Upcoming Rental Events
When we’re not using The Music Room for our Chamber Players Series, we rent the space to outside presenters. Note that we don’t sell tickets for any of these events – you’ll have to contact the presenter for more information. Private bookings are not shown here.
Breakfast in Halifax Does Breakfast in America
2024 marks 45 years since Supertramp's 'Breakfast In America' sent shockwaves around the music world! Halifax's own 'Breakfast In Halifax: A Tribute to Supertramp' are celebrating by putting on a show that will see the band perform the album front-to-back! You'll also hear hits and album cuts from the band's legendary repertoire, including many songs from their masterpiece 'Crime Of The Century'!
Breakfast In Halifax are: Liam Ring on woodwinds; Andrew Newton on drums; Pat Healy on guitars; Matt MacLennan on bass; Ashley Cates on keyboards; and Devon Barclay on lead vocals and piano.
Tickets are $30+fees.
Dalhousie Department of Psychiatry - Public Panel Discussion
Each year, to coincide with the Department of Psychiatry Research Day, the department hosts a public discussion on an important topic for researchers and the local community.
Topic: Use of digital interventions and AI in mental health care: promise and perils
How can digital interventions and artificial intelligence support mental health care?
Join our guest speaker and a panel of local experts for an informative discussion and bring your questions!
Panelists:
Dr. Phil Tibbo, Director of Research, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University (moderator)
Dr. Vincent Agyapong, Head, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health Central Zone
Dr. Jaime Delgadillo, Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
Dr. Sageev Oore, Canada CIFAR AI Chair; Associate Professor, Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University; and, Research Faculty Member, Vector Institute
Dr. JianLi Wang, Professor; Canada Research Chair in Health Data Science and Innovation, Departments of Community Health & Epidemiology, and Psychiatry, Dalhousie University; and Affiliated Scientist, Nova Scotia Health
Dr. Lori Wozney, Sun Life Chair in Youth Mental Health; and, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University
FREE and open to the public. No registration required.
Gabriel Minnikin Album Release Concert
Nova Scotian born artist Gabriel Minnikin, is a mainstay in the Maritime music scene. Minnikin’s fifth album ‘Sweet Nothings’ was nominated for two Nova Scotia music awards. Best Country in 2021, and Best Americana/Bluegrass in 2022. At a young age the multi-instrumentalist became a sought-after session musician and songwriter internationally.
Gabriel has toured Canada, America, the UK, and the EU extensively. He has played the accordion with Blue Rodeo, the mandolin with Bahamas & Grammy Award-winning Gordie Sampson, the banjo with Buck65, and the violin with Kinley Dowling.
Locally, Minnikin has written songs with Matt Andersen, Terra Spencer & Cameron Nickerson.
Saturday October 26, Gabriel Minnikin is releasing his sixth album at The Music Room.
Tickets are $30, and can be purchased by emailing fgmcorp@outlook.com.
Upstream Music Presents: The Brodie West Quintet
Toronto-based saxophonist and composer Brodie West is a tireless creative force—both within jazz spheres and well beyond them. He's one of those rare artists whose practice encompasses tremendous breadth but whose singular, eccentric voice is irrepressible.
West’s quintet features two drummers - Nick Fraser and Phillipe Melanson - along with pianist Tania Gill and Josh Cole on bass. The group plays West’s rhythmically charged compositions, presenting an intricate rhythmic matrix at times meditative, buoyant and wrapped with lyrical melodicism and virtuosic improvisation.
Tickets: $25 Adult / $20 Senior / $15 Student
Upstream members save $5
Angela Verbrugge Trio: Songbook Standards and Vocal Jazz
Swing, chemistry and charisma: all the way from Vancouver Island, vocalist Angela Verbrugge and pianist Ashley Wey are in Atlantic Canada to perform for you for the first-time! Angela has been touring the world singing about love gone right (or very wrong!). Her lyrics range from humorous tales of romance while trying to eat buttery corn at a summer picnic, to the mad dash panicked adventure of being late, to sweet reflections newfound infatuation, to sour reflections on feeling wholly unloveable.
