Blogs

Ah winter in Halifax... Nothing quite like it and that's the truth. One never knows what the weather's going to be like; and one never knows what our elected leaders at City Hall are going to do; and - for sure - no one knows what the unelected "Traffic Authority" is up to. That's the joy of it - the suspense!

HOWEVER, we are a resilient lot and it's a good thing we seem to be able to suffer the fools that govern us, otherwise we'd probably lose our collective minds over some of the stuff that passes for governance around here. I know we're doing our bit to provide good food, a cosy atmosphere and killer entertainment for our put-upon citizenry. Check out the Upcoming Performances on the Music tab on this very website to see what's coming up.

If you weren't out and about after the recent Blue Rodeo show, you wouldn't have noticed that Jim Cuddy stopped in after the show for a glass or two of wine and you also wouldn't have noticed John K. Samson from The Weakerthans enjoying some fish and chips at the bar that same night.

If you didn't sign up for our newsletter, chances are you didn't even know that Bruce Guthro played here recently - it sold out without any public advertising - and you probably don't know that Joel Plaskett's benefit for Music Therapy on February 22nd is already sold out... Hmmm, you might want to think about signing up for that, yes?

I am very pleased - and chuffed - to be able to say that The Carleton Music Bar & Grill has been voted "Venue of the Year" by the fine folks involved in the Music Nova Scotia Awards, handed out during Nova Scotia Music Week in Yarmouth over the past weekend...

I'd like to thank the members and staff of Music Nova Scotia, our terrific staff, you - the customers, the people who buy the tickets - and most especially, all the artists who have played our room. Last time I checked, "it's not a venue unless someone plays there."

Hopefully, that should be further incentive to give us a try if you haven't been to our place for a show!

Taylor Mitchell was scheduled to play The Carleton this coming Sunday - November 1st. As most of you have heard by now, she was killed yesterday (October 27th) by coyotes in Highlands National Park in Cape Breton. We are deeply saddened by this horrific news and our thoughts go out to her family and friends. She was only 19 years old...

I booked Taylor not because I thought she was going to sell out our room, but because her talent was undeniable. We were very much looking forward to putting her in front of an appreciative Halifax audience for the first time and proudly watching her grow into an artist we'd be listening to for many years to come. Sadly, that isn't going to happen.

We've lost something precious and, although you've probably never heard a note from her, you should take a little time to listen to her HERE. And maybe we can all just reflect for a moment on how fleeting this life is and where we'd all be without music and the artists who create it...

Hey! Anybody see our very sexy ad in the new Air Canada En Route magazine? If you're coming to this site because you saw it, welcome!

I guess, with the passing of September, it's officially time to start praying for the Indian Summer and that last vestige of warm weather we often - but not always - get in this part of the world... Sigh... However, I know that a lot of you are busting to get into that fall wardrobe you've been itching to wear, so now's the time to do it!

We survived the film festival and, as usual, I was too busy to see anything. Well, that's not totally true. I did get out to see Suck, the rock'n'roll vampire movie that some friends of mine were involved in. I'm happy to report that the movie itself does NOT suck and is well worth your time if, and when, it comes to a theatre near you. Oh, it was also cool to have writer/director/star Rob Stefaniuk, musical director John Kastner and cast members Barbara Mamabolo and the gorgeous Jessica Paré running around our place for a few nights...

But I digress... October at our place is loaded with the brilliant shows our patrons have come to love and expect. Click on the Music Tab on this site to see what's in store over the next couple of fall months - you'll be impressed. And, hey, don't despair about the cooling temperatures, our place is warm and cosy inside. The patio will be back next year :')

It is definitely September and we're getting ready to open the doors to all those cool people in our film community as well as those from out of town who'll be here for the Atlantic Film Festival. So hey, welcome!

It's a fun time and there are a lot of cool movies playing. If you're a film buff - and, let's face it, who isn't? - try to get out to some screenings...and then come by The Carleton Music Bar & Grill to discuss and critique. Our place is also a good little joint to plot and scheme for those of you in the industry that need to put hush-hush deals together...just sayin'...

Which also reminds me... I've been looking at my calendar lately and we have a PHENOMENAL line up of shows this fall. It's an embarassment of riches really. Make sure you go to the "Music" tab on this site to take a gander at what we've got in the pipe, it's insane.

So our shows are awesome but you should also know that we've revamped the menus a bit (in case you're getting tired of the same old excellent dishes) so there are some new dishes to try AND we're back into our Happy Hour swing, too. Oh, and our staff is about as good as you're going to find in this, or any other, city.

