Half Moon Run & Field Guide
August 5, 2025
The Light House Arts Centre, Halifax, NS
On August 5, Halifax happily welcomed back Montreal-based indie rockers Half Moon Run for their first local appearance since the TD Halifax Jazz Festival in 2022. We were finally the lucky ones this summer, as the band was only playing 4 shows on the East Coast and one in Quebec City, which marked their final scheduled concerts of 2025. Not to mention, their only other two shows earlier this year were with Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.
Opening the evening at The Light House Arts Centre was Winnipeg singer-songwriter Field Guide (Dylan MacDonald). Paired with his acoustic guitar, he shared stories between songs, creating an intimate vibe where each song felt like a conversation. His set featured songs including “Tupperware,” “Life I Wanted,” and “Me & You.”
The stage came to life as Half Moon Run took their places, opening with “9beat” amongst moody lighting and fog. Shifting into the upbeat, bouncy rhythms of “Hotel in Memphis,” the crowd couldn’t resist dancing and singing along. Speaking for myself, “Razorblade” is one I hope never leaves their setlist. It truly showcases the band’s versatility–opening with Devon Portielje’s sultry vocals over a slow build and ending up having an intense guitar solo by Conner Molander, which was all amplified by an incredible show of flashing red and white lights.
Throughout the night, the trio seamlessly swapped instruments with ease and cycled through multiple guitars, keys, a floor tom, maracas, and even a harmonica. Midway through the set, Half Moon Run turned the energy down for a handful of songs from their first two albums, including a special request for “Everybody Wants–” a track they hadn’t performed in over a decade until the night before in Charlottetown. They also delivered an intimate acoustic version of “Devil May Care,” with percussionist Dylan Phillips joining Devon and Conner around a single mic to share harmonies. They then shifted gears and jammed out on fresh material put together during soundchecks before sharing a brand-new, unnamed song.
The main set wrapped up with the powerful “She Wants To Know,” the track that first won me over when I first saw them open for City and Colour in 2014. They returned for a 3-song encore, which ended with “Full Circle,” but the crowd wasn’t ready to let go. Half Moon Run came back for one last acoustic moment, performing “Sun Leads Me On” with all three members front and centre. As Devon sang, “Yes I’m leaving,” someone from the crowd shouted, “No you’re not!”–a perfect summary of everyone’s thoughts as the night ended.
As someone who’s traveled to three other provinces to catch a few shows during their Halifax absence, I can say I’ll never tire of seeing them. They keep every performance fresh, constantly rotating the setlist and bringing back songs fans thought they’d retired (“Then Again” being another example). The fun they are clearly having on stage is infectious and spreads throughout the audience. Here’s hoping it won’t be another three years before Half Moon Run returns to Halifax!
