NewsletterMay 28, 2026

📖 Another Viral NS Book + this week's events

Plus an amazing race week giveaway

Hey Halifax!

This week we’ve got yet another viral Halifax author, a race week ticket giveaway, and an incredible song of the week from teenage songwriters Ella Gunning Parker and Chloe Eden. Plus a ton of events to check out around the city, as always.

Let's dig in 👇

East Coast Books

Another viral Nova Scotian book has a sequel.

Villain by Natalie Zina Walschots — book cover

Nova Scotia author Natalie Zina Walschots is back with Villain, the sequel to her viral 2020 hit Hench — which racked up over 27k ratings and 5k+ reviews on Goodreads, and was nominated for Readers’ Favorite Science Fiction in the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards.

The premise of Hench is what hooked me:

“Anna does boring things for terrible people because even criminals need office help and she needs a job. Working for a monster lurking beneath the surface of the world isn’t glamorous. But is it really worse than working for an oil conglomerate or an insurance company? In this economy?”

Check out her interview with Crystal Garrett on CTV, and buy both books.

Get the books →▶ Watch the interview

Contest · Closes Tue June 3 at noon

Win 2 tickets to Sips & Sails.

Marriott Halifax Harbourfront × Garrison Brewing · June 20–21

Marriott Halifax Harbourfront and Garrison Brewing are throwing a patio party that happens to coincide with some races that are happening in the Halifax Harbour, and it’s definitely our ideal viewing scenario. Tickets include indoor and outdoor race viewing, 2 complimentary drinks + cash bar and chef-prepared bites, and a pre-race performance by Rankin MacInnis and The Broken Reeds.

We’re drawing two winners — one open to the public, one for newsletter subscribers only.

Hit the link to win — tickets are super limited, so scoop yours up before they’re gone!

Enter to win →

Can't Miss Shpwo

Laura Roy's Debut Album Release Show

The Grammy-nominated NS songwriter returns home to release her debut

Laura Roy

Laura Roy moved from Canning, NS to London, UK back in 2017. Since then she's shared stages with Sabrina Carpenter, Dua Lipa, and Camila Cabello. She was nominated for two Grammy's for her writing contributions to Doja Cat's smash album Planet Her.

She's one of the most incredible vocalists you will ever hear live, and there are a handful of tickets left for her debut album release show this Sunday. 3 PM matinee show at Sanctuary Arts Centre.

🎟 Last tickets →▶ Listen to Laura on CBC Radio Q

Quick Hits

🎵 Food For The Ears music festival is June 12-13 in support of Feed Nova Scotia and features an insane lineup of local talent: Rankin MacInnis, Elyse Aeryn, Morgan Tony and a ton more. Get tickets!

⚽️ The Tides are home Friday vs Ottawa Rapid FC, 6 PM. The Wanderers take on Vancouver FC on Saturday, 4 PM. Both at The Wanderers Grounds.

🎬 Tracy & Martina's mockumentary Goin’ Out West just sold out TIFF’s Lightbox in Toronto as part of the Inside Out Film Festival. You can stream it during the festival here.

🏨 Halifax just had its best tourism year on record. 2 million room nights booked in 2025, per Discover Halifax's annual report.

Song of the Week

Ella Gunning Parker & Chloe Eden

“Radio Silent”

Wow. Incredible song from two teenage Nova Scotian songwriters that you absolutely need to know. We're blown away by how good these girls are.

New East Coast Music

PARTY

Time Killing

Someone Else

Okay

Featured East Coast Pod

Afternoon Pint

Darrell Dexter on Transformational Government

Former NDP Premier Darrell Dexter walks the Pint guys through what it actually looks like to govern when the economy melts down and voters still expect big change on a small budget — and the difference between transformational and transactional government.

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Thursday June 18 · Halifax Convention Centre

Atlantic Canada's largest podcast summit.

A full day on community — Audiences are overwhelmed by choice. Community-driven shows are thriving because they’re built around identity and shared values, not just topics.

Speakers from Acast, YouTube, Canadaland, CBC. Plus live recordings.

Get Tickets →

$75 student · $125 conference · $175 VIP