Music News Digest: Toronto's Famed Dakota Tavern Shuts Down, Juno Week Is Here

The Toronto live music scene has just taken a hit with the news that the Dakota Tavern is no more. The small basement venue at Dundas and Ossington may have been small (130 capacity), but it played an important role in the city's scene for nearly two decades. There were hopes it could continue as a music venue, but that seems unlikely with word that it will now operate as a sports bar under the name Mickey Limbos.

The Dakota was launched in 2006 by business partners Shawn Creamer, Maggie Ruhl and Jennifer Haslett. It focused primarily on roots-oriented groups and singer-songwriters, and it hosted shows by such big names as Broken Social Scene, Gord Downie, Ron Sexsmith, Blue Rodeo, Kathleen Edwards, Serena Ryder (a regular patron) and Whitehorse. It was also a popular hangout for local music industry types and musicians alike, and it will be greatly missed.

As drummer for Sunday night house band The Beauties, Derek Downham was a key member of The Dakota community. On Facebook, he posted that "The death of The Dakota Tavern represents so much more than just the loss of a great live music venue.This is where some of Toronto's greatest bands were born and nurtured. This is where strangers met to dance and fall in love. This is where for many years there was a mutual respect between band, audience and staff. That's what made it so very special."

Awards News

Juno Week in Vancouver is about to begin, culminating in the televised Juno Awards, held at Rogers Arena on Sunday, March 30. There is plenty of action before then, headed by Junofest. This presents 100+ artists performing live at over 10 venues across the city, with all shows accessible via one wristband. Featured artists include ANCIIENTS, Blue Moon Marquee, Destrata, Northern Cree, Jamie Fine, Maddee Ritterm, Benita and more, many of whom are Juno nominees this year. A full lineup is available here.

One highlight, Juno Songwriters’ Circle, presented by SOCAN & FACTOR in association with Music Publishers Canada, takes place on March 28, at Centre for Performing Arts. Juno-nominated artists featured include Alexander Stewart, Dylan Sinclair, Elisapie, Leif Vollebekk, Lowell, Luna Li, Nemahsis and Humanitarian Award recipient, Sarah Harmer. More info here.

The Juno Comedy Show takes place on March 27, at Vancouver Playhouse. Hosted by Ola Dada, it will have performances from Courtney Gilmour, Debra DiGiovanni, Ivan Decker, Jess Salomon and Nathan Macintosh. Info here. Juno Stories From the Studio, on March 29 at The Annex, features notablepanelists including Aaron Paris, Akeel Henry and International Achievement Award recipient Boi-1da for a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes activity involved in creating hits. Tickets here.

Festivals News

Venerable Toronto festival North By Northeast (NXNE) turns 30 this year. The festival, which now has a strategic partnership with Billboard Canada, has just named another 100 plus acts who will play multiple city venues, June 11-15.

Check out a list of the new additions here. The fest schedule and major headliner announcements, including the Billboard Live Stage, are coming soon.

Industry News

On May 5, the Coalition for Music Education will celebrate Music Monday, a nationwide celebration featuring a sing-along to emphasize the importance of music education and the unifying power of music. This year, Triumph’s rock anthem "Hold On" has been selected as the official Music Monday anthem. The Music Monday program will feature a new recording created at Metalworks Studio (founded by Triumph's Gil Moore), showcasing Rik Emmett alongside several children's choirs, totaling over 250 voices. MM will feature musical activities in school classrooms, special school assemblies, group concerts of area schools and concerts of community bands and choirs with special events. There is still time for schools and communities to register and participate. More info here. Organizers claim this is the world's largest single event dedicated to raising awareness for music education.

– ADA, the global independent music distribution and artist services arm of Warner Music Group, recently announced a new distribution agreement with Toronto-based artist management company, Sincerely Management. This partnership will see ADA become the worldwide distributor for Sincerely Management's diverse roster of artists.

Sincerely's artist roster includes Calgary-based hip-hop artist Bijaan (now working on a debut album produced by Junia-T), Toronto pop act Dallas Rodin (a recent second-place winner in the 2024 RBC x Canada’s Walk of Fame Emerging Musician Program) and Syrian-Canadian psychedelic indie rocker Frank Mighty. The company was launched last year by music executives Graydon Welbourn (Frank Mighty's manager since 2020) and Joel Gouveia.

– The Escarpment Blues Society in the Hamilton-Niagara region is celebrating its first anniversary with a star-studded lineup for a concert on May 27 at the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre. Taking the stage will be Chuck Jackson (Downchild), Steve Strongman, Sandra Bouza, Selena Evangeline, David Rotundo, Ira Walker and Spencer Mackenzie, all backed by the EBS All Stars (Colin Lapsley, Jesse O'Brien, Dave King, and Roly Platt). Tickets here.

– The 2025 Folk Music Ontario Conference is now accepting showcase applications, with a March 31 deadline. The event is described as Canada’s largest annual conference devoted to the folk, roots, and traditional music community. Presented by Folk Canada, Official Showcases are 20 minutes each, with full sound & stage production, soundcheck, and production team. Apply here.

– For the fourth consecutive year, Mundial Montréal will participate in Tallinn Music Week in Estoniaas part of its On The Road missions, from April 3 to 6. A Quebec and Canadian delegation of around fifteen industry professionals will be present. During this week, Mundial will present, in collaboration with the non-profit organization Women in Music Canada (WIMC), an event featuring a networking reception, official showcases, and B2B sessions. The Made In Canada showcase will present 6 Canadian artists: Ana Lía, Jana Jacobs, Rosier, Denise De'ion, Caracol and Omega Mighty (ON). More info here.

– Last week, at a concert at Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto Symphony Orchestra conductor and music director Gustavo Gimeno was awarded the Order of Civil Merit, one of Spain’s highest civilian honours. It is a timely award, as the TSO has just announced an eight-city, six-country European tour led by Gimeno that will take the 103-year-old institution to Spain for the first time, with concerts in Madrid, Zaragoza and Barcelona. The tour runs from Jan. 27 to Feb. 9, with other stops in Amsterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, Vienna and Luxembourg City. An international array of guest artists will join the orchestra for portions of the tour. More info here.

– The Toronto music community is still reeling from the loss last week of drummer-vocalist Teddy Hawkins (read the Billboard obituary/tribute here). Two Celebration of Life events in the city have already been announced, on March 27 at Castro's, followed by a second, larger event on Saturday May 10 at Smokeshow (the old Chick'n'Deli) at 1 p.m, with proceeds to the Unison Fund. More info on that one here.

Artists News

Glam rock auteur Art d'Ecco is scoring rave reviews for his recently released fourth album, Serene Demon, out now on Paper Bag Records. He has now announced an eight-city North American tour starting May 27 in Seattle, and closing out in Victoria, June 13. Tickets, on sale March 28. Info here.

– To launch her brand new album, Told Ya (her fourth, out via Busted Flat), Hamilton's honkytonk sweetheart Ginger St. James chose one of her hometown's best music rooms, The Mule Spinner. A packed house testified to the loyal audience she has developed via extensive local and area gigging over the years. The set we caught concentrated heavily on her new material, and it showcased her strengths as both a songwriter and vocalist. St. James has always had an eclectic sound, but most of this show featured her toe-tapping brand of country, rooted more in classic country than pop-country styles that dominate radio today. She did include a few bluesy cuts, delivered in effectively soulful fashion. Aiding the cause was her A-list band of local players: Chris Altmann, Greg Brisco, Snowheel Slim (a frequent collaborator) and Max Wray. Sterling stuff from an artist worthy of greater exposure.