Lineup: 2013
The Caravan
Halifax, Nova Scotia
The Caravan knows how to keep you guessing. Approaching hip hop from the left field, the Halifax-based band has explored influences on all ends of the sonic spectrum. But while a single genre may be elusive for this three-piece, there’s nothing vague about its presence. With rhymes pulsing through him from a young age, wise wordsmith Kyle McKenna is a dominant force on stage—both lyrically and physically. Combine his honest and unpredictable flow with the musical chops of genre-bending composer/engineer Mike Ritchie (guitar, keys) and effervescent drummer Mark Bachynski (Classified, Bend the River) and the result is nothing short of dynamic.
This spring The Caravan will follow-up its debut, ECMA-nominated record Emerald City (2010) with a self-titled release that explores new production techniques, abandoning the band’s earlier acoustic vibe for a bolder, heavier-hitting album. Already generating buzz from widely-shared videos for the throwback hip hop track “Words That Make You Feel Good” and the orchestral, political powerhouse “What Up Steve?”, it’s no question The Caravan has plenty more tricks up its sleeve.