By barnaby
Boy Golden, Bob Moses, July Talk, The Beaches, Metric, Dear Rouge, The Glorious Sons, Arkells, Billy Talent, The Darcys, Monowhales, Anyway Gang, Mother Mother, and Dear Rouge stand out in the year-end Alt category.
Riley Green
Sarah McLachlan and James Barker Band are also bringing some Canadian colour to the championship game at McMahon Stadium, respectively singing the national anthem and performing at the kickoff show in Calgary on Nov. 15.
Riley Green is taking the stage at Canada's football championship.
The Canadian Football League (CFL) unveiled today (Sept. 24) that American country star Riley Green will headline the Grey Cup Halftime Show, which takes place at Calgary's McMahon Stadium on Nov. 15. Fresh off the release of his album That's Just Me last Friday (Sept. 18), the country hitmaker joins a list of past headliners including mgk, Jonas Brothers and Green Day, who have taken the stage during the Canadian championship game.
“I’m excited to finally get to experience a Grey Cup and be part of the energy surrounding it. Getting to perform at halftime in front of that crowd is going to be a hell of a time, and a pretty special way to wrap up what’s been a really wild year!” Green says.
The hitmaker has topped the Billboard Canada Country chart on four occasions with tracks like "There Was This Girl" (2018), "Half of Me" with Thomas Rhett (2022), "Worst Way" and the Ella Langley-assisted "Don't Mind If I Do" (2025). Langley has since hit No. 1 with her mega hit "Choosin' Texas," which is now the third-longest No. 1 in Billboard Canadian Hot 100 history, highlighting an upward trend in country music in Canada which made Green a fitting choice for this year's halftime performance.
“For the sophomore Bud Light Grey Cup Halftime Show, it felt only appropriate to bring the brand’s passion for country music to this year’s musical stage,” says Andrew Oosterhuis, marketing vice-president of Labatt Breweries of Canada, the company behind sponsor Bud Light. “With Calgary and Canada’s love for country music, we couldn’t think of a better artist to entertain football fans during the most-viewed, live-music performance in the country.”
Last year, the choice of mgk caused some controversy for the CFL as many thought the halftime should be headlined by a Canadian artist. With trade wars intensifying between Canada and the U.S., those criticisms will likely persist. However, Green fits the country interest within the music industry in Canada.
The pre-game festivities, meanwhile, are full of Canadian spirit, with Halifax-born singer Sarah McLachlan set to perform the national anthem before kickoff. McLachlan recently made a high-profile appearance at pop star Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields festival in August, where she performed her own hits "Building a Mystery" and "Angel" with Rodrigo, the latter serving as a tribute to the late Dolly Parton. Daisy Chain Fields was directly inspired by McLachlan's own Lilith Fair festival, an influence that both artists spoke about in a joint Rolling Stone cover story.
James Barker Band will play the kickoff concert before the game, adding to their streak of major Canadian appearances this year. This past weekend (Sept. 19), the band hosted the 2026 Canadian Country Music Awards and picked up two trophies during the night, including a fourth consecutive win for best duo/group. The band's new folk-inspired track "After Dark" is also making waves, entering the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 this week at No. 96, just days after the CCMA Awards.
The CF Snowbirds, the Canada's 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, are also returning for their final flight, flying above McMahon stadium with the CT-114 Tutor jets one last time before they are retired and replaced with a newer model in 2030.
