🎸 Hali's new indie-folk star + this week's top events

Hey Halifax!

This week we’ve got an opportunity to meet Halifax’s rising indie-folk star up close and personal before his new major label deal takes him to much bigger stages, a ton of nominations for Halifax-based productions at the Canadian Screen Awards, and a local teen entrepreneur who needs our help to win $25k.

Plus, an incredible new single from the amazing Quoia States and a ton of great events to check out this weekend.

Braden Lam In-Store at Taz Records

Halifax’s Braden Lam just signed his first record deal with Universal Music Canada, making him the first Halifax-based artist in recent memory to land at a major record label. It’s well deserved after years of independent releases and touring across Canada, the US, and Europe.

Saturday at 3pm he's doing a free in-store at Taz Records (1521 Grafton St). Space is limited. This is an amazing opportunity to see a hometown star in the making up close and personal before the stages get bigger.

Braden Lam on Spotify | Billboard: UMC Signing

Halifax Is Having a Moment a the Canadian Screen Awards

The 2026 CSA nominations dropped yesterday, and Nova Scotia showed up with 20 nominations across six productions. We all know and love 22 Minutes, but take some time this week to discover some of these other amazing local productions.

Everybody's Meg (2 noms) — Best Web Program or Series + Best Lead Performance. Six CSA noms over two seasons — and the only East Coast show in the web category. Creator Katie McCulloch: "We're excited to be showing East Coast content on a national stage." I Watch on TPB+

Hey Halifax, Hello! Today! (2 noms) — Best Sketch Comedy + Best Direction. Created by Taylor Olson, Koumbie, Adam DeViller, and Bob Mann — all Halifax. Wayne's World meets cable access, but it's Dartmouth. | Watch on Bell Fibe

There, There (3 noms) — Dartmouth filmmaker Heather Young nominated for Achievement in Direction. Her debut Murmur won Best First Feature at the CSAs in 2020. | Watch the Trailer

The Trades (8 noms) — Robb Wells' workplace comedy, filmed at NSCC Akerley in Dartmouth. Best Comedy Series, Best Lead Performer, and six more. Currently filming Season 3 here. | Watch on Crave

22 Minutes (4 noms) — Halifax since '93. Series, direction, writing, and a special election episode. | Academy.ca

Ha!ifax Comedy Fest (1 nom) rounds it out with a nom for 2023's production. | Academy.ca

This Halifax Teen's Protein Gummy Business Is Blowing Up. Help Him Win $25K.

Rory Fox is 17, from Fall River, and started Swole Bears — high-protein gummy bears — at age 14 with $300. He needed money for a powerlifting competition but didn't want to sell sugary candy at a gym. So he made his own. 800+ test batches later, he's in 25+ stores across four provinces with Popeyes Supplements and Sobeys launches coming.

He's currently 2nd in his group in the national Entrepreneur of Impact competition — $25K prize plus mentoring from Daymond John. One free vote per day. Deadline: April 2.

"I started the business with about $300, and since then I've just kept reinvesting the money back into it."

Vote for Rory | swolebears.ca

Quoia States is undeniably the most exciting young R&B artist on the East Coast. At just 21, she’s aready racked up two NSMA Award noms for her debut album Velvet Notes, is a Portia White Youth Award recipient, and performed at last years Magnetic World festival. She’s quickly becoming one of the most in-demand artists in Halifax, and her brand new single Another Day will show you why. Add this one to your playlists ASAP.

Thursday, 3/26

Bearly a Trivia! 6pm @ Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs - 6:00 PM

Trivia with Mark! @ Woodside Beverage Room and Grill - 7:00 PM

Mahler’s Titan Symphony @ Rebecca Cohn Auditorium - 7:30 PM

Kim Harris & Gianna Lauren @ Gus' Pub - 7:30 PM

Paul Boudreau - FREE Show @ The Carleton - 7:30 PM

Pro-Am Night Halifax at Yuk Yuk's Halifax @ Yuk Yuk's Halifax Comedy Club - 8:00 PM

Verry Gerry 8:30pm @ Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs - 8:30 PM

Friday, 3/27

Big Easy Fridays with Mike Cowie & John Alphonse @ Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs - 5:30 PM

