Dark, dingy and smokey are just a few of the words you could use to describe the now closed venue, once known as The Attic. A regular stomping grounds for both punk and rock shows, The Attic oozed with the character best suited for the punk-rocker in all of us.

Located on the top level of the building, which also housed local watering holes Cheers and The Dome, The Attic did have it’s share of issues. Packed shows would cause heavy line-ups at the bar, and a massive flight of stairs could start your trek home the wrong way (pre-drinks, 10 beer at the bar, 3/4 shots, 2am shut down…..you get the picture).

However, for all of its faults, music geeks throughout the city would always scope out The Attics lineup first. It had a feel that could not be explained. The best way to compare it, on a much more smaller scale, would be that it had the potential to be Halifax’s version of CBGB. A place where local acts would get their start before pushing off onto Canadian and then North American success. You could picture that it would be a venue that Rob Gordon would visit on a regular basis.

Before it closed in 2008, I had the opportunity to spend three years discovering music each and every weekend, within its walls. Some of it was good and some of it was bad, but I’ll never be able to say that it wasn’t interesting.