Music News Digest: New Western Canadian Label Ram On Records Launches

Are ewe ready for a new Alberta-based independent record label? Ram On Records has announced its launch. Co-founders Olivia Street and Jesse Northey are headquartered in Edmonton, and the label is rooted in the Western Canadian music community. Its name nods to Alberta’s iconic bighorn sheep and to Ram On, a shared musical touchpoint for Northey and Street as fans of Paul McCartney.

"We started Ram On Records to help build sustainable careers for Canadian artists," says Northey. "We’ve both worked across multiple sides of the industry, and we know how much persistence it takes to actually move things forward and level up.” Street adds that "There’s often a gap between creative development and industry infrastructure. This label is designed to bridge that—supporting artists in a way that respects both the art and the strategies of building a career.”

Both founders bring experience to the table. Northey is the founder of Victory Pool, with a background in artist management, label activities and touring, and is a recording artist. Olivia Street is director of the TD Music Artist in Residence at MacEwan University Program, where she works directly with emerging artists on career development.

The Ram On roster currently comprises four acts. From Vancouver Island, singer-songwriter Alexandria Maillot has earned notable film and TV sync placements for her "swoon rock material, Dana Lee is a Nelson, B.C.-based country-folk songwriter whose upcoming debut album is produced by Winnipeg’s Austin Parachoniak and Liam Duncan (Boy Golden) and King of Foxes are a seasoned rock outfit and an Edmonton Music Prize winner, releasing their fifth album this year. Rounding out the roster are Starpainter, a Lethbridge band with an eclectic sound merging folk, country rock and pop stylings. More info here.

The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) has announced a new national collaboration with RBCxMusic, designed to support the next generation of country artists and industry professionals. The partnership will deliver a combination of live performance and year-round professional development opportunities. RBCxMusic will support two cornerstone CCMA initiatives: Country Crawl and CCMAU.

Country Crawl will take place during Country Music Week 2026 in Saskatoon (Sept. 16–19), featuring developing artists performing at a variety of local venues, including cafés, libraries and small businesses. Free and open to the public. CCMAU, is the CCMA’s education and professional development platform, one featuring virtual and in-person sessions, industry roundtables and networking opportunities. Upcoming programming includes an in-person session in Montreal on May 28, plus a dedicated series during Country Music Week. Additional details, including calls for Country Crawl artist and venue submissions, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Awards News

Ontario's Escarpment Blues Society celebrates its third anniversary with the just-announced 3rd Degree Gala concert. It showcases an all-star lineup of blues artists, including Morgan Davis, Miss Angel Brown, Shawn Kellerman, Kim Doolittle, Lily Sazz, Steve Strongman, Chris Ayries and Roly Platt, backed by the EBS Allstars — Dave King (drums), Colin Lapsley (bass) and Jesse O’Brien (keys). The event takes place at Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre, Ancaster, Ontario, on May 26. Tickets here.

Industry News

The Northern Turtle Island Collective (NTI) and Mundial Montreal are again launching a call for applications for artists wishing to take part in an unofficial showcase of Canadian artists on Oct. 20, ahead of WOMEX 2026(Worldwide Music Expo), taking place from October 21 to 25, at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.

WOMEX is the largest international gathering and networking platform for the global music industry, bringing together over 2,600 professionals from more than 90 countries each October for a program of conferences, showcases, and film screenings. To apply, please complete the call for applications form.

– The INDIE WEEK 2026 Music Festival + Conference is heading to Ottawa, Nov. 12-14, for three days of live music, industry panels, networking, demo listening sessions and export-focused opportunities. Applications are open to Canadian and international artists now here. Elected artists will have the opportunity to showcase in front of Canadian and international delegates and build new industry relationships.

– CIMA, in partnership with Young Music Professionals (YMP), is presenting a day-long, in-person workshop on June 2 for music professionals ready to move into the next stage of their careers. Next Step is a practical leadership workshop for emerging and mid-career music professionals who want to grow into more senior, decision-making roles. A mix of presentations, peer conversation and hands-on exercises is designed to assist these professionals on their career path. This session is guided by Culture Works Canada (CWC), led by Dr. Grégoire Gagnon, and includes a Virtual Session on May 28 and In-Person Workshop in Toronto, June 2. Space is limited, with a set number of spots reserved for CIMA and YMP members. To apply for a spot, register here

Festivals News

Now in its 57th year, Hamilton's free It’s Your Festival runs for five days, from June 27 to July 1, during the weekend leading up to Canada Day and concluding on the national holiday. The musically eclectic event has announced the five headliners: Steven Page Trio (June 27), Exco Levi and the High Priest Band (June 28), Crystal Shawanda (June 29), Terra Lightfoot (June 30) and a double bill of Honeymoon Suite and The Kings (July 1). More info here.

– Described as Ontario’s newest country music fest, Misty City Music Festival is coming to Niagara Falls (Fallsview Event Grounds) Sept. 18-20. Just-announced headliners include American genre stars Brooks & Dunn, Jon Pardi , Lonestar, Dustin Lynch and Jake Owen. Canadian content includes Ryan Langdon, Andrew Hyatt, Josh Stumpf and Alli Walker. Tickets and info here

Artists News

At 21, Toronto R&B-pop singer-songwriter Siobhan Bodrug is making career moves. She co-wrote the song, "Wildflower," nominated for a 2026 Canadian Screen Award for original music in a film, and has performed at Honey Jam, The Winnipeg Folk Festival and more, and this summer will be playing at NXNE (The Baby G on June 10) and Summerfest Milwaukee (June 26) and Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern (July 10). Check out her new single, "Monster," here. A debut full length album, Imperfect, is expected later this year.

– Given that the three principals in Canadian roots supergroup Blackie and the Rodeo Kings (Tom Wilson, Colin Linden and Stephen Fearing) all have prolific and successful solo careers, the band does not tour heavily. They are re-assembling this Nov., however, and the Nov. 20 concert at Danforth Music Hall will be recorded for a live album. Given the band's reputation for highly entertaining shows, this is welcome news. Tickets here. They'll warm up with a couple of shows at Aeolian Hall, London, Ontario, Nov. 18 and 19. Tickets are available here.