What better way to end the summer than to finish it off with yet another music festival. Halifax Urban Folk Festival returns for its tenth anniversary and have just released their first wave of 2019 artists. Running from August 25 – September 1, you can find a wide variety of acts scattered around the HRM on both sides of the harbour, even finding themselves branching out to local breweries this year.
Headliners this year include Matthew Sweet, Damhnait Doyle and Alejandro Escovedo who will all perform with a specially curated backing back of local musicians called The Halifax All-Stars and will also perform in songwriters circle throughout the festival. Paul Murphy from Wintersleep, JUNO award winner Catherine MacLellan and Christina Martin are also set to perform in these songwriters circles.
The Carleton lineup includes Mo Kenney, Carleton Stone, Kaleigh O’Connor, Dave Sampson, Jodi Guthro, Willie Stratton, Dylan Guthro, Maura Whitman, Cameron Nickerson, as well as performances throughout the week by The Burning Hell, Museum Pieces, Gianna Lauren, Ian Janes, Chris Kirby, The Novaks, Cameron and Cory Tetford.
Halifax’s Good Robot Brewing Company will be hosting free songwriters circles in the early evening featuring T. Thomason, Terra Spencer, Daniel Walker, Ethan Ash, Jake Duggan, Laura Merrimen, Mia Cathleen. Good Robot’s programming also plays host to a series of ticketed shows which will be held later in the evening with performances by The Maes, Leeroy Stagger, Quote the Raven, Willow St. Station, and Novusolis.
Two Dartmouth breweries are set to open their doors this year to the festival which include Brightwood Brewery and New Scotland Brewery.
Brightwood Brewery is set to host acts Wide Mouth Mason’s Shaun Verreault, Garrett Mason, Ethan Ash, and Tim Moxam. Down the road at New Scotland Brewery we will find performances by Mo Kenney, Eamon McGrath, Thomas Stajcer, The Town Heroes‘ Michael S. Ryan and Elsie Morden.
“I couldn’t be more excited about this year’s lineup!” says Mike Campbell, the festivals Artistic Director, “Oh, and ten years of HUFF?! I am gobsmacked and thrilled all at once that our little festival made it this far. Come celebrate with us!”
More information about HUFF’s 2019 programming, including additional performers, venues, and partnerships will be announced in the coming weeks. To learn more about the Halifax Urban Folk Festival and to buy tickets, visit www.halifaxurbanfolkfestival.com.