TIMELESS: The Actor’s Showcase II @ The Bus Stop Theatre - 7:30 PM

The Grand Tour – Classic Country Hits from the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s! @ Rebecca Cohn Auditorium - 7:30 PM

Fiddle Party - Scholarship Fundraising Concert @ The Sanctuary Arts Centre - 7:30 PM

Floodland Plays The Beatles @ The Carleton - 8:00 PM

The Story of Waylon @ Casino Nova Scotia - 8:00 PM

Andrew Evans at Yuk Yuk's Halifax @ Yuk Yuk's Halifax Comedy Club - 8:00 PM

Southbound Sinners @ Monte's @ Monte's Showbar Grill - 8:00 PM

Global Centric Brass Band Halloween extravaganza @ Woodside Beverage Room and Grill - 9:00 PM

The Brood 9:30pm @ Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs - 9:30 PM

POP GIRLIES: 2016 vs 2026 @ Marquee Ballroom - 10:00 PM

BLEU NUIT PRESENTS: BLOG HAUS w/ DJS T-WOO & DOUBLE A @ Seahorse Tavern - 10:00 PM

Saturday, 3/28

Sly Fox @ The Sanctuary Arts Centre - 1:00 PM

A Tribute To John Prine @ The Carleton - 1:30 PM

Braden Lam — In-Store at Taz Records @ Taz Records - 3:00 PM

Sly Fox @ The Sanctuary Arts Centre - 4:00 PM

Bruce & Jay Matinee @ Durty Nelly's Irish Pub - 4:00 PM

The Relics 4:30pm @ Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs - 4:30 PM

Carbon Arc presents No Other Choice @ The Bus Stop Theatre - 6:00 PM

Snowed In Comedy Tour @ Rebecca Cohn Auditorium - 7:30 PM

Andrew Evans at Yuk Yuk's Halifax @ Yuk Yuk's Halifax Comedy Club - 8:00 PM

A Tribute To John Prine @ The Carleton - 8:00 PM

Bruce Guthro's Songwriters' Circle @ Casino Nova Scotia - 8:00 PM

CHATFEST @ Gus' Pub - 9:00 PM

The Fabulously Rich - A Tribute to The Tragically Hip @ Monte's Showbar Grill - 9:00 PM

Quiet Hill @ Woodside Beverage Room and Grill - 9:00 PM

The Six Star Revue 9:30pm @ Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs - 9:30 PM

EAST COAST EMO NIGHT: EATURING SPECIAL GUEST DJ AARON GILLESPIE OF UNDERØATH @ Marquee Ballroom - 10:00 PM

PORTVL @ Seahorse Tavern - 10:00 PM

Sunday, 3/29

Moira & Claire @ Art 1274 Hollis @ Trident Booksellers & Cafe - 2:00 PM

Kalaa presents Bali aur Shambu @ The Bus Stop Theatre - 2:00 PM

John Prine Tribute - Glasgow Square Theatre - New Glasgow, NS @ Glasgow Square Theatre - 3:00 PM

Country Cribbage with The Wild Mustard Revival 3pm @ Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs - 3:00 PM

Kalaa presents Bali aur Shambu @ The Bus Stop Theatre - 6:00 PM

Shine Blue - In Support of Autism Nova Scotia @ The Carleton - 7:00 PM

Dalhousie Arts Centre presents: Dwayne Gretzky @ Rebecca Cohn Auditorium - 7:30 PM

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

Monday, 3/30

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

GiG Night 30 Reschedule! @ Gus' Pub - 9:00 PM

Tuesday, 3/31

Round 1, 1st Home Game: Halifax Mooseheads vs. Chicoutimi Sagueneens @ Scotiabank Centre - 7:00 PM

SPONTANEITY IMPROV COMBO SHOW @ The Bus Stop Theatre - 7:30 PM

Music of the Night @ Casino Nova Scotia - 7:30 PM

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

Spin To Win: Super Smash Bros Tournament @ Gus' Pub - 9:00 PM

Wednesday, 4/1

Vinyl Night @ Cafe Marco Polo - 7:00 PM

Round 1, 2nd Home Game: Halifax Mooseheads vs. Chicoutimi Sagueneens @ Scotiabank Centre - 7:00 PM

That’s it for this week!

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

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