“Without hyperbole, it’s one of the most important musical happenings in Canada.” – Weird Canada
“All other fests should aspire to this kind of disparate programming and open-minded experimentation.” – AUX
For the past ten years, the OBEY Convention Music & Arts Society has been presenting contemporary, underground music and art in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia. Beginning as a weekend of DIY shows organized by a few close friends, it has since blossomed into Atlantic Canada’s foremost presenter of the avant-garde and sonorous. Incorporating artists across genres and disciplines, OBEY’s tightly curated spring festival is like no other in the country. Audiences see the best in electronica, avant-jazz, punk, hip-hop, modern composition, noise, ambient, visual art, spoken word and beyond. In 2016, the society branched out by launching its first off-season programme coupling year-round performances with free-to-attend artist talks and workshops.
Past performers include RP Boo, James Hoff, Mykki Blanco, Zs, Joshua Abrams, Tashi Dorji, Peter Brotzmann, Container, Lubomyr Melnyk, Vicky Chow, Tristan Perich, Petra Glynt, Buck Gooter, Homeshake, Sarah Davachi, Last Lizard, Marie Davidson, Rebecca Baxter, Bing & Ruth, Moss Lime, Low, Julianna Barwick, Le1f, Tim Hecker, Kaie Kellough, New Fries, Brave Radar, Tropic of Cancer, Chris Corsano, Pissed Jeans, Grouper, Mac DeMarco, Pete Swanson, PC Worship, Kyle Bobby Dunn, Tonstartssbandht, Eric Copeland, Bill Orcutt, Gary War, JOYFULTALK, Bloodshot Bill, Heather Rappard, The Soupcans, Pierre Bastien, Amen Dunes, Paul Metzger, Jerry Granelli, Aidan Baker, Nadja, Noveller, Shearing Pinx, You’ll Never Get to Heaven, Lisa Lipton, Bastard Noise, Career Suicide, Tyvek, Us Girls, Slim Twig, Cousins, Gown, Dirty Beaches, Yo Rodeo, Robert Drisdelle, Cosmetics, Lungbutter, Wayne World, xxvvii, Sound Of The Mountain, Century Egg, EDDY, Old & Weird, Amanda Dawn Christie, Craig Leonard, Torso, Metz, Dog Day, Jacqueline Lachance, d’Eon and many more.
Personnel
Darcy Spidle – Founder
Andrew Patterson – Creative Director
Kat Shubaly – Executive Director
Jessica Lewis – Production Manager
Evan Cardwell – Technical Manager
Kyle MacDonald- Sound Technician
KC Spidle- Stage Manager
Cam Starr – Stage Manager
Steve Wiseman of G U I L D – Design/website
Meg Yoshida – Festival Program and Additional Layout
Board of Directors:
Lucia Stephen – President
Hannah Guinan- Vice President
Sara Russell – Treasurer
Patrick Breton – Secretary
Ray Fernandes
Paul Hammond
