The Pavilion Lives On: Joining Forces to Support Iconic Halifax Venue
WRITTEN BY: katie gordon // THE BOOM AT NOON
The Pavilion (Photo credit: The Pavilion Facebook page)
For decades, the iconic music venue, the Pavilion, has allowed music fans of all ages to come together and enjoy live performances in Halifax. Hosting a wide range of artists since 1998, if you were a musician or music fan growing up in Halifax, there’s a good chance you have memories of a show at the Pavilion. In 2014, despite officially closing due to budget cuts, the city-owned venue was kept alive by the Pavilion Youth Association and other like-minded organizations and individuals who made several concerts happen through fundraising. Not long after, Haligonians learned that the pool shed turned music venue would be demolished to make way for renovations to the Halifax Commons. The all-ages venue hadn’t hosted an in-person show since before the pandemic and in January 2022, was ordered by the city to officially move out of 5816 Cogswell so they could turn it into a temporary winter shelter for unhoused individuals in Halifax.
This past week, volunteers alongside the Pavilion Youth Association moved all their gear to various Halifax jam and event spaces, including Radstorm, the only other all-ages venue in the city with the Pavilion’s Facebook page noting that they were happy to have the gear going to a place that continues the dream of having all-ages shows for youth to attend and perform.
Today, the Pavilion Youth Association, musicians and music fans are still determined to keep the beloved venue, its mission and its legacy alive.
This Saturday, February 4, Nova Scotia Community College Music Business student Anna Brown and her musician sister Karol Brown are hosting a birthday party at Gus’ Pub. All proceeds will go to the Pavilion Youth Association and its rebuild.
The lineup curated by Anna will feature bands Skunk Motel, Sleepy Kicks, Bring Me Sleep, POSTFUN, and Karol Brown. Maya Taraschi from Skunk Motel says her band was eager to participate in the fundraiser and support the Pavilion and the Halifax all-ages music scene. “We’re all very excited to bring our art to support a venue that means so much to so many people,” says Anna.
With the closure of The Pavilion, only one remaining all-ages venue provides a space for musicians and fans under 19 to play and see live music. Maya and her fellow Skunk Motel band members agree that having a space for the next generation of Halifax musicians and music fans is essential. “As you get older and start having access to music shows, venues and music schools, it becomes clear that there is a place for you and your art,” says Maya. “It’s also important that a young person who loves music can see that there’s a whole community out there just waiting for them.”
Tickets are $10 or pay what you can. Tickets will be available at the door.
If you are unable to attend, you can donate to the Pavilion online. To stay up-to-date on the latest with The Pavilion, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
