A Halifax-made Tragically Hip doc, HIRTLE + more

Thursday · August 20, 2026

This week we've got Connor Hirtle's incredible Lemons to Lemonade story, a new documentary celebrating The Tragically Hip from Halifax pop culture podcaster Liz Duff, and an absolutely killer new music video from Halifax soul supergroup Lane Hall.

Plus, we've got two great giveaways and we built a tool to help you add your support on top of Heated RIvalry author Rachel Reid's generous 300k gift to save NS libraries.

Let's dig in!

Presented by Island Folk

HIRTLE is ready to release

After a 2015 swimming accident left him paralyzed, Connor Hirtle started writing. A decade later, he fronts HIRTLE, has four singles out and played Cavendish Beach Music Festival this summer.

Lemons to Lemonade shares stories of Nova Scotians who turned a tough chapter into something good. Know someone whose story deserves to be told—or want to put your own name forward? Nominate a future feature.

Island Folk Cider House

Meet Lemon Squeezy

Lemon Squeezy is available at select NSLC locations, but only for a few more days!

Halifax's Liz Duff is chronicling The Tragically Hip's final hometown show with That Night in Kingston

Ten years after 11.7 million Canadians tuned into The Tragically Hip’s final hometown show, Halifax-based Canadian pop culture creator Liz Duff is releasing That Night in Kingston. The story begins with her father, who worked security at some of the band’s earliest shows and made sure Liz grew up a fan, then returns to the arena and the people who carried that final night. Liz has been dropping new clips all week, and the full documentary arrives tomorrow.

Giveaway

Win a FamFest weekend for two

FamFest Atlantic has cracked the code on family events that are as fun for adults as they are for kids. Allegra Swanson and Craig Mercer have deep roots in East Coast music, and were frustrated with the lack of family-friendly options, so they created a festival of their own.

It features an insane music lineup including: Wintersleep, Neon Dreams, Slowcoaster, Rankin MacInnis & The Broken Reeds, Aquakultre, Good Dear Good, and a ton more.

Plus, a giant sing-a-long with The Big Sing, magicians, Mermaid Theatre, and more fun activities.

This week we’re giving away two weekend passes to FamFest Atlantic, plus an on-site photo session for your family or crew.

Quick Hits

The Bedford-raised Heated Rivalry author bought AVRL roughly six months of runway across its ten current locations. It’s one of the biggest personal gifts in the library's history, but only a temporary solution. We've created a way for you to add your support by easily emailing your MLA.

We've been digging more into Atlantic Canadian books lately, and are giving away a copy of Bryn Pottie’s Leacock-longlisted hilarious Bluenose caper. I finished reading it last week and loved it. Entries close Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Atlantic.

The cafe's baker and her wife have been running their BoiBoi Eatery takeovers this summer, and they run every Thursday through Saturday in August, serving dinner from 5–10 p.m. Apparently the food is incredible, so we'll be stopping by this weekend. You should too before it's gone.

The Montreal loukoumades chain opens at 2383 Agricola Street this weekend with hot Greek doughnuts and its first location in Atlantic Canada. We've heard it's delicious enough to allow a chain to open in our beloved North End community.

Song of the Week

Lane Hall takes it “Down Home”

JRDN and Lane Hall close their self-titled album with “Down Home.” The official video—by Griffin O’Toole and Charlie Benoit—makes the case for watching this one, not just streaming it.

Your Thursday passport stamp is here

Collect stamps at Burnside taprooms, events and every Thursday in the Halifamous newsletter to earn Burnside gift cards, a 12-pack and a chance to win Beer For a Year.

Thanks for reading,
Greg