Braden Lam's perfect beach day + Thanksgiving weekend in Halifax

Hey Halifax!

This week, singer-songwriter Braden Lam takes us on his perfect Halifax beach day, the day before his brand new single "Suzie's Beach" drops. Plus a long weekend of haunted houses and pumpkins, Nowadays Festival kicks off in Downtown Dartmouth, and all of the best shows and events this week.

We also have 5 East Coast music picks including a new album from PEI rockers Gizmo, and a podcast interview with Halifax Wanderers owner Derek Martin explaining his pitch to the city for a permanent stadium.

Let's dig in!

Braden Lam's Halifavourites: a perfect beach day on each side of the harbour

Braden Lam spent years recording and touring as an independent artist, earning 14 Music Nova Scotia and East Coast Music Award nominations along the way. In March, Universal Music Canada signed him, and his first album with the label was recorded live to analog tape in Los Angeles this spring.

He mapped out two perfect beach days for us, a Halifax side down the South Shore and a Dartmouth side out the Eastern Shore. In his words, it's "where I would take visiting friends, or touring musicians when they have a day off."

A few of his Dartmouth-side stops:

Larry's Sandwiches. "I'm not ashamed to admit I eat here probably more than once a week. Meatball sub with the crunchy wedge salad has been my fave lately!"

Rainbow Haven Beach. "The moment I step onto the boardwalk and hear the grass dancing on the sand dunes my heart rate lowers."

Oxalis Restaurant. "This place deserves many Michelin stars in my books."

Dear Friend. "Meet up with some friends for a night cap of the Milk Punch, oysters, and olives. You can thank me later."

His full guide has 10 more picks across both sides of the harbour, from Ramblers to Bar Bar Bar.

Thanksgiving weekend in Halifax

Bluenose Ghosts Festival, Thursday to Sunday. The haunted house at Alderney Landing is back for its 18th year, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., with tickets at the door. The Selfie Haunted Park is free. Festival details.

Scotian Distillery Fest, Saturday. More than 50 locally crafted spirits, with mini-cocktails, bites and live music, at Richmond Yards from 3 to 9 p.m. It's 19+. Tickets.

A pumpkin patch on the Common, Saturday. The Patch Pumpkin Farm from Milford sets up at Good Robot's Commons Beer Garden from noon, "or until the pumpkins run out." Details.

Georges Island's last regular weekend. The island is open Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., before regular hours end on October 11. Hours.

Ghost tours at the Citadel, Thursday to Saturday. The Halifax Citadel Society runs them at 8 p.m. Tickets.

The Wanderers on Thanksgiving Monday. They host Cavalry FC at the Wanderers Grounds at 5 p.m. Tickets.

Nowadays starts tonight, plus Daniel Lanois and the Black Keys

Nowadays, Thursday to Saturday. The festival's fourth year runs three nights in Downtown Dartmouth: Cass McCombs at the Sanctuary on Thursday, Syana at the Buffalo Club on Friday and F*cked Up at the Mic Mac Amateur Aquatic Club on Saturday. Passes are sold out, but every single show has tickets. See the Nowadays lineup.

Daniel Lanois, Saturday, October 10. The producer and songwriter plays the Rebecca Cohn at 8 p.m. He produced U2's The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby, Peter Gabriel's So, Bob Dylan's Oh Mercy and Time Out of Mind and Neil Young's Le Noise, and he has won seven Grammys, three of them for Album of the Year. Tickets.

The Black Keys, Wednesday, October 14. With Jeremie Albino, at Scotiabank Centre at 7:30 p.m. Tickets.

Quick Hits

Simple Plan plays Scotiabank Centre on Tuesday, February 16. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. Event page.

Renée Zellweger, Sissy Spacek and Mia Threapleton are in Nova Scotia filming A Woman in the Sun. SaltWire reports the shoot runs over the next six weeks, with locations kept confidential. SaltWire has the story.

That silver airship over the harbour is a Finnish autonomous airship from Kelluu. It's in town for the NATO Innovation Continuum this week. SaltWire explains.

This week's best shows and events

Thursday, October 8

Mooseheads vs Rouyn-Noranda:

At Scotiabank Centre. 7 p.m.

ANSMA Awards Show Gala:

The African Nova Scotian Music Association's 28th annual awards, with live performances, at the Light House. 7 p.m.

Spring Awakening at the Bus Stop Theatre:

Elevator Theatre's production opens tonight and runs to October 25. 7:30 p.m.

Moonii, Floating Mansions and Jane Baker at Bearly's:

Floating Mansions are in from Hamilton. 8 p.m.

Friday, October 9

Big Easy Fridays at Bearly's:

Mike Cowie and John Alphonse. 5 p.m.

Poetry Night at Trident:

Jaime Forsythe, Conyer Clayton and Lisa Richter read. 7 p.m.

HIRTLE and Ryan Harvey Band at The Carleton:

A Nova Scotia country and bluegrass double bill. 8 p.m.

Cameron Nickerson at Bearly's:

With Tommy Lutz. 9 p.m.

The Martin Boys at the Seahorse:

With Tyler Salsman and Jackson Weldon.

Saturday, October 10

Mooseheads vs Drummondville:

At Scotiabank Centre. 7 p.m.

Aaron MacDonald Band at The Carleton:

The Cape Breton songwriter, the week his Big Red Sky EP came out. 8 p.m.

Hal Bruce and Ticket to Ride at the Shore Club:

In Hubbards, with the last lobster supper of the season.

Brickworks at Bearly's:

9:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 11

Old Time Jam at Bearly's:

With Koromati and The North Star. 3 p.m.

Women of the Fur Trade at Neptune:

The last day of the run. 2 p.m.

Don Ross and Julie Malia at The Carleton:

7 p.m.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Carbon Arc:

Come in costume; the best Rocky Horror character wins a six-punch pass. 8 p.m.

Sunday Night Blues Jam at Bearly's:

Andrew Gillis and special guests. 8 p.m.

Tuesday, October 13

Garrett Mason's Peace and Love Festival at Bearly's:

8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 14

Blurring the Lines at the Music Room:

The Music Room Chamber Players series. 7:30 p.m.

Coming up

Halifax Tides vs Montreal Roses:

Saturday, October 17, at the Wanderers Grounds. 3 p.m.

Frenchy's: The Thrift Musical:

Eastern Front Theatre's musical opens October 16 at Alderney Landing and runs to November 1.

Nocturne:

Art at night across Halifax, October 15 to 18.

Market Pulse

Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market

Saturday, October 10, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. · Sunday, October 11, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Open both days of the long weekend for your Thanksgiving shopping, at Pavilion 23.

Other farmers' markets open Thanksgiving Saturday

Saturday, October 10

The Halifax Brewery Farmers' Market and the Halifax Forum Farmers' Market are open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Alderney Landing's market opens at 8 a.m. None of the markets are open on Thanksgiving Monday.

Know an East Coast artist, event or story we should have on our radar? Hit reply.

Thanks for reading,

Greg