Music

Halifax's Gridlock Festival brings fans back to rock 'n' roll high school

by Nick Laugher

Photo: Waxahatchee

Halifax is no stranger to music festivals, with the infamous Halifax Pop Explosion drawing thousands of fans and incredible acts from all over the world every year, and In the Dead of Winter providing a respite from the harsh cold winds with warm, alluvial folk. However, a newcomer to the festival scene, Gridlock Festival, seems to be shaking things up a bit in its inaugural year – from its line-up to its formatting, it seems to be a breath of fresh air for summer music lovers.

Gridlock runs from July 8th to the 10th in Halifax, and unlike Halifax Pop Explosion and In the Dead of Winter, which are spread out across venues all over the city, the main stage at Gridlock – which is 19+ – will be smack in the middle of the grounds of Citadel High. Additional all-ages shows will also be happening at the nearby Pavillion and Citadel High’s Spatz Theatre. It makes for a more traditional festival experience, hearkening back to the days of Halifax’s concerts on Citadel Hill.

For only its first year, Gridlock’s line-up is seriously impressive. It includes the recently reunited, off-kilter indie heartthrobs Wolf Parade, macabre electronic songsmith Baths, Mike Kinsella’s recently reunited American Football – their first Canadian show ever – and scrappy ‘90s-tinged rockers Waxahatchee. The festival is stacked with impressive current local talent and alumni too, with Jon McKiel, Walrus, Wintersleep, Vogue Dots, Dance Movie, and more rounding out the already prodigious lineup.

As for refreshments, the festival has partnered with local craft beer bar Stillwell to provide on-site libations, Ace Burger will be serving up their brilliant burgers, and there will also be a food truck alley featuring Food Wolf and T Dogs, as well as more pop-up vendors in case that wasn’t enough. The festival is also bottled water free, meaning there will be free stations around the festival grounds to fill up your reusable bottles.

Passes range from $70 for a day pass, to $120 for a weekend pass, to $200 for a VIP pass that includes priority entrance, flushing toilets, and a VIP bar. For more information, to peruse the full line-up and schedule, and to purchase tickets, head on over to Gridlock’s website.