The whimsical style takes inspiration from vintage movie musicals (such as those with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers), traditional swing era pop and American songbook (such as those sung by Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole and Julie London), and jazz standards (such as songs performed by Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé and Newfoundland vocalist Heather Bambrick).
Born in Kingston, Ontario, Angela has a penchant for drama having studied theatre in Toronto (and just generally being a dramatic person!) before moving to western Canada in 1997. Verbrugge has released three critically-acclaimed albums, in 2019, 2022 and the latest in May 2024 on Origin Records out of Seattle. Rave reviews of her recordings have resulted in performance opportunities in far-flung places including Japan, Türkiye, Luxembourg, Germany, UK and many Canadian provinces, all in the last four years. Her music has been played on radio around the world including CBC, NPR, and she took the number one spot of the Earshot charts multiple weeks.
For this stop on their tour, Angela and Ashley are joined by bassist Paul Rushka.
Tickets are $25 (less in advance) and can be purchased via Eventbrite.
Odoo Roadshow
Get ready to immerse yourself in captivating, audience-driven demonstrations of our cutting-edge software, as we tackle real-life business cases, highlighting the game-changing features of Odoo 17. We will be covering Manufacturing, Accounting, Inventory, Sales/CRM, Email Marketing, and more!
Upstream Music Presents: &Fusion
&Fusion is Musique Acoustique Machine’s latest creation, developed with virtuoso Senegalese guitarist Hervé Samb.
It is a moving and jubilant celebration of French-speaking cultures from three continents. Melodies and rhythms intertwine, reinvent themselves and transcend each other to create a music filled with energy and sparkling improvisations.
Refined, groovy and generous!
Trio:
François Michaud (violin, viola) from the Musique Acoustique Machine duo
Viviane Arnoux (accordion) from the Musique Acoustique Machine duo
Hervé Samb (guitar)
Tickets: $25 Adult / $20 Senior / $15 Student
Upstream members save $5
Mike Murley and Mark Eisenman at the Music Room
Two of Canada’s finest jazz artists bring their swinging, conversational duo to Halifax's intimate Music Room on the first Sunday in July.
Nuovo: A Contemporary Concert
Join us at The Music Room for the first ever Nuovo concert! Nuovo is a contemporary concert series dedicated to featuring new works by Halifax-based composers. This concert includes four string quartets and two piano quintets performed by the Rostova String Quartet. Featured composers include Uandha Barbosa, Jeremie Boudreau, Stephen Deturbide, Benjamin Fraser, Harry McInroy, and Shanti Sivarulrasa.
Tickets are $25 ($15 for students) and can be purchased here.
Jont: "Old Traveller" Album Launch Concert
Join us at The Music Room for the launch of the medicine song album "Old Traveller". Jont - accompanied by a talented band especially assembled for the evening with upright bass, cello, grand piano, and percussion - will play songs from the new album. Special guest Michael Adzich will open the night. There will be space for 'the spontaneous', and time to connect and sing along.
Ticket bundles $35 to $90 (include a download of the album) can be purchased here.
HJF Presents: The Frahm/Farrugia Quartet
The TD Halifax Jazz Festival brings together two acclaimed musicians for a unique performance. The concert features visiting American saxophone star Joel Frahm and JUNO Award-winning Canadian pianist Adrean Farrugia. Rounding out the quartet are bassist Paul Rushka and drummer Anthony Michelli. Don’t miss this one-time opportunity to hear this musical collaboration. Seating is limited and first come, first served, so purchase tickets early.
Tickets $45 (incl. taxes and fees), and can be purchased here.
Alkali Collective: Cycles
Enjoy an evening of contemporary chamber music featuring the selected composers from Alkali Collective’s 2023/24 Call for Scores – Luke Blackmore, Nicola Miller, and Kristiana Tavityan – alongside works by Emilie LeBel, Gala Flagello and Nico Muhly.
