[2] The original Halifax Pop Explosion, which was operated as a private business from 1993–1995, was created as a platform to celebrate Halifax's newfound fame as the "Seattle of the North" and home of Canadian grunge, as well as to promote local bands such as Sloan, The Inbreds, Jale, The Super Friendz, and Thrush Hermit.The festival expanded its programming to support other genres within the independent music community, as well as the power pop for which it was best known for.By 2006, it was featuring acts from hip hop and electronica, to folk rock and alt-country, to punk and hardcore.In recent years, the music festival has been plagued with funding issues and allegations of systemic racism after an incident at the show of Colombian Canadian musician Lido Pimienta in 2017.[6] The 2020 Halifax Pop Explosion resulted in a deficit amid the COVID-19 pandemic,[7] and since 2021, a new edition of the festival has not been held.
Tanika Charles performing at the 2017 Halifax Pop Explosion
Ain't No Love performing at the 2014 Halifax Pop Explosion