Steve, out of curiosity, I wonder where they sent you to, and who it was you saw.

I do agree that you get in the bars, the same 17 songs you hear pretty well anywhere in North America.

This is due to the people who own the bars. They want to hear certain songs, because in "their opinion" those people seem to get people drinking.

I disagree. It is the entertainer who is there to shill the drinks. The songs don't do that. I think they should play whatever makes them happy to play. If they're comfortable on stage, people will relax and buy more drinks. That's my opinion.

There are tons of places to hear music in Halifax/Dartmouth/Bedford (aka the Halifax Metro Regional Municipality). Let me know if you're coming to Halifax, and I'll see who is playing. Try and let me know a week before and I might have some details.

There are all the musical events in Nova Scotia over the summer and FALL! (YES, the FALL! Don't forget our Celtic Colours Festival held in the early part of October.)