Friday Showstravaganza:: Elliot Brood, Deep Dark Woods, The Gideons & Billy Bragg

The Friganza returns! It's been a while since we've posted our rundown of the weekend shows here in Halifax, but you'll have to cut us a bit of slack, as we've had a few things going on. But things, schmings, there's a lot going on, so let's get to it.

If the two of us can power through the illness in our bodies and households, you'll find us at the Paragon, taking in a show we've been looking forward to for a while: The Deep Dark Woods & Elliot Brood at The Paragon. I'm sure many of you are familiar with Polaris short listeners Elliot Brood, but if you haven't seen them live, I suggest you do so because although the sets at the Polaris gala were short, EB had the crowd in a tray whacking frenzy by the time theirs was over. The Deep Dark Woods were recently tabbed by CBC Radio 2 listeners to represent Saskatchewan in their SongQuest songwriting contest, but if you'd read the Ack's review of their last album, you wouldn't be surprised. These two excellent outfits will be joined be talented local Laura Merrimen (check our review of her last album), and so this is going to be quite the evening.

That show is far from your only choice though, as Friday night also see release shows from The Gideons and A History Of at The Khyber and Club 1668 respectively. Hill faves Caledonia play The Seahorse Saturday night, or you could see Can-rock icon Gordie Johnson's current band Grady at the Coconut Grove. And to wrap up the weekend, there's a doozy of a show Sunday night at the Cohn, where troubadour extraordinaire Billy Bragg will play with opener The Mountains & The Trees (aka Newfoundland's Jon Janes, who has been getting some attention on the hill as of late).

So there you go, plenty to see, so get out and see something while the weather is still tolerable.

MP3:: Elliot Brood - Write It All Down For You

MP3:: The Deep Dark Woods - All The Money I Had Is Gone

MP3:: A History Of - Action In The North Atlantic

MP3:: The Mountain & The Trees - Up & Down

Labels: Billy Bragg, Deep Dark Woods, Elliott Brood, Friday Showstravaganza, Live, The Gideons