Crescendo Fest To Take Place August 4 & 5, 2023 in Halifax, NS
Crescendo Fest: A Black Music Festival and Conference where people gather for music, entertainment, networking, empowerment, and culture.
Crescendo Fest is an event designed to turn up the volume on Black music artists.
Says organizer Micah Smith,
“It is time to take charge and carve out our own space, focusing the spotlight on our talented music community. Home to the largest Indigenous Black community in the country, Nova Scotia is, in many ways, the birthplace of Black heritage in Canada, making it the ideal site for Crescendo Fest; a hub that will create space for Black music artists to engage from across Atlantic Canada.”
The role of Black Music has always been crucial to the confidence and identity of African Nova Scotian/Black artists. We have existed in the dichotomy between the Black Nova Scotian reality and living in a predominantly white and immigrant community. Our music has always given us a sense of belonging. It has helped many of us grow – giving us confidence, creativity, and freedom. It breaks down societal norms and stereotypes. It gives us the boldness to go against the grain. Our music is something we can be proud of, something we celebrate. It speaks to the complexity of our people, our story, our legacy. It speaks to the impact we continue to have in the world around us. Black music shapes the lives of many people all over the world, and it’s been that way for centuries. The roots and impact of Black music go much deeper than the catchy songs and popular artists that dominate the world’s music charts. Music is a powerful therapy and nowhere is that more true than for the Black community. Expressing ourselves musically is our escape from the pain of prejudice. It is time to share that music and experience with Atlantic Canadian audiences.
The event will take place in Halifax and will span two days of activities including a conference, celebrity interview, a free public concert at Parade Square, and the Crescendo Fest Wrap party featuring local DJs.
The Conference will focus on exporting. Speakers will include creatives My Best Friend Jacob and Dereshean Jarret aka Mixed by OTR along with industry leaders Ricardo Chung (A&R Warner), Malakai Eason, and Nova Scotia’s own Katrina Lopes.
In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop, there will be a celebrity interview with Canada’s first notable female MC, hip-hop pioneer Michie Mee.
The Crescendo Fest concert will feature some of Atlantic Canada’s most outstanding artists, a performance by Canada’s Queen of HIp-Hop, Michie Mee, and will be headlined by Afro-RnB star, Nonso Amadi. Nonso is a Soul singer, songwriter, and producer making waves all over the world and Crescendo Fest is proud to present his first concert in Nova Scotia.
The concert will be followed by the late-night Crescendo Fest Wrap Party featuring DJ Buck Blanks & DJ Riggs. Tickets here.
Schedule
Friday, August 4 at Light House Arts Centre
10:00 AM – Unleash Your Inner Potential: A Mindset Workshop for Empowered Decision Making, Embracing Growth, and Time Mastery
11:00 AM – Creative Collaboration. A panel that speaks to the possibilities of exporting through creative collaboration.
2:00 PM – Exporting: The Bigger Picture will discuss how to export outside of Atlantic Canada
Saturday, August 5
Noon – Celebrity Interview – Michie Mee
7:00 PM – Crescendo Fest Concert at Parade Square
DJ Nasty Nuck
Reeny Smith
Maggie Andrew
Michie Mee
Nonso Amadi
11:30 PM – Crescendo Fest Wrap Party at The Loft
DJ Bucky Blanks & DJ Riggs
Tickets here.
Crescendo Fest is made possible by the support of the government, the corporate sector, and the generosity of private individuals. Please visit crescendofest.com/partners to learn more.
Donations can be made through GoFundMe here.
Detailed information is available at Crescendofest.com