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I've been threatening to create what I'm calling the Halifax Urban Folk Festival for at least four years. Then, all of a sudden, I decided to open a bar instead and the festival went on the back-burner... I'm still going to try to do this festival - over the Labour Day weekend in 2011 - but thought I'd trot out a "mini" version of it this year so the idea wouldn't die...

Of course, I'm late getting the word out and we've had some trials, and the usual tribulations, but I'm just about ready to let the various cats out of their attendant bags and I hope that at least some of you are going to be hanging around the city to take advantage of the talent I'm bringing in.

"Urban Folk Festival?" Yeah, it's a singer/songwriter festival that takes place in a perfectly good city - Halifax - that won't require you to drive for hours to a vacant, recently-cut, hayfield somewhere; that won't necessitate a tent, or OFF, or rain gear, or your own toilet paper and you know you'll be able to get good, hot, food and the sound will be brilliant wherever you might find yourself... That's the premise... Hey, I've been to every major "folk festival" in this country over the years and I'm getting too old to do the camping thing. Call me "crotchety" but that's just the way it is. I HATE being cold, wet and eaten alive by insects... Sorry.

So, this year, from August 29th, through September 5th - 8 glorious nights - I'm booking entertainment at The Carleton and I've got some stellar entertainment for all of you!

Clock this website for the deets. Shows will start each night at 10 PM. Check us out. You'll quickly understand why we were voted Music Nova Scotia's "Venue of the Year." You'll be able to see a couple of killer international acts, along with some of Halifax's up-and-coming stars. Remember the acronym - HUFF. Tell your friends, come to the shows!

Well, our second anniversary couldn't have gone much better. Multiple shows by Steve Poltz and Matt Mays drove home the point that we are - if we do say so ourselves - one of the best venues in this, or any other, country. And we're appreciative of all the good wishes passed our way by our loyal customers - thank you all very much!

Now it looks like summer is headed our way and the patio is ship-shape. We've got a few new faces working for us and I know they're excited to meet all of you.We're expecting to be a busy lot the next few months and I've got a lot of great music lined up. If you're local, you know what I'm talking about. If you're just visiting the city, take a gander at the "Upcoming Shows" under the Music tab on this site to see what I mean.

Summer might be my favourite season but, as we all know, it's WAY too short. Let's make hay, as they say!

It has come to my attention that we are getting dangerously close to our second anniversary. Frankly, last year we were so busy just trying to survive that we forgot about our first birthday but we're a little more together this time around and we actually feel like celebrating a little.

To mark the occasion, we've got a couple of killer artists in for multiple dates: Steve Poltz, May 9th, 10th and 11th and Matt Mays on May 16th, 17th and 18th. We still have tickets for Steve's shows - and I strongly suggest you pick some up because he's simply the best solo entertainer we've ever seen - but Matt's shows are already sold out. We'll be doing daily drink specials and give-aways and I'm hoping the weather continues to kick ass because, well, we deserve it after last year's non-summer.

Anyway, if you've been a loyal patron over the years, thanks for your business. If you haven't been in to see us yet, now's a good time. We're more than "just another pretty place."

I don't want to get all cocky about the weather of late - because I don't trust it - but it certainly seems like Spring is a little early this year and I, for one, am optimistic that we're well on our way to warm. We're now making the annual plans to get the patio out in anticipation of sunshine and good times.

And speaking of sunshine, if you haven't been down to Argyle Street recently, the Herlad building now lays in ruins, and those ruins are being hauled away daily by a fleet of trucks. That means the sun - when it's out - floods the street with joy and warmth and will continue to do so for many months to come. It feels like a different street now that the shade-inducing hulk across the street is no more.

Rejoice, people, rejoice. God knows we're rejoicing at our place... Speaking of rejoicing, we've got some brilliant shows coming up in the coming days - Rachel Faro (March 30th), Oysterband!!!! (April 6th & 7th), Jessica Rhaye (April 11th), Michael Redden (April 14th), Flat Fifth (April 18th), Andrew Hunter, Jon Landry and Carmen Townsend (April 21st), The Jack Stafford Foundation (April 25th) and Al Tuck (April 28th).

You can read more about all those shows by going to the Music Tab on this site. Do it. Do it now!

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...