We’re SO excited to announce the first few artists set to perform at our 12th annual festival of free ideas in music and sound. Our dates this year are May 30th – June 2nd. So far we’ve got: Philly’s post-bounce clubshaker DJ Haram, PAN’s contrarian collagist Eartheater, the hypnotic aquatics of French-Japanese artist Tomoko Sauvage, Australia’s broken glass maverick Justice Yeldham, Algonquin synth-pop sensualist Mich Cota, bitchpunk sound theorist Debby Friday, The Brodie West Quintet‘s bent, multidimensional, jazz, and Toronto beat chemist Korea Town Acid. A limited number of generously priced Early Bird passes are on sale now until March 5th when we’ll unveil another batch of confirmed performers. Passholders are guaranteed access to the entire festival. Nothing overlaps so audience are able to enjoy the entire weekend. Check out artist details here and scoop up a pass here. Join us this spring at the edges of everything!

Our fourth and final show of the off-season is a pure, deep winter celebration. At a time of year when the body needs collective release and community love, we’re psyched to announce worldbuilding DJ / producer / organizer Ciel for her first-ever appearance in Halifax. A triple threat with a taste for the strange and dreamy, we’re psyched to light the dancefloor with this major Canadian selector. Full details on the events page as always!

Our third show, and first of the new year, is a true blessing. We’ll be hosting legendary free jazz vet Joe McPhee. He’ll be with us for two days, for an artist talk and a solo performance. It’s hard to put into words how important Joe’s work has been to so many people throughout his five decade career. Full insight and details on our events page.

Really psyched to announce that our second show of the season features NYC’s industrial noise heavy Dreamcrusher aka multidisciplinary artist Luwayne Glass. Originally from Wichita, Kansas, Glass is known for their unique compositional voice and kinetic live performances. Joining them at the Bus Stop Theatre will be local punk thrashers Grief and the elusive electro scrambler Junk Entity. Preceding the show, we’ll be hosting ‘Live In Conversation with Dreamcrusher’ moderated by local artist Francesca Ekwuyasi. Full details on our events page!

Our annual four-day festival returns May 30th – June 2nd for a 12th instalment of forward-thinking music on the fringes. Presenting contemporary ideas in music and sound in beautiful K’jipuktuk | Halifax, Nova Scotia, OBEY programs with intention, integrity and consideration.

This year, we’ve got a general Call For Submissions and a special Composer-in-Residence program. The deadline for both applications is December 14th, 2018 at midnite AST. Full program details in the links provided. Bring on the flood of new energies!

Our 12th annual festival is coming up May 30 – June 2, 2019. We’re looking for people to help us build and shape our programme. Do you have an ear for new music? Do you like what OBEY has done so far? Do you have suggestions of how we might improve our programming? We’d love to hear from you!

For many years, we’ve been mindful of bringing people together in ways that challenge the music industry standards in Nova Scotia. While considering and supporting the local and regional communities that surround our organization, we’ve also purposefully encouraged them to explore new corners and accept new ideas. This is a vital tension that keeps OBEY thriving.

This year, we’re inviting YOU to take part in our programming process. Details on process and application guidelines after the jump!

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Announcing the first show of a new season! In mid-October, we’re hosting Irish organ conjurer Áine O’Dwyer. Visiting us all the way from London, her time here is sure to unearth some heavy vibrations. O’Dwyer will be performing an activation of Fort Massey’s historic pipe organ as well as an artist talk entitled Sound Walks From Medjugorje,  showcasing her recent research into the famed apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Herzegovina. More details can be found on our events page.

After another inspiring year of programming, we’re taking a bit of time away to rejuvenate, recoup and reconsider ourselves. We’ve already got some heavy things in the mix for our upcoming 2018/19 season, which we’ll be sharing with you all in September! As ever, if you feeling excited about what we do, please visit our membership page and consider signing up!

(photo cred: Steve Hiett)

We’re THRILLED to be partnering with the Halifax Jazz Festival to present PANTAYO, Toronto’s contemporary, Filipino kulintang ensemble. Rooted in the traditional gong musics of the Philippines, Pantayo add a diasporic lens and include flourishes of synth, keys and kick-drum to the already meditative, heady mix of timbre and rhythm.

:::::::: More details on our events page ::::::::
:::::::: Tickets are available online now ::::::::

BLESS EVERYONE who brought their wild love, energy, knowledge and talents to this year’s fest! It was a weekend that far surpassed our expectations. We were floored by the generosity and resonance.

Artists played their hearts out, audiences listened with great focus and attention, volunteers went above and beyond, staff / venues / sponsors showed up in ways that allowed us to honour the work needed to build such magic. We’re feeling DEEPLY humbled by the support people showed us this past weekend. Truly one of the most memorable instalments of our eleven year run.

Now for a nap until July when we host Filipino gong ensemble Pantayo at Halifax Jazz Festival.