Halifax organizer puts on fundraiser show for musician friend battling cancer

An all-ages show from the Pavilion is pictured. (Source: Parker Babineau)

When it comes to his musical tastes, Brandon Bourgeois says he likes “anything loud and clangy and energetic.”

Originally from Amherst, N.S., Bourgeois has been playing music in bands for years. Even a recent diagnosis hasn’t stopped him from making noise.

“I was first diagnosed around the end of November with cancer,” he said. “It’s been strangely alright, better than I thought it’d be. Tiredness is the main thing.”

“I still have an energy in the day. I play drums in the day, get a good session in, sometimes only 10 minutes. I tend to play super hard anyway.”

Due to his diagnosis, Bourgeois has had to take a break from performing at many live shows, but he hopes to attend one on Feb. 13 as it’s dedicated to raising money for him during this difficult time.

“(Parker Babineau) hinted at wanting to do a benefit show,” Bourgeois said. “He hit me up and said the bands agreed to donate their share to me, which was mind blowing. I consider myself an outsider to the scene. I find the response to this show is way beyond anything I imagined.”

Babineau, a fellow Amherst native, said Bourgeois was one of the first musicians he played with in a band.

“Once we got the news, it was a real kick in the teeth,” Babineau said. “What can I do to help?”

Babineau, who moved to Halifax in 2019, started hosting the All Age Rager with Radstorm, a non-profit organization on Gottingen Street.

“That really opened my eyes to the potential in this city,” he said. “Through Radstorm, I learned how to do my own sound and graphic design and put on a dang good show.

“There are not a lot of places for youth to experience live music (in Halifax). The shows I book bring in 100-plus people.”

Babineau’s shows have expanded beyond Radstorm, which led him to collaborate with The Pavilion, the all-ages events organization that was based in the Halifax Common before being forced to leave its building in 2022.

C.J. Hill, president of The Pavilion, said he partnered with the Light House Arts Centre for a series of Battle of the Bands shows in 2023 before venturing out to other venues. They’re currently running events with the Army Navy Air Force Club at 2409 Maynard St., which is where Babineau’s fundraiser show will be held next week.

Hill said all-ages shows form the “backbone of the music economy” in Halifax, which is why the Pavilion is focused on keeping them going.

“If we don’t have kids interested in live music, the whole thing falls apart,” he said. “If these shows don’t happen, then there’s no places for kids to see live music. It’s really, really important.

“We’re aiming to do a show at least once a month. Once we’re more comfy with this space, we want to ramp up the shows and maybe aim for two a month. We just we want to put on shows.”

Babineau said he treats the all-ages shows as “third spaces,” which is a concept that refers to gathering spots separate from home and work.

“Youth are looking for a third space,” he said. “Mental health is super important. It’s important you have somewhere you can go that you feel safe. We make sure everything is safe and secure and you can be yourself.

“My personal taste in music was limited before I moved to the city. It’s great for exposure and to feel like you have a community.”

Babineau said nearly all the money raised at the show will go to Bourgeois. Tickets are $15 or pay what you can.

“No one’s turned away for lack of funds,” he said. “We want to support the community and raise as much money as possible for Brandon.”

The show – which features Ongorah, Fluke, Human Missile Crisis, Riverseen and Dogpile – starts at 6 p.m. on Feb. 13 at the Army Navy Air Force Club.

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