Tickets: $20/adults, $15/students, $10/ages 12 and under. Live-Stream Tickets: $15/per household, link to be emailed before concert.
All tickets available online at eventbrite.ca and at the door.
Port City Church Presents: Hope Alight
Join Port City Church this Christmas season as they present "Hope Alight", a seventy minute production rich with traditional Christmas carols and a weaved story of Hope that all should hear. This gathering will bring back those nostalgic Christmas memories as we sing together, hear stories, scripture and poetry of Hope Alight.
Hope Alight is pleased to partner with Feed Nova Scotia in hopes to serve those in need in this Christmas season. All patrons are asked to bring one or more food bank donation items.
We are also partnering with our friends at The Helm to bring you The Helm "Storehouse" – local artisan Christmas crafts that support men in addiction recovery.
Port City Church Presents: Hope Alight
Join Port City Church this Christmas season as they present "Hope Alight", a seventy minute production rich with traditional Christmas carols and a weaved story of Hope that all should hear. This gathering will bring back those nostalgic Christmas memories as we sing together, hear stories, scripture and poetry of Hope Alight.
Hope Alight is pleased to partner with Feed Nova Scotia in hopes to serve those in need in this Christmas season. All patrons are asked to bring one or more food bank donation items.
We are also partnering with our friends at The Helm to bring you The Helm "Storehouse" – local artisan Christmas crafts that support men in addiction recovery.
Port City Church Presents: Hope Alight
Join Port City Church this Christmas season as they present "Hope Alight", a seventy minute production rich with traditional Christmas carols and a weaved story of Hope that all should hear. This gathering will bring back those nostalgic Christmas memories as we sing together, hear stories, scripture and poetry of Hope Alight.
Hope Alight is pleased to partner with Feed Nova Scotia in hopes to serve those in need in this Christmas season. All patrons are asked to bring one or more food bank donation items.
We are also partnering with our friends at The Helm to bring you The Helm "Storehouse" – local artisan Christmas crafts that support men in addiction recovery.
Port City Church Presents: Hope Alight
Join Port City Church this Christmas season as they present "Hope Alight", a seventy minute production rich with traditional Christmas carols and a weaved story of Hope that all should hear. This gathering will bring back those nostalgic Christmas memories as we sing together, hear stories, scripture and poetry of Hope Alight.
Hope Alight is pleased to partner with Feed Nova Scotia in hopes to serve those in need in this Christmas season. All patrons are asked to bring one or more food bank donation items.
We are also partnering with our friends at The Helm to bring you The Helm "Storehouse" – local artisan Christmas crafts that support men in addiction recovery.
suddenlyLISTEN Presents: Dans Les Arbres
Dans Les Arbres presents music that you won't want to miss! This French and Norweigian quartet is clear, colourful and communicative – As a listener, you can hear their interaction, not in obvious ways but in the space that is created by one and filled by another. Plus, Meghan Gilhespy and Tim Crofts perform the opening set.
“There’s no end to the delights of this quite magical disc…. these players seem to have an innate grasp of the right combination of sounds and textures. Dans les Arbres must be one of the finest ECM Improv releases – indeed, releases from any label – in recent years.” (The Wire)
Tickets are $25 or pay what you can at the doors.
JJ Roots: Euphoria at The Music Room
On the heels of their 2023 Music Nova Scotia nomination for 'EUPHORIA", Jeff & Jocelyn continue to surprise and delight audiences with an impactful show that's filled with beautiful melodies and memorable moments that has everyone feeling a sense of "EUPHORIA"...
This is sure to be an extra special experience with very limited tickets available. So grab your friends and order up those tickets because we can't wait to see all you beautiful people!
Alkali Collective: Resurface
An exciting concert of contemporary music featuring music from Jocelyn Morlock, Linda Catlin Smith, Carmen Braden, and more!
Tickets: $20/adults, $15/students, $10/ages 12 and under. Live-Stream Tickets: $15/per household, link to be emailed before concert.
All tickets available online and at the door.
