Halifax Pop Explosion 2012 Initial Lineup

MUSIC

Halifax Pop Explosion Announces Initial Lineup for 20th Anniversary in 2012

Halifax, NS – July 3, 2012 - Halifax Pop Explosion has announced the initial acts performing at its 20th anniversary festival. Taking place from October 16-20, the line-up features of Montreal, Black Lips, Atlas Sound, Wintersleep, and Deer Tick. The complete list of confirmed acts includes:

of Montreal, Black Lips, Atlas Sound, Wintersleep, Deer Tick, Adventure Club, Elliott BROOD, El-P, Zola Jesus, Born Ruffians, Dan Mangan (with Symphony Nova Scotia), Eugene Mirman, King Tuff, Purity Ring, Clinic, The Pack A.D., The White Buffalo, Bane, Cold Specks, The Blind Shake, The Spring Standards, Humans, Dance Laury Dance, Code Orange Kids, Big John Bates, dVbbs, and Mike O'Neill. Seminal local acts reuniting to perform at the festival include: The Super Friendz, Cool Blue Halo, Strate Jakets, and Hip Club Groove.

"Halifax Pop Explosion 2012 will be the high school reunion we all wish we had," claims Halifax Pop Explosion's executive director Jonny Stevens. "We're stoked to have been able to convince a number of highly influential Halifax bands to reunite for our 20th and share the stage with the best new independent artists active today. The festival has a 20-year history of presenting bands before they explode and this year is no different. We celebrate our history while remaining firmly committed to presenting the future." We spoke with Jonny again this year and you can listen to our interview on the Soundcloud file below.

With a legacy that includes Arcade Fire, Cat Power, Girl Talk, Elliott Smith, and GZA, the Halifax Pop Explosion has been host to countless unforgettable moments in its long history. Ranging from Yo La Tengo opening for Sloan in the tiny Café Ole, Owen Pallett backed by Symphony Nova Scotia at The Rebecca Cohn, and Monotonix performing on top of the traffic lights outside of Gus' Pub, all have shaped the event and helped developed it into one of Canada's most respected music festivals. In its 20 years it has grown from booking 19 acts in 1993 to over 150 in 2011. It has evolved from being run by a group of enthusiastic volunteers to its current die-hard, full-time staff. One thing that has remained the same, however, is the festival's unrelenting focus on bringing some of the most exciting acts from North America and beyond to the East Coast of Canada every fall.

Festival wristbands and passes will go on sale at noon on July 6th. Quantities are limited. Early bird prices (until July 13 or until sold out) are as follows:

MUSIC

Halifax Pop Explosion Announces Initial Lineup for 20th Anniversary in 2012

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