Last week’s Centre Stage was very Island-heavy for events, so this week it’s time for the mainland to pull its weight, which it does in multiple areas, starting in Antigonish.
Mind you, this is looking a couple of months into the future but prepare to circle some calendars (or at least put it into your phones): the Antigonish Jazz Fest returns for its fifth year, Nov. 5 to 7.
A quick peek at the website at antigonishjazzfest.ca shows that full schedule details are still being worked on as of this writing, but it’s a great lineup with performances happening on street corners, local establishments like The Townhouse, and on the St. Francis Xavier University campus in venues like the Gerald Schwartz Building.
Featured artists this year include the Bicoastal Collective – formed in 2007 by Nova Scotia trumpeter Paul Tynan and Grammy Award-winning San Jose baritone saxophonist Aaron Lington – Juno Award-winning Cape Breton fiddler and singer-songwriter Mogan Toney and multi-cultural European jazz collective Chandra.
There will also be showcases for manouche violinist Donald MacLennan, P.E.I. electronic jazz trio Forgalhorn, versatile Antigonish-based vocalist/pianist Carolyn Curry and the gathering of three superb improvisers: double-bassist Paul Rushka, pianist Jeff Johnston and drummer Anthony Michelli, a.k.a. Rushka, Johnston & Michelli.
That first full weekend in November will also see performances by the John MacLeod Quartet, the APC Big Band, Backhouse Brass, the Dr. J Stage Band and the Sam Dickinson Band.
“The 2026 festival brings together the energy, creativity and community spirit that make live music in Antigonish so special,” Antigonish Jazz Fest Chair Paul Curry said in the 2026 event announcement. “Whether you are a dedicated jazz fan or simply looking for a memorable night out, there will be something to discover.”
From jazz standards to exploratory improvisation, and a blend of traditional Nova Scotia styles and European jazz evolution, the town will literally be jam-packed in November for the Antigonish Jazz Fest.
Heading west, New Glasgow’s busy Shoebox Cantina has a full slate this week, with three terrific singer-songwriters and some face-melting pop-rock antics on Sunday.
To sum up: Mel Farrimond hails from Scotland, but calls Musquodoboit Harbour home, and steps into the Shoebox’s Thursday Night Spotlight on Sept. 10 with her expressive, picturesque songwriting. Alberta troubadour Martin Borch stops by the Shoebox on Friday, Sept. 11 – on an East Coast jaunt that also includes a Louisdale show on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Seal Cove Lounge – with his Celtic-tinged tunes; and Joe H. Henry shares songs and stories about his travelling ways in the Saturday Showcase on Sept. 12.
On Sunday, Sept. 13, Toronto trio Altered By Mom brings its “chaos with a party vibe” to New Glasgow after playing the Summo Festival in the other New Glasgow (P.E.I.) earlier in the weekend, for a Centre Stage first for double New Glasgow tour dates.
Fronted by Juno Award-winning songwriters Gina Kennedy and Devon Lougheed, with drummer Max Trefler driving them onward, Altered By Mom definitely have a focus on fun with songs like Knee-High Socks and Sucking on a Lemon from the debut album Better. Expect to hear some newer tunes from the upcoming follow-up Make Lemonade, co-produced by Mother Mother’s Mike Young, due out in 2027.
Altered By Mom are also joined by Nova Scotia band Frail, visit shoeboxshop.ca/tickets for more details.
But it’s not a quiet weekend in Cape Breton while these shenanigans are going on. For example, the Country Boys Tribute Show hits the Island for a Friday, Sept. 11 show at the Strathspey Performing Arts Centre in Mabou, and a Saturday, Sept. 12 appearance at Glace Bay’s Savoy Theatre.
It’s a night of non-stop hits from the catalogues of four artists who shaped the sound of modern country music: Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Brad Paisley and George Strait. Even if you’re not a country fan, the chances are good that you’ve shaken a leg to Chattahoochee or Friends in Low Places at one time or another, and this group of seasoned musicians play them the way they’re meant to be heard.
Also at the Savoy Theatre, on Thursday, Sept. 10, a talented cast gathers for the Boozy Broadway Cabaret Vol. 3: Miscast Edition, on the Savoy Lobby Stage.
The way it works is, the artists deliver musical theatre classics between sips, and the music can’t stop, no matter what. Seven singers and pianist Chris Tsujiuchi will do a little imbibing and a lot of emoting, and the end result is a loosey goosey gift from the Great White Way.
Visit savoytheatre.com for more details.