Carl Mayotte Trio
Upstream Music Association is delighted to welcome back the Carl Mayotte Trio. This high-energy trio of fabulous musicians from Quebec City impressed Halifax audiences in 2022. We have caught them mid-tour!
Transportant le public dans une aventure musicale épique et rocambolesque, le concert Carnaval du Carl Mayotte Quintet sera certainement un des évènements jazz à voir en 2023-2024. Tirée du dernier album du récipiendaire du Félix de l’album jazz 2022, la musique jouée durant le concert se veut un hommage aux grands compositeurs brésiliens comme Djavan, Hermeto Pascoal et tant d’autres. L’énergie du groupe et la qualité des compostions font de ce spectacle un évènement unique et inoubliable.
It is through classical music, pop and jazz that the trio of musicians formed by Gabriel Cyr, Carl Mayotte and Stéphane Chamberland manage to share its emotions with the public. Each member is endowed with a strong and singular character between guitars, bass and drums.
The Carl Mayotte Trio is the project of three students from the Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy. After winning the local Cégep's final competition in 2013, they won the Quebec National Final with a mixture of pieces written for film. Their breathtaking performance, theatrical staging and original arrangements earned them the first Desjardins Prize, the Vue sur la Relève Award and participation in the Belfort International Festival of Music in France. The Carl Mayotte Trio is travelling across Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario this fall.
Dalhousie University Public Panel Discussion: Environment, brain development, and mental health
Each year, to coincide with the Department of Psychiatry Research Day, the department hosts a public discussion on an important topic for researchers and the local community.
How do environment influences affect brain development and mental health?
Join our guest speaker and a panel of local experts to learn about how events can affect the growing brain and mental health. Come hear this panel discussion and bring your questions!
With guest speaker:
Dr. Tomas Paus, Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the University of Montreal, and Scientist at the Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine
FREE and open to the public. No registration required.
Space is limited and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Dhara Fitzgerald featuring The Holly Arsenault Trio
An afternoon of jazz in support of Adsum House in Halifax to which all ticket proceeds will be donated. Music from Irving Berlin, Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Henry Mancini, and more.
Dhara Fitzgerald is a 14 year old jazz vocalist from Halifax. She started vocal lessons at the young age of 4. Over the last few years, Dhara has been training with Sharada Banman. In addition to being a vocalist, Dhara plays the guitar, piano and the trumpet and is an active member of the Senior Jazz Band at her school. Inspired by the Great American Songbook and particularly Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Etta James...etc., she prides herself on being bilingual and regularly tunes in to CBC Radio Canada "C'est si bon" with Claude Saucier. Since her debut at TD Halifax Jazz Festival 2023 last year at the age of 13, she is thrilled to perform another heartfelt repertoire.
Alkali Collective: Chroma
Explore the world of graphic and text based scores while experiencing the visuals as they are projected in the concert space. This concert will feature a world premiere from Montréal composer Symon Henry, as well as works by Deborah Carruthers, Paolo Griffin, Sarah Hennies and Alexis Porfiriadis.
Tickets: $20/adults, $15/students, $10/ages 12 and under. Live-Stream Tickets: $15/per household, link to be emailed before concert.
All tickets available online at eventbrite.ca and at the door.
Tom Allen's The Missing Pages
On December 16, 1825 Theodore Molt became the sole Canadian to meet the great composer Ludwig van Beethoven, but what could have happened between the two men? After Molt’s florid greeting in one of Beethoven’s notebooks, the following four pages were violently ripped out. Betrayal? Competition? Scandal? Or just old fashioned ego and pride? With music, song, drama, history and informed speculation, The Missing Pages investigates.
This is a brand new production, directed by Derek Boyes and featuring Patricia O'Callaghan, Lori Gemmell, Gregory Oh, Derek Boyes (as Beethoven) and Tom Allen. It will take you back to Beethoven's (very messy and full of secrets) studio in Vienna in 1825 and bring you music, mystery and a connection to Canada's musical past.
