Photos & Review: Halifax Hosts City and Colour's Final Stop On Cross-Canada Tour
WRITTEN BY: KATIE GORDON & MITCHELL JODREY // PHOTOS BY: MITCHELL JODREY // THE BOOM AT NOON 
Dallas Green of City and Colour performing at the Scotiabank Centre
(Photo: Mitchell Jodrey)
On February 27, Halifax's Scotiabank Centre hosted the final show of City and Colour's cross-Canada tour, drawing in a nearly sold-out crowd. This tour marked the band’s first cross-country venture in five years, and they made sure it was an unforgettable one.
Special guests Ruby Waters and Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats set the perfect tone, with Ruby’s powerful vocals echoed their standout performance at PEI's Sommo Festival, while Nathaniel and his band brought a rowdy performance that energized the crowd.
This show was Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats’ triumphant return to the Maritimes, following a headlining set at the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in 2019. The show, originally slated for the year before, was rescheduled so Nathaniel could attend the funeral of Richard Swift, a close friend, producer, and mentor.
Nathaniel Rateliff belting “I Need Never Get Old” at the Scotiabank Centre (Photo: Mitchell Jodrey)
Delivering a set filled with fan favourites, the band treated the audience to energetic renditions of hits like “I Need Never Get Old,” “You Worry Me,” and “A Little Honey.” Midway through the performance, most of the Night Sweats exited the stage, leaving Nathaniel to deliver a powerful performance of “And It’s Still Alright,” a track from his 2020 solo album of the same name — a touching tribute to Richard Swift. The band then rejoined Nathaniel for “Hey Mama,” followed by “Coolin Out” and the smash hit “S.O.B,” before wrapping up their set with the soulful “Love Don’t.”
Andy Wild of The Night Sweats performing at the Scotiabank Centre
(Photo: Mitchell Jodrey)
As the night unfolded, City and Colour delivered an electrifying performance, including songs from their recent release, "The Love Still Held Me Near," and fan favourites released over the past two decades.
City and Colour kicked off the evening with a stirring rendition of "Meant to Be," setting the stage for what was to come. From the haunting melodies of "Runaway" to the raw emotion of "Thirst," each song captivated the audience.
Dallas Green of City and Colour performing at the Scotiabank Centre
(Photo: Mitchell Jodrey)
Midway through the set, frontman Dallas Green shared a message of unity and kindness before launching into "We Found Each Other in the Dark," encouraging concert-goers to hold kindness for the stranger beside them, noting how incredible it was that all of us made our way to the same room, singing the same songs.
City and Colour performing “Thirst” at the Scotiabank Centre
(Photo: Mitchell Jodrey)
A highlight of the evening came during the performance of "Astronaut," when Dallas asked everyone to illuminate the arena with their phone flashlights, creating a sea of lights.
The night progressed with a series of memorable performances, including "Waiting..." from the album "Bring Me Your Love," during which the entire crowd sang along in unison. Before playing "Hello, I'm in Delaware," which appears on the band’s debut album “Sometimes.” Before playing the song, he took a moment to acknowledge the hardworking crew behind the scenes, thanking them for their dedication and commitment. "Bow Down to Love," from their new album was the final song before the encore.
Dallas Green of City and Colour performing at the Scotiabank Centre
(Photo: Mitchell Jodrey)
As the night drew to a close, Dallas returned to the stage for the encore solo, joking that he needed a bathroom break. He played an acoustic version of “Northern Wind” before being joined on-stage by Matthew James Kelly where they played a heartfelt rendition of crowd favourite, "Comin' Home”. As always, when he sang "I've been to Nova Scotia, Sydney to Halifax, but I'll never take any pictures, 'cause I know I'll just be right back," the crowd went wild. Before wrapping up the song, Dallas added a verse from the Alexisonfire song “This Could Be Anywhere in the World,” which was released just one year after “Comin’ Home,” in 2006.
For the final two songs, Dallas asked for maximum participation from the crowd. The crowd eagerly joined in, their voices rising to fill the arena – singing “Lover Come Back” and finishing the set with “Sleeping Sickness.” The crowd singalong reached its peak during “Sleeping Sickness” when everyone sang along to Gord Downie’s verse - “I've become a simple souvenir of someone's kill, and like the sea, I'm constantly changing from calm to ill, madness fills my heart and soul as if the great divide could swallow me whole - Oh, how I'm breaking down.” It was a beautiful time to remember Gord and his musical legacy.
As the echoes of the last song faded away, the crowd was left to remember that City and Colour would "be right back."
