In memory of Robert Devet (d. September 27, 2021), founder, publisher and editor of the Nova Scotia Advocate. This site is preserved as an archive of the Advocate’s journalism from 2016 to 2021, and as a tribute to Robert’s work. No new articles are published, and comments, forms and search are closed. Read the tribute →

Music

Weekend video: Being Black in the Nova Scotian music industry – Reeny Smith

This mini documentary is a gem. It features North Preston’s amazing singer, song writer, musician and producer Reeny Smith as she performs and talks about obstacles Black artists face. The obstacles are real, but so is the joy and fun that pervades the entire video. The last few minutes, with Reeny’s parents and siblings joining in, are priceless.

Lessons from Singalong Jubilee: We need to sing more

Claire and Jack Bennet reflect on the legacy of Jim Bennet, their grandfather and co-host of Singalong Jubilee, a wildly popular tv show in the sixties and early seventies. “First, and most simply, we learned that making music and singing are fun. It provides an escape into a joyous community of musicians united with one goal in mind: to sing, to enjoy music.”