So, if you've been in before, come in again. If you haven't, what are you waiting for? It's nice, trust us :')

Hallo Gentle Reader,

It is coming up on the merry month of September and, while I'm lamenting the disappearance of August, I'm here to remind you that summer is, technically, not over until September 21st AND September is known as a very lovely month in our fair province - hurricanes notwithstanding - so we do have a lot more nice days to look forward to, I think (hope, pray, etc. etc.).

For those of you not on the Newsletter list, you missed a phenomenal Gordie Johnson show the other night. Packed - of course - and over three hours long... Kinda like a lot of our shows lately, come to think of it! Anyway, if you're not on that Newsletter list, just hit the News tab on this page, go to Newsletter, and click on the "subscribe" button on the left.

There are plenty of great shows coming up in the next few months and some possible BIG SHOW announcements soon. You're going to want to hear about them before the general public finds out... Trust me...

I'm torn at the moment. I've spent the better part of the "summer" bitching about how awful the weather has been - easily the worst season I've ever seen in this town - and now that I'm cautiously optimistic about the start of August, I'm choked because, well, it's August! And August heralds the END of the summer... Oh well, I guess I should just accept that it's almost time for some clown to start counting down the days to Christmas and allow myself to try to enjoy the sun while it's here.

Come hang on the patio with us. When the yellow orb in the sky is visable, there's no better place to be!

If you missed the Gordie Sampson shows, you blew it. Gordie's three nights were fabulous and, not that I generally call favourites, but the third night was truly something special. Our pal Dave Carroll of "United Breaks Guitars" YouTube fame (almost 5 million hits and still counting) did a surprise opening set and then Bruce Guthro joined Gordie on stage for the encore, capped by a completely unexpected a cappella version of Stan Rogers' "Northwest Passage." Not a dry eye in the house, I swear... Absolutely remarkable and - if I do say so myself - not anything you'd see anywhere but at The Carleton...

Check out the music tab on this site to see what we've got in store over the next couple of months, it's all good. Trust me.

I patiently waited through the weather hell that was June to get to the month of July and how was I rewarded, dear reader? I'll tell you. I was rewarded with more of the same!!! I have officially stopped watching the Weather Network and turn off the radio when the forecast is about to happen. I find myself apologizing to visitors to the city - as though it were my fault - and struggle to get out of bed in the morning. I am as pissed about this as you are, believe me.

But there's nothing we mere mortals can do about it except to keep our chins up and trust that, if nothing else, the law of averages will have to kick in eventually and the sun will come out. I've seriously never seen anything like it and I've been in Halifax for 17 years. Disgraceful.

We'd llke to think The Carleton can be a bit of an antidote though. Mike and I are sunny people, and we promise to brighten your day, should you choose to visit us during these soggy times. Our weapon of choice to combat the elements is our $6 martini and vodkatini special that is available whenever we're open, which is ALL THE TIME!

Come in to see us and pay attention to our fabulous live music schedule. Click the "Music" tab on this site and browse away...

OK, summer has offically arrived - at least as far as the calendar is concerned - and I, for one, am seriously not going to mourn seeing the last of this ridiculous June. Good riddance, I say! The streets and lawns of the city are waterlogged, we're suffering from seasonal affect disorder syndrome (SADS) due to lack of sunshine and i'm seeing insects in my backyard the likes of which would make a National Geographic photographer drool... Not cool at all, my friends, not cool at all...

However, even if the weather denies us sunshine, we've got plenty of the musical sunshine variety coming up at The Carleton. July is chock-a-block with excellent, world-class entertainment (and August isn't going to suck either)! Check out the Music tab here and go to Upcoming Performances to get the skinny on the likes of Melanie Doane, Po'Girl, Kellin Watson & Sierra Noble, Bucky Adams, Willie Nile, Jeff Lang, Andrew White, Amy Campbell and more, more, more...

And, for the love of God, come in for some of our frozen $6 Martinis and Vodkatiinis - any time, all the time!!!

Technically, summer isn't due to arrive before June 21st, so I guess I shouldn't really be disappointed with the spring's performance so far - but I am! However, it's come to my attention that June 21st is not that far away and I am waiting - like a 3 year-old on Christmas Eve - for the sun to start kicking some lily-white ass. Let's keep the fingers crossed that'll happen sooner, rather than later...

To business... If you haven't been to our joint for lunch (on the patio, or otherwise), you're missing the proverbial boat. Our lunch specials are great and our patio is sunny and comfortable. What are you waiting for, summer? We've also got some excellent shows coming up:  June 22nd, Juno-nominated Little Miss Higgins from Saskatchewan; June 28th, Melanie Doane (from here and making her first area appearance in ages); Po'Girl from Montreal on July 6th, etc. etc. etc. Check out the Music tab on this site for more info and more shows - there's a reason we're considered one of the best live music venues in the country...

Come in and say, "hi." We won't bite!