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Joel Plaskett at Sound Of Music 2025
FYIArtists News
Music News Digest: MRG Live To Head New Burlington, Ontario Music Fest, Replacing Sound of Music Festival
Also this week: The CCMA Foundation fundraiser is under way, the Setting the Stage live music grant extends its deadline and holiday benefit concerts are in full swing.
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The Sound of Music Festival is not happening this year, but Burlington, Ontario will still get its summer festival.
The city has just named MRG Live as the new operator for a free, two-day Burlington waterfront music festival in Spencer Smith Park this summer. Known as one of the largest free music events in the country, Sound of Music had run into significant financial problems in recent years, and was reliant on government funding to continue its four-and-a-half-decade legacy.
Inside Halton reports that "on Monday, Dec. 1, staff identified MRG Live Ltd. as the top applicant from 12 potential operators that submitted proposals." MRG Live has offices in Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Montreal and Toronto and experience “producing multi-day festivals, civic celebrations, artisan markets, and large family focused events.”
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Back in October, city council decided not to provide funding for the proposed 2026 edition of Sound of Music Festival and instead provide its $150,000 of base funding to a potential new waterfront music festival. The new event event is currently scheduled to take place within the weekend of June 19-21, 2026, but that has yet to be fully confirmed.
Awards News
The husband-and-wife duo of Bette MacDonald and Maynard Morrison have been named as co-hosts of the 2026 East Coast Music Awards, which will be taking place in Sydney, Nova Scotia, on May 21. The couple are both active in T.V. and theatre, with MacDonald starring in the television series Rideau Hall and Mr. D. and the holiday theatre show Christmas in Cape Breton. Morrison has been active in the Cape Breton theatre scene for over three decades and was a founding member of the Cape Breton Summertime Revue stage show, which featured MacDonald.
“Their contributions to Atlantic Canadian arts and culture are unparalleled, and their presence brings a uniquely Cape Breton spirit to this year’s celebration,: says ECMA executive director Bob Hallett.
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– In partnership with Alberta Music, the lucrative Edmonton Arts Prizes recognize work published, created or shown in 2025. It celebrates artists from a range of art forms and practices, recognizing their work, and investing in their continued experimentation and creation. for the Edmonton Music Prize is now accepting submissions, with a Jan. 19, 2026, deadline. Apply here. Prizes for film and visual arts have the same deadline. The primary prize recipient in each category will be awarded $15,000, and two secondary prizes of $5,000 will be awarded to the runners up. Earlier music prize winners include include margø, HAIDEE, Emmet Michael, nêhiyawak, Nuela Charles and Audrey Ochoa.
Industry News
The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) has launched the second annual CCMA Foundation Festive Fundraiser – an online holiday auction running through Dec. 15 in support of the CCMA Foundation. Featuring unique VIP experiences and music, sports and entertainment memorabilia, the fundraiser helps raise vital funds to support the foundation's mission to educate, elevate and celebrate Canadian talent. Visit ccma.org/festive-fundraiser to view the full list of auction items and bid.
– Setting the Stage, supported by RBC, is a micro-grant program open to independent live music venues, concert promoters, festivals or others whose core business is hosting and/or promoting live music shows. The deadline to apply for Setting the Stage grants has been extended to Dec. 4. Applicants must be CLMA members to apply here.
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Artists News
Hard-working Toronto roots troubadour Jerry Leger is celebrating his 20th year in music by playing one of his biggest hometown shows as a headliner tonight (Dec. 3) at The Great Hall. The prolific songsmith has released fourteen studio albums, collaborated with Cowboy Junkies’ Michael Timmins, and toured alongside Steve Earle, Dawes, The Sadies and Ron Sexsmith (a huge Leger fan). He has earned plenty of peer respect, but remains better known in Europe and the U.K. than across Canada. Expect material from across his catalog, with at least one cut from every album, as well as songs from recently-released album Waves of Desire, recorded in Cologne, Germany.
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– Holiday concert season is in full swing, and Hugh's Room Live in Toronto has a couple of soulful holiday shows lined up. On Dec. 16, acclaimed jazz/R&B vocalist Kellylee Evans holds court, featuring material from her holiday album, Winter Song, nominated for a 2025 Juno in the vocal jazz album of the year category. Tickets are available here.
– On Dec. 18, Hugh's Room Live presents A Soulful Christmas, featuring noted vocalists Quisha Wint, Sean Jones and Michael Dunston. Expect a mix of R&B, Motown and blues stylings. Tickets here.
– A Toronto holiday concert designed to benefit a very worthy charity takes place at Lula Lounge on Dec. 14. The annual fundraiser benefits the Birdsong New Music Foundation, which supports the production of new music created by individuals living with mental illness. The Birdsong New Music Foundation was established in memory of David Martin (1987-2017), a talented Canadian musician who lived with mental illness.
Renowned comedian and actor Mae Martin hosts with Birdsong founder Margaret Konopacki and there'll be performances by Juno Award-winning vocalist Liberty Silver, as well as Martin and such local talents as Robert Priest, Dustin Harder (Prairie Soul), Ashley Bell, Allan Kinney, D.M. LaFortune, Armand Anthony, Nicole McCafferty (Broadtree), Dr. Tansy Etro-Beko and Rachel Scully, accompanied by Bryant Didier and the Birdsong Village Band. Tickets here.
– Orchestra Toronto joins forces with award-winning world music favourites Sultans of String for a holiday concert at Meridian Arts Centre in north Toronto, on Dec. 7 ( a 3 pm show). Expect seasonal classics, stirring originals and songs highlighting jazz, Jewish, Turkish and Caribbean influences and traditions. Tickets here.
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– East Coast pop-rock singer-songwriter Jon Mullane has announced his Feels Like Christmas Tour, comprising two shows in Atlantic Canada. He plays The Astor Theatre, Liverpool, Nova Scotia, on Dec. 5 (tix here) and The Y'ARC Theatre, Yarmouth, on Dec. 13 (tickets here). More info here. Mullane's new single and video, "Remember in November," is grabbing attention, and a new EP is coming next March.
– Gavin McLeod is a young Toronto rock singer-songwriter who recently signed to Dine Alone Records, releasing a debut full-length, The Constant Astonishment, in Feb. On Dec. 12, at famed Toronto venue The Rivoli, he hosts his13th annual Jammin’ for Joy concert in support of SickKids Foundation, an event he created in his early teens. Joining him on the bill are Lost Faculty and Everbloom. Tickets are available here.
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