Music News Digest: Montreal Pays Public Tribute to Oliver Jones

The annual 39th Folk Alliance International Conference has long been established as the most important event on the global folk/roots music industry calendar. Now in its 39th year, FAI has just announced the list of 160-plus artists who will be performing an Official Showcase at the 2027 conference, coming up on January 27-31, in Chicago. The lineup represents over 30 countries, 32 US states and seven Canadian provinces. Notable Canadian artists featured will include The Pairs, Shakura S'Aida, Lennie Gallant, Celeigh Cardinal, Don Ross and Julie Malía, DIVKA, Julian Taylor, Duane Andrews and the Hot Club of Conception Bay, Braden Lam, Ammoye and Ken Whiteley. Check out the whole list here.

Awards News

MusicNL has announced the recipients of its 2026 honourary awards, celebrating individuals whose contributions have shaped the music sector in Newfoundland and Labrador in lasting and meaningful ways. Con O'Brien, frontman of the legendary Irish Descendants, will receive the lifetime achievement award, Colleen Power will receive the Denis Parker industry builder award, and Dr. Zainab Jerrett will receive the unsung hero award. All three will be honoured during MusicNL Week, taking place in St John’s from October 1 to 4.

Festivals News

The free Markham Jazz Festival runs on multiple stages in Unionville, Ontario, Aug. 22 and 23. A strong and musically eclectic lineup includes the notable likes of Juno winner Ranee Lee (her first Toronto area show since 2017), Suzie Vinnick, Diane Roblin's Life Force, the Nancy Walker Quartet, Ori Dagan, Amanda Martinez , Thompson Egbo-Egbo and Joaquin Nunez and Habana Safari. See the full schedule here.

Industry News

The late great Montreal jazz pianist and composer Oliver Jones passed away on July 22, at the age of 91, and the City of Montreal is honouring him this week, via visitation at city hall. ''This visitation will allow all those who wish to pay their final respects to Oliver Jones's immense contribution to Montreal, Quebec and Canadian culture," the city wrote in a news release.

The public is invited to pay tribute to Jones at city hall on Aug. 19 between 1:30 pm to 7:30 pm. A book of condolences will also be made available to the public throughout the day. The Union United Church, where Jones performed his first concert at the age of five, is also holding a public funeral for Jones on Aug. 20 at 1 pm.

– This September, CIMA returns to the 2026 Reeperbahn Festival & Conference with another edition of Canada House, set for UWE in Hamburg, Sept. 17 and 18. The lineup of showcasing artists is: Absolute Treat, Boutique Feelings, Dempsey Bolton, Gizmo, Jashim, Julian Taylor, Julianna Riolino, Kazdoura, Kelly McMichael, KOYOT, Le Ren, Les Shirley, Rayannah, RIELL, Sam Mallais, Shiv & the Carvers, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, The Naysayers, The Redhill Valleys and WAIT//LESS.

Before the music begins, Canadian delegates will connect in Berlin on September 15 for a morning of business events and international networking prior to heading to Hamburg.

– Showcase applications are officially open for the 2027 International Indigenous Music Summit (IIMS), taking place from May 31-June 4, 2027 in Tkaronto, Northern Turtle Island (Canada). The showcases will highlight artistic excellence in the Indigenous music community. Submit your application here by September 7. Submissions from any genre of music, whether contemporary or traditional, are welcomed.

– On Aug. 20, from 3-6 pm, at Broom Factory, MusicOntario & the Kingston Music Office present: Communities Connect in Kingston: Building Your Management & Label Teams. This session features advice from two noted industry executives, Bee Ramesh and Matthew Ma. More info here.

– Very early in his career, star Toronto producer Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed) worked extensively with the Alice Cooper Group, and was a crucial figure in that controversial rock band's rise to fame and Cooper's subsequent solo success. In two upcoming events entitled No More Mr. Nice Guy – The Horror-ific Truth Behind The Alice Cooper Group, Ezrin and founding bassist Dennis Dunaway will offer a retrospective look into the Alice Cooper Group's peak creative years from 1970 to 1973 at two speaking engagements in October, at Oshawa's Biltmore Theatre on Oct. 27 (tickets here) and Hamilton's Bridgeworks on Oct. 29 (tickets here). The events are presented by Lou Molinaro, a veteran rock promoter and hardcore fan of the Alice Cooper Group and Ezrin.

Artists News

In advance of the Aug. 28 release of her new album Evoke, acclaimed singer-songwriter Mimi O'Bonsawin has been playing festivals across Ontario, including Mariposa and Hillside. On August 22 she performs at Gravenhurst's Muskoka Music Festival and on Aug. 28 she plays Red Bird in Ottawa. In October, O'Bonsawin joins Indigenous peers Celeigh Cardinal and Lacey Hill for a tour entitled She Carries The Song. The trek comprises nine Ontario concerts, concluding at Lula Lounge in Toronto on Oct. 27. Check here for details.

– Ukrainian-rooted Toronto-based duo DIVKA have quickly been making a splash with their recently-released debut album folk fatale and an ongoing tour in its support. They have recently played shows out West and in Seattle and Ontario, and have imminent festival shows at Toronto Folk Fest (Aug. 21) and SummerFolk in Owen Sound, Aug. 22-23. A press bio notes that ''DIVKA use bygone folk songs from Ukrainian and global women's music-making traditions to launch their ethereal, polyphonic vocals and throaty, primeval invocations – haunting as fear itself, hypnotic as a trance.'' The group will showcase at FAI next year.