Charlotte Cardin, Maestro Fresh Wes, and The Beaches, among others.
The Awards were broadcast in front of a live audience on CBC Television from the Scotiabank Centre in downtown Halifax. While no one artist swept as in previous years, Tate McRae, Tobi, Aysanabee, The Beaches and Charlotte Cardin all walked away with multiple trophies.
By the Numbers
In total, the week drew an estimated 13,400 attendees—including 2,700 out-of-town visitors—across dozens of concerts and events.
From an economic standpoint, the JUNOs generated nearly $8 million in economic activity in Halifax, including $3 million in direct tourism spending, $1.8 million in wages and salaries, and 34 direct jobs. Provincially, the JUNOs generated $9.3 million in economic activity and boosted Nova Scotia’s provincial GDP by $4.7 million.
Beyond the numbers, Halifax had the opportunity to show off our East Coast hospitality and deep love of live music by welcoming the best of Canada’s music scene, making the 2024 JUNOs one to remember.
