With the opening of the Rewind/Remix music inspired art gallery, the annual Halifax Pop Explosion (HPX) will be kicking off in Halifax, NS. The fast-growing festival began in 1993 and this year is gearing up for its 21st installment, a highly anticipated event.

“HPX is the Halifax Pop Explosion, an international music festival and conference that presents 200 bands in 20 venues over 5 days to over 30,000 fans and industry delegates from around the world.”

This year’s lineup could easily be considered one of the strongest in the festivals’ history. Having attracted acts like party-rap icon Danny Brown; hip-hop goliaths Ghostface Killah and Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan; Canadian indie-rockers Tokyo Police Club, the influential folk-punk band Against Me!, and a fantastic array of talent from Halifax, New Brunswick, PEI and beyond — it’s clear that the folks behind the scenes aren’t interested in maintaining the status quo.

With the festival beginning today, here’s some highlights of Secret East’s what-not-to-miss guide at this years’ festival.

The Breakdown

October 21st:

Telephone Explosion Records Presents: Soupcans, Stange Attractor, WITCHS and Negative Rage
Gus’ Pub @ 10pm – $15

I was fortunate enough to see the Soupcans at this years’ Lawnya Vawnya festival in St. John’s, NL. Their unique style of noisy punk is loud and chaotic. What makes this a can’t-miss is their high-energy and brain-melting performance.

Joining Soupcans are Telephone Explosion Records other brilliant picks in Strange Attractor, WITCHS and Halifax punkers Negative Rage; they’ll be taking the stage at 10pm so make sure you get there early.

Check out the Facebook event here.

For those you lucky enough to have a all-access pass, it’s worth noting that hometown pop-punkers OUTTACONTROLLER will be playing The Seahorse at 10pm. It’s too bad that people will have to choose between Negative Rage and OUTTACONTROLLER, but either way, you’ll be getting your money’s worth.

OUTTACONTROLLER are opening up The Seahorse and will be followed by The Flatliners, Single Mothers and Teenage Kicks.

Check out the Facebook event here.

October 22nd:

HPX Presents: Solids, Kuato, Soft Spot and Secret Guest
Gus’ Pub @ 10pm – 15 Bucks

Solids were a major surprise to many people at last years’ Halifax Pop Explosion. But after the festival and the release of their newest album Blame Confusion, it came as no surprise when they were signed to Dine Alone Records and Fat Possum Records. The Montreal two-piece are easily one of the best up and coming bands in Canada. These fuzzed-out, dream-punk indie-rockers will rock your clogs off.

Joining Solids are Halifax own lo-fi newcomers Soft Spot, and post-rock outfit Kuato.

Check out the Facebook event here.

Solids will be taking the stage at 1am so you can always go catch The Everywheres at the Carleton Music Bar and Grill at 11:30pm. This Halifax psychedelic-garage-rock group have been making noise around Atlantic Canada ever since their self-titled LP dropped in June 2013.

The Everywheres are joining Teen, and Telstar Drugs.

Check out the Facebook event here.

October 23rd:

Eastlink Presents: Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, BADBADBNOTGOOD and Cam Smith.
Multi-purpose Center @ 7pm – 45 Bucks

It’s not often that you’ll see such hip-hop royalty grace the stage at one time in Atlantic Canada. For one reason or another, fans have been hungry for great hip-hop acts like Ghostface and Raekwon. This show is a can’t miss and the fine folks at Pop Explosion did well to schedule this one early. Raekwon and Ghostface will be taking the stage at 9pm and 10pm respectively, so get down there to guarantee your chance to catch two hip-hop legends.

 

Live105 Presents Against Me!, Like A Motorcycle, Weekend Dads and Dyscontrol.
Olympic Community Hall @ 8pm – 40 Bucks

Another major headliner for this years’ festival is Against Me!. The Gainsville, Florida punk band have been around for more than a decade at this point, and they’re influence still continues to grow. Their newest album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, was released in January. Being one of the most influential folk-punk bands around, you surely don’t want to miss them during this festival.

Joining Against Me! are three solid Halifax punk rock acts, including Dyscontrol who you can check out below.

Noyes Records Presents: Swearin’, Kestrels, Hag Face and Veneers.
Gus’ Pub @ 10PM – $15

Gus’ Pub will also play host to Swearin’ and Kestrels- another great show to make Thursday one of the best days of the fest. Swearin’ rules. A pop-punk punk vice mixed with a 90’s flavour. Make sure you make it to Gus’ to check them out along with Kestrels, a shoe-gaze three-piece from Toronto. Their newest EP, The Moon is Shining Our Way, was released in July, check it out here:

Stay tuned to Secret East for further coverage of the Festival.