Music News Digest: William Prince, Julian Taylor and More to Play Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund's Anniversary Secret Path Concert

Canada’s music industry is making its presence felt in Australia this week.

Canadian music businesses and artist entrepreneurs have gathered for BIGSOUND 2026, taking place now (Aug. 28 to Sept. 4) in Gold Coast and Brisbane, Australia. Canada is BIGSOUND’s spotlight country, which aims to build connections, explore new markets and strengthen business opportunities across Australia and the wider Indo-Pacific region.

Events in Brisbane comprise a full week of business development and industry programming, including B2B meetings, panels, roundtables, mixers, networking events, industry lunches and events presented as part of the Goolwal Goolwal First Nations program. Canada will also host a special event on Thursday afternoon at The Prince Consort.

CIMA and Music Managers Forum Canada are bringing together delegations from both organizations. There will also be Canadian companies attending, including High Tide Artists, Ishkode Records, Kirk Diamond Music, Laughing Heart Music Inc, Misfit Music Inc and SUPERCONNECTED & Trope Music Inc (all via CIMA) and Brandi Caroline Sidoryk (Self-Repped), Martin Mayer Music Inc, Meta Arts Management, Porter Music Management, R.Addington and Associates & Thunderhaus Management (all via MMF). Learn more about the delegations here.

Canada and Australia are collaborating in multiple ways lately, including the CCMA's upcoming Canada-Australia Country Music Exchange.

Industry News

Inspired by Chanie Wenjack's tragic story and Gord Downie's call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF) aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. One of its major fundraising vehicles, the Secret Path concert, will have a milestone 10th anniversary edition at the Concert Hall in Toronto on Oct. 23. Described as ''a special evening of music, reflection, connection, and celebration,'' it will bring together DWF’s community of partners, artist ambassadors, friends and special guests. Confirmed performers include Indigenous stars William Prince, Amanda Rheaume, Julian Taylor, Wolf Saga and Tom and Thompson Wilson. Funds raised through the sale of the tickets support DWF’s programs, campaigns, events and initiatives. Tickets here.

– After making a major splash fronting rock band Junkhouse and as part of roots-rock supertrio Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Tom Wilson has broadened his creative range as a visual artist, author and playwright. That will be showcased in Ottawa this month when the National Arts Centre (NAC) presents the local premiere of Beautiful Scars, the musical adaptation of Wilson's acclaimed and fascinating memoir. The play had its world premiere via Aquarius Theatre in his Hamilton hometown in 2024 (read a Billboard Canada feature here), and there has also been a film adaptation of the material. The Ottawa run is from Sept. 10-19 and is accompanied by a special show of Wilson's visual art, curated by Beckett Fine Art. Tickets to the play here.

– Music Nova Scotia recently announced the second round of showcasing acts that will be performing at Nova Scotia Music Week in Truro/We’kwampekitk from Nov. 12-15. Notable names on the list of 20 artists include Braden Lam, Carleton Stone, Steel Cut Oats, Kristen Martell, The Public Service and Zamani. The full festival lineup and schedule will be released later this month.

Regular price delegate passes and festival wristbands are on sale now here

– Opéra de Montréal has just introduced the five artists joining its Atelier lyrique for the 2026-2027 season: Grace Budoloski, soprano; Onur Hilaloglu, bass; Alona Milner, pianist; Jeremy Scinocca, tenor; and Caroline Yergeau, stage director. They join a cohort of eight singers, two pianists and one stage director who will learn the profession where it happens: onstage, in the studio and alongside seasoned industry professionals. A leading professional training residency at the heart of Opéra de Montréal, the Atelier lyrique supports artists ready to take the next step into a professional career.

– The 2026/27 season is the 35th for Vancouver’s world-renowned choral organization Chor Leoni. It runs on city stages from November 2026 through May 2027 and features a series of four live concert experiences taking place at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United. The season also includes a new community initiative, The Big Roar: Day of Singing, a series of free public concerts taking place during the annual Choral Festival, The Big Roar. This fest will feature over 450 singers.

Additional season highlights include a cross-country collaboration with Montreal’s La Nef and Seán Dagher (UBISOFT’s Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag), and the world premiere of a Shanties Oratorio from Chor Leoni’s composer in residence, Marie-Claire Saindon. More info here.

Artists News

The career trajectory of powerhouse Winnipeg vocalist and songwriter Begonia (the stage name of Alexa Dirks) continues to ascend. Her most recent album, Fantasy Life, won a Juno award in the adult alternative album of the year category (a tie with Bahamas) in March and it is on the coveted Polaris Music Prize short list. At the end of the month she commences an extensive cross-Canada tour that begins at Halifax’s Seahorse Tavern on Sept. 29, followed by a Montreal date, six Ontario shows and Western dates in late October concluding with two hometown concerts at the Burton Cummings Theatre, Nov. 13-14. Check itinerary details here.

– The final installment in this summer's Sandpines Campfire Concert Series in Port Rowan, Ontario, features Kim Mitchell on Sept. 5, with Hamilton rockers The Wild High in support.The event also features local food trucks and a fun and games area. Tickets and info here.