Champagne Weather LIVE
New music from James Hill & Anne Janelle LIVE at The Music Room in Halifax, NS.
suddenlyLISTEN Presents: Scores
Musicians can read scores. But scores aren’t just notes on 5 lines of music paper. They can be an infinite variety of suggestions to performers on what to play. Halifax pianist Tim Crofts has assembled a new ensemble to interpret graphic, video, sculptural and other scores with him: Nicole Rampersaud (trumpet), Norm Adams (cello), and Nicola Miller (saxophone). These four will be joined by special guests Terri Hron from Montreal (recorders, electronics) and Charlotte Hug (vocalist, violist & visual artist) who will be presenting their joint creation that celebrates time and tides!
Tickets are $25 or pay-what-you-can at the door.
Bandura's Journey: Musical Fragments from Five Centuries
On Sunday March 5, The Centre for Sound Communities (CSC) will present world-renowned bandura player Julian Kytasty in BANDURA'S JOURNEY: Musical Fragments from Five Centuries, at the Music Room in Halifax, starting at 7pm. In 2021, American-born Julian Kytasty was awarded with the distinction of Заслуженний Артист України (Zasluzhenyi Artyst Ukrainy), Honoured Artist of Ukraine by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
All proceeds from the event's silent auction will go to Second Front Ukraine Foundation, a not-for-profit that sends urgently requested aid to the Ukrainian frontlines. This event is presented in partnership with the Scotia Festival of Music.
Julian Kytasty is a third generation player of the bandura, a plucked stringed instrument native to Ukraine. He mastered the heritage his family - refugees from Soviet and Nazi oppression - brought to North America, and expanded on it through decades of research. Today, his original creative work is laying down new directions for twenty-first century bandura music.
Kytasty’s work has received international acclaim; his music was featured in The Guide, Ukraine’s 2015 Academy Awards entry, and his original compositions won the Blizzard award for Best Film Score for the National Film Board of Canada documentary, My Mother's Village (2001).
On March 5, Julian Kytasty will be joined by singers Marcia Ostashewski and Alina Kuzma in a program including epic traditional songs, sparkling dance tunes, twentieth century bandura classics, and his own improvisations and compositions.
Doors open at 6pm for a silent auction and reception, and the concert starts at 7pm. Tickets are $50 + fees.
Alkali Collective: Crossings
Enjoy an evening of contemporary chamber music featuring the selected composers from Alkali Collective’s 2022 Call for Scores – Gavin Fraser, Holly Winter, and Sophie Dupuis – alongside works by Emily Doolittle and Missy Mazzoli.
Tickets: $20/adults, $15/students, $10/ages 12 and under. Live-Stream Tickets: $15/per household, link to be emailed before concert.
Natural Elements
Natural Elements is a collection of original laments, lullabies, hymns, airs and odes from Hayley Ryerson. Inspired by the work of late fiddler-composer Oliver Schroer, this collection of music is rooted in traditional forms while simultaneously reaching into ephemeral, improvisational, and textural realms. Accompanied by harpist Ellen Gibling, this evening will be the premier of this work.
Hayley expresses this series of suites with a unique, understated tone on her fiddle. Immersed into the natural key centres of each of the fiddle's strings, the music is at once for rest & reflection as it is for savour & celebration. An exploration of what it means to be in one's element.
Doors at 730pm. Livestream link available through ticket purchase.
Music at 8pm (AST). Programme runs just under an hour.
CANCELED: Evelina & Ryan: Classical Duet
This event has been cancelled due to performer illness.
Violinist Evelina Khustavino and guitarist Ryan White perform six Paganini sonatas. A sweet and savory snack buffet will be available at intermission.
Hope Alight: New Traditions
Port City Church presents "Hope Alight", a seventy minute production rich with traditional Christmas carols and a weaved story of Hope that all should hear. This gathering will bring back those nostalgic Christmas memories as we sing together, hear stories, scripture and poetry of Hope Alight.
In support of Feed Nova Scotia: tickets are free (with donation of food items) but must be registered for in advance.