Halifax’s live music scene is one of my favourite things about the city. Just like the people, the music scene is warm and welcoming, the venues are eclectic, and there is a lot of great food and drink to try.

Music is as much a part of the life blood of the east coast as the food, and Halifax shows that off with some of the best places to see incredible performers all year round, any day of the week.

For fans of traditional east coast, Maritime music, it’s also hard to top Halifax as the place to visit. Nova Scotia has a rich Scottish and Irish heritage, and you can hear it in the folk music, and the performers who still play classic fiddle tunes.

These are the best live music venues in Halifax, with great food and local brews, plus recommendations on a few top annual festivals. Watch the travel vlog through Halifax on YouTube or at the bottom of the story.

The Carleton

1685 Argyle Street, Halifax

The Carleton is the place to be for music and it’s one of the city’s most loved venues. The calendar of concerts and events is full of local, indie musicians and touring acts, and it’s an intimate space, in one of the oldest buildings in the city. Plus the acoustics are great, and they have an excellent menu.

While I was in Halifax I saw Kylie Fox Band and Julia Cunningham perform, and the venue has a wide range of folk, jazz, pop, and other performers. A few upcoming shows include Neon Dreams, Justin Rutledge, Meaghan Smith, Lennie Gallant, Tara MacLean, and The Carleton hosts lots of local acts in a dinner theatre setting.

Make sure to try their popular fries, and I’d recommend the steak & frites, but they have seasonally changing menus that include pasta, burgers, and seafood. In addition to local craft beer, they have a number of specialty cocktails, non-alcoholic drinks, and Nova Scotian wine.

Bearly’s House of Blues

1269 Barrington Street, Halifax

One evening at Bearly’s House of Blues quickly made this my favourite venue in the city, and I wish I could visit all the time.

The 40-year-old venue is actually new to downtown Halifax, after moving from across town, but the new location already feels like a classic.

Walking into the bar, there are a number of tables, a bar with lots on tap, and great sightlines of the stage. Some people share tables, but if you arrive a little early you can get your own, and upstairs offers more seating and a bird’s-eye-view of the stage, plus another bar and a pool table.

You can find weekly specials on local beer at great prices, and they have a new Greek menu that features burgers, falafel, gyro, fries, nachos, and more. And do yourself a favour and stop by on a Tuesday night to see Garrett Mason perform; he’s one of the best blues musicians that I’ve ever heard.

The Local Restaurant & Bar

2037 Gottingen Street, Halifax

The Local is part of three venues on Gottingen Street, with the Marquee and Seahorse Tavern. While the Marquee and Seahorse Tavern are mainly concert venues, The Local is a little bit of everything, and they feature live music that’s always free, including the wonderful Gin & Jazz night on Wednesdays.

The crowd is eclectic, with university students, hip 20 & 30-somethings, and an older crowds, especially for the jazz night. They have a good bar menu, and an excellent drink menu that includes specials on gin and tonic, made with a local gem, Compass Distillers’ Gin or Royal Gin.

If you’re hungry, definitely try the chimichurri bacon smash burger, or any of their smash burgers for that matter, and expect some of the best jazz you’ll hear in Halifax from The Local’s house band. The band is electric and they play a wonderful mix of jazz styles that sometimes even gets a few people up and dancing.

The Narrows Public House

2720 Gottingen Street, Halifax

Step back in time for one of the city’s most unique venues. The Narrows Public House is warm and one of the coziest places in the city, and the house is nearly 130 years old, with real character and class.

Order a timeless meal, made from scratch in-house, a pint or a classic cocktail, and sit back on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays for traditional live music.

The venue is really special, it’s lively and historic, and I love the wood textures throughout all the spaces.

While you may hear traditional Irish or Scottish music, you could also hear folk or maybe bluegrass. Consider ordering from the restaurant’s “square meals,” with a focus on old fashioned meals like a Dutch mess or chicken fricot, served with molasses brown bread and mustard pickles.

More local favourites

Halifax has more than a dozen excellent bars and venues with live music, almost any night of the week, and that includes a few other favourites.

The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse on Prince Street has live music Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with some wonderful local, solo performers and bands.

Durty Nelly’s Authentic Irish Pub on Argyle Street has Ceilidh nights, it’s a big venue with lots of seating, and of course you should order a Guinness, but they have lots more on tap, with specials every day of the week.

The Split Crow Pub on Granville Street is Nova Scotia’s original bar, and they have music every single night of the week. Grab a pitcher of beer with some friends and spend the night at a classic.

Stop by The Press Gang Restaurant & Oyster Bar on Prince Street for one of the city’s largest selections of whiskies, live music, and lots of seafood.

Finally, Gus’ Pub & Grill on Agricola Street is a low-key and relaxed bar with music that’s popular with locals.

Annual festivals in Halifax

Halifax hosts a number of annual festivals that bring music to the city, especially every summer.

Find a full list of upcoming music events in Halifax at Discover Halifax and Tourism Nova Scotia.

For suggestions on hotels and places to stay, browse the map of Halifax hotels.

All photos by W. Andrew Powell/The GATE.