DalFest brings free live music to campus this weekend

Now that everyone’s back and settled into their September rhythms, it’s time for a little live music.

DalFest is the Dalhousie Student Union's yearly concert series that happens on the Dalhousie Studley quad, moved back a week this year, to this Friday and Saturday. DSU VP Student Life Gavin Jardine says the move was an effort to encourage a wider range of students and others to attend.

The festivities are free for Dal students, staff, faculty, alumni, guests and friends.

“The entire purpose of the event is to celebrate the Dal community,” he says. “I hope everyone who attends comes away with stronger school spirit and a sense of belonging within the Dal community.”

It’s also the first year that the outdoor stage will be used for two days. Another first: students from Dal’s Agricultural Campus will be part of the festivities. The DSU is partnering with the Agriculture Students' Association to bus students to Halifax for Saturday’s events.

The concerts are headlined by Kelowna, B.C. indie rockers Yukon Blonde on Friday night, with acclaimed London, Ont. rapper Shad — whose last album, T.S.O.L., beat out Drake for Best Hip Hop Album at the Junos — and Montreal rockers Plants and Animals topping the bill on Saturday. Also performing are folk artist Jeremy Fisher (also from Montreal), P.E.I.’s Paper Lions and local acts Writers’ Strike and The Caravan.

“We tried to keep it as diverse as possible,” says Jardine. “We’ve hopefully brought a lot of different, exciting bands to campus.”

Dal students, faculty and staff are encouraged to show up early on Friday for a welcome to traditional Mi'kmaq territory and a performance by Eastern Eagle, an internationally renowned drumming group, at 3 p.m. Friday. It's part of the work that Dalhousie's Working Group on Intercultural Awareness and the DSU have done towards fostering and promoting support for diversity and inclusion.

Many other Dal groups will be on-site with live activities during DalFest, along with community partners like Mountain Equipment Co-op and the Surf Film Festival (who are setting up a “tarp surfing” station – think skateboarding, but with a giant wave). There will also be food vendors serving international and local fare and attractions including a bouncy castle and climbing wall.

Activities kick off at 3 p.m. each day, with music getting underway at 6 p.m. on Friday and 5 p.m. on Saturday. For full details, visit the DalFest website or check out the event’s Facebook Page.