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Alex Hickey in a Nutshell:

Alex Hickey is a Nova Scotian songwriter whose songs walk a delicate line between cynicism and a passionate love for the world. Clever and poignant, funny, heartbreaking and punch-to-the-guts honest, every CD or live performance should come with a packet of tissues.

Alex Hickey’s Full Bio:

Alex has been singing all her life and writing songs since she was 18-years-old. Inspired by experiences and observations—of life and love, work and play—she has recorded two solo CDs. Love Bites (yes, a purposeful play on her last name and an excellent reflection of her sense of humour) is inarguably a break-up album, painted with a good dose of angst and heartache but executed with wit and maturity. Two years later (2010) another break-up album, The Day the Money Run Out, marked the end of a different relationship; this time it was a city not a person being left in her dust. Alex’s desire to return to Nova Scotia and leave the urban lifestyle had been literally put on the record.

Alex’s artistic bent is to be expected. Her mother, Jan Barkhouse, is a poet (and a retired English teacher), while her grandmother, Joyce Barkhouse, was renowned as the author of Pit Pony. Alex’s transition into the local performance community happened quickly. Recent shows include a Little River Folk song circle in Petite Riviere, and solo shows at Lunenburg’s Scuttlebutt Restaurant and The Rose & Kettle Folk Club in Dartmouth. In addition to her appearance at the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, Alex has booked shows across Nova Scotia and in October 2011 she toured from the Maritimes to Ontario.

Alex particularly enjoys performing at events and venues promoting activism in the areas of environmentalism and human rights. Her writing consistently reflects her passions. Her song “You Can’t Be Rich (on Shattered Land)” highlights the practice of hydraulic ‘fracking,’ a method of extracting natural gas that raises serious health concerns for close-by residents. In “Two TVs” she parallels the struggles of women past and present with a personal relationship revelation. “Buy More Buddhas” pokes fun at the practice of finding spirituality at the cash register. While the topics can be serious, Alex doesn’t get bogged down in maudlin thoughts, throwing in a good measure of levity and love. Always thoughtful and relevant, Alex Hickey is an authentic performer who weaves tales that engage her audience and turn listeners into fans.

Alex receives regular radio airplay and has been featured on CBC Radio’s Atlantic Airwaves and Rogers TV’s Daytime Toronto. Her live shows run the gamut from signature house concerts to benefit shows and outdoor festivals. The stage is Alex’s natural habitat—she shines with energy and authenticity.

“Alex Hickey is one of those rare performers who doesn't feel the need to separate herself from the audience. Seeing her perform live is a completely engaging experience.”
—Sarah Hopen, Curator Starry Nights Concert Series

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