$Rockin’ 4 Dollar$ named 2015 Halifax Pop Explosion Scene Builder
Press release provided by Pigeon Row
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The
Halifax Pop Explosion Scene Builder Award recognizes those who work
tirelessly to help build, strengthen, and sustain the music scene and
industry here in Halifax and throughout Atlantic Canada. Past Scene
Builder Award recipients include Allison Outhit, Mike Campbell, Greg Clark, and Condon MacLeod.
Over
the last decade, $Rockin’ 4 Dollar$ has cemented itself as a musical
institution in Halifax. The full band open mic hosts over a dozen bands
every Monday night at Reflections Cabaret, and offers performers a
chance to win a variety of prizes each week by spinning a wheel. While
the prizes range from pragmatic (free rehearsal time at the local jam
space) to silly (old VHS tapes), the most notable - and most sought
after - is cash. Beginning at $200, the prize money accumulates by $200
each week if no winner is declared, and is capped at $1000 until an
artist or group wins. Over the past ten years, it is estimated that
$Rockin’ 4 Dollar$ has given away more than $10,000 to performing acts.
Beyond
its financial impact, however, $Rockin’ 4 Dollar$ also creates an
important cultural space within the Halifax music scene. $Rockin’ 4
Dollar$ is an event that thrives on diversity - a night where musicians
from a variety of backgrounds are welcome to perform regardless of their
skill level, genre, fan base, or experience. It is a night where
emerging acts hone their chops, where new bands perform on stage for the
first time, and where underground music finds not only a home, but also
a community.
“Since 2005, $Rockin’ 4 Dollar$ has been a starting point for many bands in Halifax,” says James Boyle, Executive Director of Halifax Pop Explosion.
“The night truly is a cultural incubator that plays a vital role in
developing, supporting, and encouraging the local music community. We
are proud to recognize these accomplishments with this year’s Scene
Builder Award.”
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