Eastern Canada's First Black Music Festival: CRESCENDO FEST

Jul. 4

Crescendo Fest, a dynamic event aimed at amplifying Black music artists, is set to ignite Halifax with a vibrant celebration of talent. Organizer Micah Smith says, “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 festival will take place over two days and offer a variety of activities, including a conference, a celebrity interview, a free public concert at Parade Square, and the Crescendo Fest Wrap Party featuring local DJs.

During the conference, attendees will learn about the music industry and exporting music outside of Atlantic Canada. They will hear from special guests like My Best Friend Jacob and Dereshean Jarret, who is also known as Mixed by OTR. Experts in the music business, including Ricardo Chung from Warner Music, Malakai Eason, and local talent Katrina Lopes, will share their knowledge and experiences.

As part of the festival's celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop, there will be a special interview with Michie Mee, who is considered Canada's first notable female MC in the hip-hop genre. Michie Mee's interview will be a highlight of the event, as she shares her experiences and insights from her groundbreaking career.