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Halifax's live music scene is shaped by sound, culture, place, and the relationships artists build with audiences.
No matter the genre, these artists share one goal: to build a lasting connection with their audience. In Halifax, that connection takes many forms, from intimate singer-songwriter performances and moving R&B rooted in the oldest Indigenous Black community in Canada to a duo that turns every bar into a gay bar and a Nigerian-born afrobeats artist whose shows are built to get you moving.
To better understand what makes Halifax's live music scene special, we spoke with four local artists about what audiences can expect from their live shows and why they love performing in Halifax.
he/him
aRENYE
Sound
Afrobeats and African pop, shaped by his Nigerian roots and years in Halifax. His music is rhythmic, energetic, and purpose-driven, blending movement with messages of self-love, faith, creativity, and community.
Why see him live
aRENYE’s live show is built to move people physically and emotionally. “There’s an exchange of connection of creativity flowing between myself and the crowd,” he says. His performances bring high energy to the room, while also encouraging audiences to think about purpose, connection, and love.
“I’m always making sure that I’m inspiring you to be more creative in your own world. I’m inspiring you to love yourself, to love the people around you, and to love the God that created you as well.”
Why Halifax?
For aRENYE, performing in Halifax gives him a very specific feeling.
“It feels like performing to a place where you grew up and that made you who you are,” he says.
What makes it special, he adds, is that the people in the crowd are often creatives in their own right—not always musically, but in the way they understand and respond to art.
That connection became clear during one of his first performances at the 2024 Halifax Jazz Festival, when Jah’Mila brought him out during her show. Before the performance, he remembers walking down Argyle Street feeling like he was in a movie. Backstage, he laid on the floor and quietly took in the moment.
“I thank God for this opportunity I was about to experience,” he says.
When he stepped onstage, he stopped thinking and let instinct take over.
“That was one of the moments where I just let the spirit do its thing,” he says.
For him, it was a moment that showed what performing in Halifax could mean: not just playing for a crowd, but sharing his energy with people who understood the weight of being on that stage.
Favourite venues: Paul O’Regan Hall, The MouseTrap at Good Robot.
Pillow Fite
Sound
Queer alt-pop and indie folk duo, pairing Art Ross’ (they/them) open, intimate lyrics with Aaron Green’s (he/him) guitar and production.
Why see them live
Their shows can shift from funny to devastating in the span of a few songs. In smaller spaces, they describe their acoustic duo set as a mix of “stand-up comedy and then really sad songs,” with the two of them bantering like siblings in more intimate arrangements. In larger spaces, they bring a full band to capture the energy of their recordings while keeping the show loose, fun, and connected. They also intentionally create inclusive, community-minded spaces.
“Whatever venue we’re in, we will make it a gay bar,” Ross says. “Come to a Pillow Fite show and meet your wife.”
Why Halifax?
“Aaron and I have done so much travel that we can compare our home city to other European cities, cities across the U.S. —lots of other venues. But there’s something really sweet and earnest about performing in Halifax,” says Ross.
The two look beyond just the music they’re contributing to the scene, touching on the various genres Halifax brings to the table at a high level.
“There’s so many nights where you can go see some really young hip hop artists who will blow your mind or you can go see some crazy indie folk thing that just makes you cry or go see some rock band and dance all night and have a great time,” says Green, who adds that people outside of Halifax might not be aware of the diversity of Halifax’s music scene.
Favourite venues: The Carleton, The MouseTrap at Good Robot, Seahorse Tavern, Lighthouse Arts Centre, and St. Andrew’s United Church.
he/him
Braden Lam
Sound
Modern indie-folk music with authentic songwriting. Upon moving here as an eighteen-year-old, the Ontario native did a deep dive into the local folk and indie music scene. Halifax has shaped his songwriting and storytelling, embracing the local tradition of inviting the audience into shows and songs through storytelling and sharing what’s on his mind.
Why see him live
Lam puts himself out there through his live shows and music, hoping audiences will match his energy in return, something that has kept fans coming back for years. He describes his performances as equally vulnerable and entertaining. “My live show is intimate and fun, and I think you will walk away feeling like we’ve known each other our whole lives,” says Lam.
He still sees people at his shows who have been there since the beginning—people who came to his early open mic nights or paid $6 to see him at The Carleton.
“You’ll make fans in Halifax, and they will be your fans for life.”
Why Halifax?
Lam describes local crowds as enthusiastic and loyal, with an energy that feels different from other cities. The crowds are eager to participate and excited to attend, making the energy in the room “unmatched” compared with other cities, according to Lam.
“I think it’s a full 360 experience when you’re at a show in Halifax,” says Lam. “Whereas sometimes you can be at a show and it’s a bit more two-dimensional. You’re just experiencing what’s on stage.”
“I think in Halifax, it’s about the environment. It’s about the people in attendance. It’s about the atmosphere and the service and the entertainment all wrapped into one, which is really special.”
Favourite venues: Seahorse Tavern, The Carleton, Light House Arts Centre, The MouseTrap at Good Robot, and the Bus Stop Theatre.
she/her
Adina
Sound
R&B and soul music with gospel influences that explore the full spectrum of human emotion. Drawing inspiration from her roots in North Preston, the oldest Indigenous Black community in Canada, and a lifelong connection to gospel music, she creates music that is both deeply personal and powerfully moving.
Why see her live
Her performances are designed to take audiences on an emotional journey. “There are crying moments. There are angry moments. There are good laughs,” she says. Viewing music as a form of therapy, she creates a space for listeners to relate and release their emotions alongside her.
Why Halifax?
For Adina, Halifax’s music scene offers visitors a chance to experience the cultures that make Nova Scotia unique. She points to the city’s festival-filled summers and highlights the distinct Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian cultures that are woven into the region’s identity.
“It’s beautiful,” she says. “If you ever go to any of the African Nova Scotian Music Association (ANSMA) events just to see a display of our culture, and now seeing more representation for African and Caribbean culture in the past 10 years—it’s such a beautiful thing to see different Black cultures across the diaspora.”
Favourite venues: 2037 Gottingen (The Marquee, The Local, and the Seahorse Tavern) and the Lighthouse Arts Centre.
