🎸Dave Sampson owns the Spring + this week in Hali

Hey Halifax!

We’re celebrating a flurry of Nova Scotian music wins (again) this week. Dave Sampson is on a serious run, Pineo & Loeb & Jrdn are in rotation on radio across the country, and Terra Spencer just took down a major national songwriting award.

We’ll say it again: Nova Scotia is the songwriting capital of Canada.

Plus, the Halifax Wanderers home opener is this weekend, Burger Bash starts today, Dave Sampson’s got our Song of the Week, and we’ve got a ton of great events for you as always.

Let’s dig in 👇

We’ve got another month of CanQuest to go, with more side quests and prizes to be won. Remember to enter daily, and keep an eye on Burnside Brewing’s socials for side quests! 14 of 99 cans have been found so far! Enter now for free.

Spring ‘26 Belongs to Dave Sampson

Halifax’s Dave Sampson is racking up some massive wins this Spring. His song Under The Influence, which East Coast music fans have been singing along to live for the past few years, was just released by chart-topping Canadian country artist Tyler Joe Miller and was the #1 most added song on country radio across the country this week. Fellow Nova Scotian’s Gordie Sampson and Dylan Guthro also share writing credits on the tune. Stream it on Spotify.

Sampson also released his own latest single today, I Should Be Your Man, just announced a one-night-only performance at the legendary Bearly’s House of Blues which sold out in hours, and will play Cavendish Beach Music Festival this summer. The man is cookin’ this Spring and Summer.

If you aren’t already familiar, make following Dave and listening to his entire catalogue your only priority. Requesting the new tunes at radio wouldn’t hurt either.

🎟️ Win Wintersleep Tickets + Signed Vinyl

Wintersleep is back with an incredible new album, and before they head out on the road, they’re playing a couple of hometown shows. Their initial May 16 show sold out quick, so they’ve added da second show on May 15, and we’re giving a way a pair of tickets plus a signed vinyl of the new record.

May 15 @ The Marquee

Quick Hits

🎸 Bearly’s House of Blues is under new ownership, and it’s safe to say the legendary venue’s legacy is in good hands. The new ownership group is made up of longtime Bearly’s regulars and musicians, and they’ve wasted no time getting to work. They hosted a surpise Adam Baldwin show earlier this week, have a sold-out Dave Sampson show in May, and are celebrating the bar’s 40th birthday with an incredible 4-day lineup of shows packed with long-time Bearly’s regulars and some of the city’s best up and coming bands. See the full lineup here.

🎶 Halifax’s Pineo & Loeb have been making incredible dance & electronic music for years, and they keep getting better. This April and May, their latest single Spin (featuring JRDN) is iHeart Radio’s Future Star track, putting it into rotation on mainstream radio across the country. Listen here and add to your Spring playlist.

🎵 Terra Spencer was just named English Songwriter of the Year. The Windsor, NS singer-songwriter took home top honours at the Canadian Folk Music Awards in Calgary on April 9. If her catalogue isn't already on your phone, fix that here.

🎻 Inventions is one of the most quietly ambitious things happening in the local scene. Nova Scotian songwriters are paired with emerging local composers, under the direction of composer Amy Brandon, to re-imagine their songs as ensemble arrangements, then puts the whole thing on stage in the fall. Tonight is the cohort reveal: meet the 2026 artists, hear them perform their songs before the arrangements get written, and learn more about the program. Tonight at The Local.

🍔 Burger Bash officially starts this week! The Coast + Garrison Brewing are presenting the 14th edition of Halifax’s beloved Burger Bash and looking to raise a record amount of money for Feed NS. Get out there and eat some burgs. More Info

⚽️ Wanderers Home Opener is this Saturday afternoon at The Wanderers Grounds vs. Pacific FC after opening the season on the road with a win and a draw.

Thursday, 4/16

Bearly's Trivia with Kieran! @ Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs - 6:30 PM

Better Times Comedy at Good Robot @ Good Robot Brewing - Robie St. Taproom, Store & Beer Garden - 7:00 PM

Jamie Fontaine W/ Brandon Davis @ The Carleton - 7:30 PM

Jeremy Dutcher & the National Arts Centre Orchestra @ Rebecca Cohn Auditorium - 7:30 PM

Princess @ Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs - 8:30 PM

Friday, 4/17

20 Years of Quiet Parade @ The Sanctuary Arts Centre - 7:30 PM

James Mullinger Live in Halifax @ Rebecca Cohn Auditorium - 7:30 PM

Lunenburg: Purcell’s King Arthur & The Fairy Queen @ Rebecca Cohn Auditorium - 7:30 PM

The Satisfactory w/ Nate and The Busy Boys, The Culls & Polka Ramone @ Seahorse Tavern - 8:00 PM

Bryan Hatt at Yuk Yuk's Halifax @ Yuk Yuk's Halifax Comedy Club - 8:00 PM

Steve Poltz - Friday @ The Carleton - 8:00 PM

MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE - The East Coast's Premiere 80s Experience @ Monte's Showbar Grill - 8:00 PM

Under The Bus and Guests @ Woodside Beverage Room and Grill - 9:00 PM

Andrew Gillis & The Jump Blues Allstars @ Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs - 9:30 PM

KRANIUM – HALIFAX LIVE IN CONCERT @ Marquee Ballroom - 10:00 PM

Saturday, 4/18

Steve Poltz - Saturday matinee @ The Carleton - 1:30 PM

Halifax Wanderers FC vs. Pacific FC @ The Wanderers Grounds - 2:00 PM

J.A.G. with John B. Main Matinee @ Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs - 4:30 PM

Pours For Paws @ Casino Nova Scotia - 7:00 PM

Halifax Thunderbirds vs. Ottawa Black Bears @ Scotiabank Centre - 7:00 PM

A New World: intimate music from FINAL FANTASY @ Rebecca Cohn Auditorium - 8:00 PM

Bryan Hatt at Yuk Yuk's Halifax @ Yuk Yuk's Halifax Comedy Club - 8:00 PM

Ruckus @ Monte's @ Monte's Showbar Grill - 8:00 PM

Steve Poltz - Saturday eve @ The Carleton - 8:00 PM

Mat Hughes & Mat Elliot @ Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs - 9:30 PM

ALL NIGHT LONG: DIEGO(MX) @ Marquee Ballroom - 10:00 PM

DARK ROOM @ Seahorse Tavern - 10:00 PM

Sunday, 4/19

Steve Poltz - Sunday matinee @ The Carleton - 1:30 PM

Purcell’s King Arthur & The Fairy Queen @ St. Andrew's United Church - 2:00 PM

Country Cribbage with Manderville Folk band @ Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs - 3:00 PM

Steve Poltz - Sunday eve @ The Carleton - 7:00 PM

Legendary Sunday Night Blues Jam @ Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs - 8:00 PM

Monday, 4/20

Goodwill Trivia Mondays (Click For Reservations) @ Good Robot Brewing - Robie St. Taproom, Store & Beer Garden - 7:00 PM

Open Song Circle with Noah Tye! 8pm @ Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs - 8:00 PM

That’s it for this week!

Got an event we should know about? Hit reply and let us know!

P.S. Follow us on Instagram for more updates and giveaways!