Halifax Festival Shows Winter Isn't Dead

Various venues

Halifax, NS

on Jan 27 2009

Shannon Webb-Campbell (CHARTattack)

02/02/2009 12:38pm

Festival organizer and performer Amelia Curran described In The Dead Of Winter best: "It's like Christmas, only better."

More than 50 musical acts performed at five venues around Halifax from Jan. 27 to 31, and Curran and fellow festival organizers Heather Gibson, Tanya Davis and Don Brownrigg outdid themselves. This year's Dead fest ran the whole musical gamut from burgeoning local acts to seasoned songwriters. It included everyone from hip-hopper Buck 65 to vintage eight-piece band Gypsophilia.

Tuesday evening's opening festivities kicked off at The Company House, a new venue owned by Mary Ann Daye. Ticket holders, volunteers and media raised their glasses in festival cheer.

The Company House's bar is to the right and a corner stage is elevated to the left, but it's the red walls that should tug at heartstrings. The deep shade is reminiscent of that found on the walls of the city's legendary Khyber Club, which closed in 2006.

It wasn't until Wednesday evening that Daye basked in the first live performances at her new joint. Amy Honey, clad in a black and white polka-dot dress, warmed things up in a bittersweet fashion. With her scrappy guitar and PJ Harvey-esque vocal style, her sincere ode to "Farley Mowat" should convince the writer to invite this pioneering songstress for tea in his Cape Breton homestead.

Local novice Ria Mae delivered a solid set of radio-friendly pop songs. Meg Hutchinson stole hearts with her beautiful vocals and heartbreaking ballads, especially when Rose Cousins accompanied her on closing song, "Home."

Locals Acres And Acres created a cozy atmosphere across the street at The Bus Stop Theatre with their songs about disconnection, the extinction of the polar bear and money troubles. Brownrigg and Pamela Under Water joined on backing vocals for "The Cell Phone Song."

The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium was filled with eager listeners who took in Curran, Little Orton Hogget And His Ten Cent Wings and Al Tuck.

Charming female trio The Good Lovelies took the stage back at The Company House. They have buttery harmonies but said, while they might wear dresses, they're certainly not ladies. They may look the part, but their sass and sarcasm outweigh their girlish antics. The Good Lovelies are on tour with Peter Katz — who performed the following night — in support of their self-titled CD.

Thursday night began with a songwriters' circle. Justin Rutledge, Thom Swift and Kim Wempe explained the creative process, new beginnings (Swift recently welcomed his son into the world) and broken hearts.

Katz later took the stage and should win the award for most charismatic performance, as his Cheshire cat grin and warm heart won the attentive audience over.

But New York's Ana Egge stole the show, and perhaps the entire festival. Egge throws back a shot of tequila with the same effortlessness she delivers her stunning melodies with her breathy, sultry voice and towering stage presence. Cousins and Egge spent a few hours earlier in the day singing back-up in front of a blue screen during a shoot for a Joel Plaskett video. Plaskett joined Egge on stage mid-set to lend a little local vocal flavour.

Ruth Minnikin filled St. George's Round Church with ethereal folk songs. Mike O'Neill and The Beginners later paid homage to mid-'90s Halifax.

Once Christina Martin played her final note, The Company House was christened by an unscheduled off-festival lineup, as Plaskett, Tuck and Don MacKay jammed until the wee hours of the morning.

Friday night began with a songwriters' circle at The Bus Stop Theatre. Local cat lady Laura Peek, Cahalen David Morrison and Catherine MacLellan fought their respective colds and flus to perform a stunning showcase of songs. MacLellan's new material is sure to mend broken hearts.

Daniel Ledwell shyly played songs from his Two Over Seven EP at St. George's Round Church. Rutledge took over shortly after 8:30 p.m., and his literary set included a new song he's written for the forthcoming stage adaptation of Michael Ondaatje's novel, Divisadero. Rutledge's true showmanship was highlighted by a closing number crowd singalong.

Jolie Holland seemed surprisingly pleasant after spending an entire day driving and hopping an early morning flight from Montreal to Halifax. Sure, she asked photographers to stop snapping pictures and failed to take the majority of the crowd's requests (she felt they worked better with a band), but her perseverance was notable.

Jill Barber saved the final night of the festival, as she agreed to fly from Vancouver to Halifax at the last minute to fill in for Ferron, who had emergency heart surgery on Wednesday morning. But it was Palooka's boxing club-turned-concert venue that capped this year's event. Festival organizer and poet/performer Davis waved her wordy magic wand that placed a spell on listeners who gathered near the boxing ring.

Toronto's Dinah Thorpe later provided a political yet danceable set.

Buck 65 remained the talk of the town, as the mastermind of language and rhythm never let audience members (who scribbled "65" on their hands with Sharpies) down. He performed an array of earlier material as well as unreleased collaborative projects that are still in the works. Apparently the man both Rich Terfry's daily gig hosting CBC's Radio 2 Drive show has only enhanced his ability to make music and tell stories.