Music News Digest: MusicNL Week Is Ready to Roll, Quebec City’s Le Phoque OFF Festival Announces Its Lineup
Also this week: Massey Hall's charity fundraiser presents Canadian stars, hard-rocking Juno nominee Lindsay Schoolcraft releases a new single and PEI troubadour Al Tuck tours Ontario.
Quote The Raven
Festival News
MusicNL Week officially kicks off today (Nov. 12), launching five days of performances, professional development, and community celebration across downtown St. John’s. From Nov. 12-16, more than 40 artists will take the stage across five venues:- The Rock House, The Ship, The Black Sheep, the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland and the St. John’s Convention Centre. Scheduled events include eight showcases, a Songwriters’ Circle, a Music Business Conference, the MusicNL Industry Awards, and the MusicNL Awards Gala.
Topping the MusicNL Awards nominees list are Mallory Johnson with six noms, followed by Quote The Raven with five nods and XIA-3, Natasha Blackwood, Justin Fancy, and Mick Davis and Thin Love, with four nominations each. The Awards Gala is held on Nov. 15 at the St. John’s Convention Centre, and Gala tickets can be purchased at the Mary Browns Box Office here. Full schedules, artist lineups, conference schedules, and tickets are available at musicnl.ca.
– Described as Quebec City’s craziest alternative music festival, has Le Phoque OFF has announced it will be back in action for its 12th edition, Feb. 13-21, 2026. Nearly 100 artists will perform, including some of the most promising talents from Canada and abroad. Notable names already announced inlude local band Sandveiss, New Brunswick's MESSE, Robert Robert (launching his new album BOOST), provocative new UK act Nuha Ruby Ra, Gawbé, instrumental hip-hop outfit zza, Swiss metalloids Beure, grindcore combo Sedmi and danceable acts Le Winston Band and Ensemble Afrovibes.
From February 15-18, nearly 50 diverse artists present 20-minute showcases, including Pure Carrière, Valois, l i l a and Fleur de peau. Others on the bill include Patche, Afternoon Bike Ride, Laura Niquay, Rayannah, Ammoye and Catherine Jeanne-D’Arc. International artists appearing include Le Talu (Belgium), PONS (USA), and Jessica93 (France). The fest also has an industry component, with a program of panels, roundtable, and networking events addressing current sector topics. Details and tickets here.
– Toronto’s mid-winter roots music festival, Winterfolk, will return for its 24th year with four full days of live music at the Tranzac Club from February 12–15, 2026 (the first time it has run four days). It kicks off on Feb. 12, with the debut of ‘Emerging Talent Night at Winterfolk,’ a special evening dedicated to showcasing up-and-coming performers of all ages. Emerging artists can apply through the festival website here.
In all, over 100 artists will perform across multiple stages. Notables confirmed include Donne Roberts, Lynn Harrison, Robert Priest, Jesse Greene, Tyler Ellis, Shawna Caspi, Melanie Peterson, Jessica Stewart, Brian Gladstone, Noah Zacharin, Frankie Hart, Suzanne Jarvie, Glen Hornblast and Jory Nash, with more TBA.
Industry News
On Nov. 15, Massey Hall in Toronto hosts a charity fundraiser with an impressive CanCon lineup. Unbreakable features soul diva Jully Black, veteran platinum-selling rocker Bif Naked, fast-rising singer-songwriter Georgia Harmer, Montreal-based soul artist Clerel and event founder and renowned guitar teacher David Glabais and his students. Net proceeds from Unbreakable will benefit The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre,. Last year, the concert raised over $103K for the Foundation, inspiring Glabais to make it a yearly event. Tickets are on sale now through masseyhall.com.
– Considered one of the biggest free music festivals in Canada, The Sound of Music in Burlington, ON, has faced serious financial problems in recent years. That resulted last month in the City of Burlington denying SoM all municipal funding for its 2026 edition, while proposing a new waterfront music festival in Spencer Smith Park. Current Sound of Music organisers plan to submit an “expression of interest” to the City for this new fest. These submissions close on Nov. 24.
Artists News
Oshawa hard rock singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Lindsay Schoolcraft first made a splash playing in symphonic metal legends Cradle of Filth (2013–2020). Her debut solo album, Martyr, earned a 2020 Juno nomination, she has collaborated with the likes of Motionless in White, Cancer Bats, Belzebubs and Myrkur, and more. She returns to the solo spotlight with a brand new single and video, "Crucified," a song she terms "the heaviest sounding and most lyrically honest track I've written to date."
– Last week, Toronto’s pop-punk noisemakers The Mendozaz delivered their most ambitious work to date, the eight-song concept album The Completely Fictional History of This Great Nation of Canada. Expect their trademark mix of humour and sharp hooks. Here’s a sample.
– Renowned P.E.I. roots troubadour Al Tuck played a bunch of solo Ontario dates recently, including a show at The Capitol in Hamilton with fellow veteran Scott B. Sympathy. After a typically solid set from Scott, Tuck took to the small stage, dazzling the audience with moments of magic delivered alongside his signature onstage spontaneity. Given the eloquence and originality of his own material, it was a surprise to hear him begin with a Ron Sexsmith tune, "Get In Line," but Tuck's treatment added fresh life. Other highlights included his tribute to an East Coast legend on "StompinTomConnors.com" and "AI vs Al."
