Neon Dreams tomorrow + win HUFF tickets

Hey Halifax!

Neon Dreams headline the Marquee tomorrow night, our HUFF ticket giveaway is open, and the Tides, Mooseheads and Wanderers all play at home this weekend. Plus new music from Pillow Fite and Quake Matthews, Shaun Majumder's new podcast, and a long list of free things to do.

Let's dig in!

Neon Dreams headline the Marquee tomorrow night

Neon Dreams play a hometown show at the Marquee Ballroom tomorrow, Friday September 18. They were excited to bring their favourite South African artist Booshle G to Canada with them for the first time, but he wasn't able to get into the country sadly. Opening the show instead will be Nova Scotia's Colrain, who have been one of the most in demand East Coast bands of the summer. Doors are at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9.

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Win two tickets to the HUFF show of your choice

Our HUFF ticket giveaway is open. Eight pairs of tickets are up for grabs across four shows, and you pick the one you want to see. Confirm your email, choose your show, and you're in that show's draw. Entries close Sunday, September 27 at 11:59 p.m., and winners are drawn September 28.

Here are the four shows in the draw:

Jon Hines Band, Jah'Mila and Joce Reyome

Thursday, October 1, 8:30 p.m., The Basement.

Jon Hines' Cape Breton blues, Jah'Mila's reggae and soul, and Joce Reyome on the same bill.

Coyote, Marian, Sisters and Sorrey

Friday, October 2, 9 p.m., Seahorse.

Sorrey brings guitar-driven indie rock and dream-pop melodies, and PEI's Coyote make their long-awaited return to the stage.

Elyse Aeryn, Connor Fox, Casual Cries for Help and Bethany

Saturday, October 3, 9 p.m., Seahorse.

Elyse brings her roots-rock back to the Seahorse along with a killer supporting lineup.

The Million Experience

Saturday, October 3, 9 p.m., Marquee.

Million Vibes brings BASYL, Kayo, aRENYE and more to the Marquee with a full band.

Enter to win

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It's a huge sports weekend in Halifax

The Wanderers Grounds and Scotiabank Centre are both busy this weekend. Halifax Tides FC host AFC Toronto on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Grounds. Four hours later the Mooseheads open their regular season at home against the Moncton Wildcats, 7 p.m. at Scotiabank Centre. Then on Sunday at 4 p.m. the Wanderers are back at the Grounds against Inter Toronto FC, coming home off a win in Laval.

The Grounds are also the week's biggest local story. On Tuesday the Wanderers asked council to let them build a permanent, privately funded stadium on the site, with the club covering construction and offering thousands of hours of community use every year. Council had plenty of questions, let's see if they can manage not to fumble this absolute no-brainer for the city. CBC has the details.

Tides tickets · Mooseheads tickets · Wanderers tickets

Quick Hits

Cape Breton Pro Rodeo, September 24–27. Four days at Centre 200 in Sydney, opening with a Sam Roberts Band concert on Thursday the 24th and rodeo events Friday through Sunday. Rodeo details and tickets.

Dr. Robert Strang is one of the local "stars" competing in Dancing With The Stars for Hospice, raising money for palliative and end-of-life care in Cape Breton. Vote for your dancer.

Who owns Halifax? A new Dalhousie Legal Aid report finds that 20 landlords own 56 per cent of the city's rental housing units. Read the Halifax Examiner's summary.

Free this week

Word on the Hill. A book fair at Nimbus Publishing, 3660 Strawberry Hill, this Saturday, September 19, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Details.

Symphony Week. Symphony Nova Scotia plays free around the city: the Halifax airport September 21 and 22 at noon, and the Central Library with Alan Syliboy on September 26 at 2 and 3:30 p.m. and September 27 at 2 p.m. Full schedule.

Halifax Repair Café. Bring the broken lamp, the jacket with the busted zipper or the laptop that will not boot to Keshen Goodman Library this Sunday, September 20, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Volunteers fix things for free while you watch. How it works.

Free movies outside. The Secret of Roan Inish plays the Bedford boardwalk tomorrow, Friday September 18, at 8 p.m., and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory plays Queen's Marque on Monday, September 21, at 7:45 p.m. No registration. Park Video schedule.

Live on Agricola. Open Mic House's free Friday series in the Carlo Auto lot at 2539 Agricola runs 7–9 p.m. every Friday through the end of the month. This week's lineup is on @openmichfx. Series dates.

More shows and events

Friday, September 18

Angelique Francis Band at the Carleton:

Ottawa blues and soul, 8 p.m. $30.

Saturday, September 19

The Sadies and Terra Lightfoot at the Seahorse:

Doors 7:30 p.m., show 8 p.m., 19+.

Newbridge with Jackson Weldon at the Carleton:

Two local acts we have been watching, on one bill. 8 p.m. $20.

CaneFire at the Rebecca Cohn:

Toronto's Caribbean jazz ensemble, Cuban rhythm meets modern jazz. 7:30 p.m., from $13.50.

The Halifax Magic Festival at the Sanctuary:

A family show at 1 p.m. and an evening of magic at 7:30 p.m., with two more shows in between.

Sunday, September 20

The White Buffalo at the Marquee:

With Clever Hopes. Doors 7 p.m., 19+.

Tuesday, September 22

Women of the Fur Trade at Neptune:

Neptune's season opener starts previews Tuesday at $15–$30, then runs from Wednesday.

Wednesday, September 23

Sabaton at Scotiabank Centre:

Legends on Tour, 7 p.m.

Thursday and Friday, September 24–25

City of Laughs Comedy Festival:

Two nights of stand-up at the Sanctuary Arts Centre and in Downtown Dartmouth, including John Wing on Friday. Full schedule on their site.

Market Pulse

Alderney Landing markets

Saturday 8 a.m.–1 p.m. · Sunday 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

The farmers' market on Saturday and the artisan market on Sunday, both on the Dartmouth waterfront and a ferry ride from downtown.

Halifax Forum Sunday Flea Market

Sunday, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

Atlantic Canada's oldest and largest flea market, in the Forum's own words. The Saturday farmers' market runs 8 a.m.–1 p.m. in the same building.

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

Thanks for reading,

Greg