This weekend is dominated by the contrasting sounds of singer-songwriters and noisy punk rock. You can’t say this happens everyday, and you can’t blame it on the rain either. It’s all about diversity, folks. Keep reading and see what we’re talking about.

Thursday

Norma MacDonald is an inspiring musician. A native of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, she now calls Halifax home where she works as an ER nurse. When not attending to the realities of the everyday, she directs her energy toward writing and performing with an award-winning career that has now resulted in four full length albums. Read more…

Norma MacDonald | October 1, 2015 | Corked Wine Bar | 7:30 p.m. | Suggested Donation $10 | View Event

Ask any Canadian punk rock fan about influential bands from the East Coast and you’ll undoubtedly hear the name Neighbourhood Watch.  Formed in Fredericton in 1985, Neighbourhood Watch were one of the first bands to introduce the aggressive sounds of punk rock music the province’s sleepy, conservative capital city. Read more…

Neighbourhood Watch+Hard Charger+Wasteland Zombies | The Capital Complex | October 1, 2015 | 10 p.m. | $10 | View Event

TJ King is a rising star on the Canadian country music scene and is now touring in support of his first full-length album. King’s first single All About the Minute was recently scooped up by Country Radio during CCMA week in Halifax. He probably won’t be playing venues like this for long.

TJ King | Grimross Brewing Co. | October 1, 2015 | 7:30 p.m. | $10 suggested donation | View Event

Friday

The original lineup of Neighbourhood Watch play their first all-ages show in something crazy like oh, we don’t know…27 years. Some great local acts on the bill too. You’d be nutz to miss this historic show.

Neighbourhood Watch+Cusser+Scumlord+Cable Crusher | The Elks Club | October 2, 2015 | 8:00 p.m. | View Event

Anthemic electro with raging guitar hooks, heavy grooves, eclectic polyrhythms, and catchy gang vocal melodies make SOS a standout in the live electronica genre. Their live show is a frenzy of sweat-drenched electronic madness coupled with a synched video and light show, costumed theatrics, and on the fly sampling of the audience – bringing crowd participation to a whole new level.

Saturday

It’s been a while since The Olympic Symphonium have taken to the stage, and even longer since they have played to a hometown crowd. But the group’s unplanned hiatus will end this week as they head out for a quick jaunt to get reacquainted with audiences throughout New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Read more…

The Olympic Symphonium | October 3, 2015 – Fredericton, NB: House Show | View Event

Jessica Rhaye may very well have the sweetest voice in all of Saint John. She’ll perform a house concert in Fredericton this weekend.

For a comprehensive list of live music happening this week, check out Emma Chevarie’s blog Music Runs Through It.