Hidden in the basement of Propeller Arcade on Gottingen Street, Halifax found itself at the center of something electric. Normally a haven for pinball and craft beer, the arcade’s basement was transformed into a glowing venue lined with LOUD WOMEN merch, lights bouncing off brick walls, and a crowd brimming with anticipation. By the time doors opened at 6:00 pm, the basement buzzed with the kind of energy only LOUD WOMEN can conjure, equal parts punk grit and celebratory warmth, a reminder that feminist music isn’t just resistance, it’s revelry. Halifax was more than ready to welcome LOUD WOMEN Fest to Canada for the very first time.
Sophie Noel opened the night, instantly setting the tone. Dartmouth’s own indie folk/art rock artist shimmered with grit and nostalgia in equal measure, their songs cartwheeling between rawness and dreamlike melodies. The audience leaned in close, warmed by the honesty in Noel’s lyrics and delivery, the perfect way to kickstart a night devoted to music that matters.
Moira & Claire shifted the atmosphere with sisterly harmonies that soared straight to the heart. The award-nominated duo has made a name for themselves across Nova Scotia’s folk-pop circuit, and on this night, their blend leaned into the melancholic, voices intertwining in a way that only siblings can achieve. It was a quieter set overall, but no less powerful, a reminder that LOUD WOMEN isn’t just about volume, but about truth and intimacy too.
Pillow Fite took the stage next with their queer indie duo magic, immediately pulling the room into their orbit. Celebrated for their heartfelt catalogue and their acclaimed 2024 album Hard Feelings, Soft Promises, the pair delivered a set that felt both tender and explosive. Highlights included ‘February, Sunday’, which Ross tenderly dedicated to their girlfriend, and a fan-favourite, ‘Half Moon’. At one point, Ross paused to remind the crowd how vital spaces like this are, celebrating queer community and the importance of supporting trans and queer artists. With jangly guitars and aching lyrics, their set was a mix of intimacy and catharsis, the kind of songs that hit like late-night conversations with friends.
Then Burry had the room buzzing at a whole new level. Fresh off playing LOUD WOMEN Fest London, their radiant indie-pop shimmer burst across Halifax’s stage, balancing wit, warmth, and sass. Fronted by Burry, a non-binary artist who proudly calls themself ‘your favourite non-binary lesbian musician,’ the band’s music fearlessly explores queerness, mental health, and the realities of marginalized life. Onstage, Burry’s guitar and vocals were supported by Cassie Mann on bass and vocals, and Spencer McPhee on drums. Burry didn’t just play to Halifax; they belonged to Halifax, and the room knew it.
Loviet fused raw rock swagger with glossy pop edges, commanding every corner of the basement. With powerhouse vocals and driving riffs, Loviet’s set felt larger than the room, transforming Propeller Arcade’s basement into a festival mainstage. As the winner of Music Nova Scotia’s 2024 Rock Recording of the Year, Loviet showed exactly why they’ve become one of the province’s breakout names: anthemic, bold, and commanding, the kind of performance that reminds everyone why Halifax’s music scene punches far above its weight.
Closing the night, Angel Girl unleashed a storm of queer punk fury. The Halifax quartet is known for “filthy, furious anthems of feminine rage,” and on this night they delivered in spades, with the crowd moving, fists raised, voices screaming back lyrics. They tore through their set with ferocity, including a blistering performance of ‘TOLD YA SO’, a song that had the crowd echoing its raw refrain. It was loud, it was cathartic, and it was exactly the exclamation mark the night deserved.
At 11:35 pm, the official schedule cheekily read: “take to the streets/overthrow the patriarchy”. It was a tongue-in-cheek nod, but after hours of joy, rage, tenderness, and community, it didn’t feel like a joke. Halifax had just hosted something historic: a small London-born feminist collective had thrived here, embraced with open arms. As Dalhousie student and festival attendee, Gabrielle Bellehumeur put it:
“Halifax needs this energy, a space where queerness is at the centre.”
And on this night, LOUD WOMEN Fest Halifax delivered exactly that.
Also check out …
