This coming Saturday, Oct 7th, we’re collaborating with the Dalhousie Art Gallery to present a screening of Sergei Eisenstein’s 1925 silent film STRIKE, which explores the strife and struggle of a worker’s revolt in the former Soviet Union.

We’ve invited local composer, musician and ethnomusicologist Mohammad Sahraei to create a score specially for this one-night only happening. Mohammad has put together an amazing piece that will be brought to life by a five-piece ensemble featuring Sahraei himself on tar, Matt Gallant of drums, Behrooz Mihankhah on piano, Yousef Mousavi on Guitar and Lukas Pearse on double bass.

HALIFAX CENTRAL LIBRARY, Oct. 7th
7PM / FREE / ALL AGES

Thursday July 12 OBEY Convention is proudly supporting Dr. Lonnie Smith,  unparalleled Acid Jazz master, as part of Halifax Jazz Festival.

Catch Dr. Lonnie Smith and his  Hammond B-3 organ at St. Matthew’s Church, Halifax, Thursday, July 13.

Show starts at 7pm. Tickets are $45.00: All Ages Welcome / General admission / No refunds or exchanges

That’s right, the infamous BUCK GOOTER, America’s most inspiring blooze-punkers are hitting Halifax again. Anyone who was around for their performance at OBEY Convention IIX will tell you in vivid detail all about the madness that is The Goot. Easily one of the most talked about bands in the festival’s history, these maniacs will be playing two unique sets you will not wanna miss!

BUCK GOOTER at Radstorm

w/ Maximata + Nightbummerz

Tuesday July 18th | 8pm

$10 | PWYC | No one turned away | All Ages

Dearly Beloved,

Our annual celebration of wyrd sounds and wild souls has come and gone once again. We’re still reeling from the magic and feeling the residual sensations. As the heavy festival dust begins to settle, we’d like to send love out to all the people who made our 10th anniversary oh-so-special:

the artists who shared their vital voices
the crews who worked tirelessly
the volunteers who smiled and laboured graciously
the venues who opened their doors to us
the sponsors who made our dreams a reality
the board members that gently guide us
the strangers who wandered in
the children who danced in the aisles
the people listening
the people challenging
the people learning
the people teaching
the people present

Such an immense gathering necessitates collective work. We are so very blessed and so very proud to be surrounded by the wonderful people of Halifax. If nothing else, this weekend showed that our community is capable of hospitality and consideration beyond compare.

To all those who expended time, energy, resource, thought and heart to be with us, we are humbled. Your intensity and charity resound. THANK YOU.

– Kat & Andrew

OBEY X marks ten years of keeping things wyrd in Halifax. To honour this milestone, we’ve invited some close friends of the festival to reflect on what their experiences with us over the years have meant. This one comes care Rachel Weldon. Rachel is a righteous promoter from Ottawa who runs Debaser. An inspiration both in policy and programming, every artist who performs with Rachel glows radiantly about her and her hard work.

O: Any valuable lessons you’ve taken away from OBEY?

OBEY X marks ten years of keeping things wyrd in Halifax. To honour this milestone, we’ve invited some close friends of the festival to reflect on what their experiences with us over the years have meant. This one comes care of Amy Vinnedge, the incredible mind and voice behind Vulva Culture among other local gems. She’s played our festival under many monikers and has been a HUGE supporter of the fest in many, many ways. It’s folks like Amy that make OBEY possible. Here’s what’s up:::

O: Any valuable lessons you’ve taken away from OBEY?

A: As a musician and song writer, obey is the most inspiring 4 days of the year for me. I end my weekend feeling energetic, enlightened, challenged and appreciative. At the end of the weekend I dig myself out of the comfort zone I live in the rest of the year and push myself further. My favourite songs I’ve ever written are songs I’ve started right after obey. 

O: What are some of your fondest memories of OBEY past?

A: My favourite obey moment was watching lubomyr melnyk at the conservatory during obey 8. I was completely silent and didn’t take my eyes off of him for the entire performance, and when it was over, I turned to my band mate Bianca who was next to me and both our faces were covered in tears

O: Any words of wisdom for people unacquainted with OBEY?

A: Go to everything! I would have never heard US girls, dirty beaches, noveller, wolfcow, Jef barbara, white poppy, grouper, Tropic of Cancer etc (SO MANY performers I love) if i hadn’t just jumped into every show I could. 

O: If OBEY were an acronym, what might it stand for?

A:

O bviously

B est

E ver

Y eah!!!

(I’m the lamest)

O: What are you most excited for at this year’s festival?

A: I’m always very excited to see my local friends perform during obey (especially budi, aquakulture, geil and rabies) ! But I’m also very excited to see the submissives, echo beach, plasma lab and moor mother

O: What would you like to see at OBEY Convention’s of the future?

A: Gosh, obey has already stretched it’s arms out so wide already. The way they marry visual art and musical performances is one of my favourite things. More artist and musician collabs! 

O: Why should people care about OBEY?

A: I go to lots of shows, 90% of the time I leave early because I feel uncomfortable, like I’m not supposed to be there. Obey makes you feel like you belong everywhere. I’ve always been too weird for the ‘norms’, and too normal for the ‘weirdos’. The obey convention appreciates what EVERYONE appreciates. No one is ever left out.

 OBEY X marks ten years of keeping things wyrd in Halifax. To honour this milestone, we’ve invited some close friends of the festival to reflect on what their experiences with us over the years have meant. This one comes care of Jesse Locke, one of Canada’s most on-point music writers and drummer for Century Palm (among many others). Recently, Jesse released the most excellent Heavy Metalloid Music: The Story Of Simply Saucer.

