In my experience, the Split Crow often has good bands, but it is not a good place to listen to music. It's a popular bar and people go there to drink. Conversation tends to be at the top of peoples' lungs.

The Old Triangle ought to be good, since it is owned by Evans and Doherty, who are two excellent musicians, but the last time I was there I was disappointed. They give the impression that they've been at the game so long they no longer have to try very hard. They were just churning out the kind of quasi-folkie, Irish bar band standards they think the tourists want. I really don't want to hear another rendition of Inch by Inch, Row by Row, thank you very much. I'm actually a fan of Evans & Doherty and I have some of their recordings, so I don't want to discourage you from going to the Old Triangle. I know they have a much better repertoire than I heard during my last visit.

Thanks to 8ch for that post about the song circle. I may check it out the next time I'm in Halifax.

The Halifax Folklore Centre might be a place to find information about sessions, but I asked there a few years ago, and they didn't have much to tell me. It seems there are plenty of bars with live music in Halifax, but not so much in the way of sessions. Perhaps this thread will prove me wrong.

Edmund