JUNO Week 2024 Night Two Recap

WRITTEN BY:  KATIE GORDON // PHOTOS BY: MITCHELL JODREY & KATIE GORDON //  THE BOOM AT NOON

TALK performing at the second night of the JUNO Block Party. (Photo: Mitchell Jodrey)

Friday night’s free JUNO Block Party had five time JUNO nominee TALK, Good Kid and Ontario-based Dizzy who all made their Nova Scotian debuts. Kicking things off was Nova Scotia’s own Maggie Andrew.

Rising alt-pop artist Maggie Andrew opened the show. Maggie was the winner of the Wavemakers competition in Halifax. She is set to release her debut EP on June 7. Leading up to her March 22 Block Party performance, Maggie released a new single - “Hurt Myself” on March 15.

Dream-pop band Dizzy made their Halifax debut at night two of the JUNO Block Party, playing to a large crowd on the Halifax waterfront. This year, the band released their third studio album and are nominated for Alternative Album of the Year - the band’s fourth nomination. In 2019 the band won their first JUNO - Alternative Album of the Year for their debut album Baby Teeth.

Breakthrough Group of the Year Nominee, Good Kid also made their Halifax debut. The five-piece, Toronto-based band is nominated for Breakthrough Group of the Year and are releasing their fourth EP on March 27.

Headlining the JUNO Block Party on Friday night was TALK, a five-time JUNO nominee making his Nova Scotia debut. In an interview just days before the event, TALK promised an unforgettable performance. "I’m a fun guy," he declared, "it’s all about having a good time, especially in Halifax. I really just came to have a good time - everything else is extra."

And a good time it was indeed. From the moment TALK took the stage the crowd went into a frenzy. Alongside his own hits and planned covers, he embraced spontaneity, inviting audience members to dictate the playlist. From the timeless melodies of "House of the Rising Sun" to the thunderous riffs of "War Pigs," TALK and his band delivered each request, wowing the crowd. However, when a fan suggested the maritime anthem "Barrett’s Privateers," TALK playfully admitted his unfamiliarity, prompting playful banter from the crowd.

As the night progressed, TALK welcomed special guests Jordan, Kylie, Leandra, and Eliza of The Beaches, proclaiming them his favourite band and praising their album "Blame My Ex" as his personal album of the year. Together, they played "Edge of the Earth."

For the encore, TALK returned with "Runway to Mars." In an interview prior to the show he reflected on its creation amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic. "Everyone was really lonely, confused, and scared but hopeful," he said. "I think the song is a very hopeful song. The crowd sang along every word. The band closed the night with "Through the Fire and Flames," renowned for being one of the hardest (if not the hardest) songs to play on Guitar Hero - fittingly for this performance he had one of the game’s guitars to shred on.

Following his performance, fans in Halifax are already counting down the days until his return.