O: Any valuable lessons you’ve taken away from OBEY?

J: If you build it, they will come. Since my first time at OBEY in 2010, it’s been truly inspiring to see how far people are willing to travel for a ‘convention’ of boundary-pushing music and art. The drive to Halifax is always a highlight of the trip too.

O: What are some of your fondest memories of OBEY past?

J: Late nights parties at the Khyber with U.S. Girls, Dirty Beaches, and Pete Swanson. Wig-flipping weirdness at the Bus Stop Theatre with Paul Metzger, Gashrat, and Buck Gooter. Getting in the pit at Menz & Mollyz with Marie Davidson, Petra Glynt, and N.213’s Group Vision. Double-drum blowouts from Eddy. Future music from Mykki Blanco. Transcendent performances from Joshua Abrams, Grouper, Peter Brötzmann, Lubomyr Melnyk, and more than I could ever remember…    

O: Any words of wisdom for people unacquainted with OBEY?

J: Even if you’re not familiar with artists’ names, trust that OBEY’s bookers have put together something incredible and go along for the ride.

O: If OBEY were an acronym, what might it stand for?

J: Obviously Bangin’ Every Year

O: What are you most excited for at this year’s festival?

J: I’m truly sad that I won’t be there but everyone should go see Senyawa, Uniform, Jerry Granelli, Pelada, New Chance, and Plasmalab!

O: What would you like to see at OBEY Convention’s of the future?

J: More performances from Nick Dourado if that’s somehow humanly possible.

O: Why should people care about OBEY?

J: Because it’s so much more than just a music festival. Every time I’ve gone to OBEY I’ve made new friends, had my mind blown, and left feeling recharged, challenged, and inspired.

Dear Friends,

As you prepare to delve into our 10th annual festival, take a moment to consider how you might arrive. It is our hopes that any and all people may attend our weekend of wilding and so each year we work at improving the accessibility and safety of our festival. From the pages of our festival guide, here are some notes regarding these matters :::

ZERO TOLERANCE

The OBEY Convention will not tolerate discrimination/violence/hate of any kind, which includes but is not limited to: racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, queerphobia, fatphobia, ableism, sexual harassment and bullying.

It is our intention to make events at our festival welcoming to all, including audience, staff, performers and volunteers. If at anytime you are made to feel unsafe, please let an employee or volunteer know. OBEY staff can be reached at 902-789-6239 (Andrew) or 514-554-6258 (Kat), or via e-mail at info@obeyconvention.com.

**Thank you to The Khyber for all their hard work in drafting and developing the above policies and for helping OBEY to follow their example.**

ALL AGES INCENTIVE

Persons under 19 will be admitted free to all unlicensed events.

SLIDING SCALE

No one will turned away at the door of a ticketed event for lack of funds. We’re offering a sliding scale option for admission at the door of each event as capacity permits.

ACCESSIBILITY INFO

For people travelling from Quebec: some venues do not accept QC health cards as a primary form of ID in Nova Scotia. Please bring additional ID with you!

What follows is a list of each of the festival venues and their pertinent accessibility information:

Anna Leonowens
all-ages, wheelchair accessible by appointment, non-gendered washrooms, accessible washroom located in Art Bar.

Common Roots Farm
all-ages, outdoors, public, accessible washrooms located in QEII Health Sciences Centre

Eyelevel Parking Lot
all-ages, outdoors

Fort Massey United Church
all ages, accessible entrance at 5303 Tobin St., non-gendered washrooms, accessible washroom via ramp by exiting building

Granville Square
all- ages, wheelchair accessible, outdoors, accessible non-gendered washrooms located in Art Bar

Halifax Central Library
all-ages, wheelchair accessible, accessible washrooms non-gendered washroom

Halifax Music Co-op
all-ages, accessible entrance, non-gendered washrooms

Khyber Centre for the Arts
all-ages, wheelchair accessible (through Granville Mall entrance on Hollis), accessible washroom, non-gendered washrooms

Maritime Museum
all-ages, wheelchair accessible, accessible washroom, non-gendered washroom

Marquee Ballroom
19+, wheelchair accessible, accessible washroom, non-gendered washrooms

North Memorial Public Library
all- ages, wheelchair accessible entrance, accessible washrooms, non-gendered washroom

North Memorial Library Garage
all-ages, wheelchair accessible — accessible, non-gendered washrooms located through front of building

Portia White Atrium​
19+, wheelchair accessible entrance, accessible washrooms, non-gendered washrooms

Seahorse Tavern
wheelchair accessible entrance at Portland Pl., accessible washroom, non-gendered washrooms

Seven Bays Bouldering
all-ages, wheelchair accessible, accessible washroom, non-gendered washroom

* * *

Any questions or concerns can be e-mailed to info@obeyconvention.com

Back by popular demand, our Guide For The Weary Traveller (2017 edition) :::

As you prepare to ascend into the portal that is OBEY Convention, you may be wondering: Where will I eat? Is there coffee nearby? How will I quench my undying thirst? Who’s got the freshest spring duds in town? Where the deep cut wax at? Why is it called OBEY Convention? Isn’t that whole city destined to slip into the ocean eventually? Do they even have cell reception in such a craggy outpost?

Answers to most of these questions can be found below.

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OBEY X marks ten years of keeping things wyrd in Halifax. To honour this milestone, we’ve invited some close friends of the festival to reflect on what their experiences with us over the years have meant. This one comes care of Matt Charlton, OBEY Convention’s first official Board Chair and founder of Pigeon Row publicity.

Continue Reading