Music News Digest: Canadian Composer Sarah Davachi Wins the Silver Lion at Biennale, Folk Canada Conference a Hit in Hamilton

The Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMAs) have announced the nominees for the 22nd edition. Leading the field with four noms apiece are Quebec artists Le Vent du Nord and Veranda, PEI veterans The East Pointers and Medusa Quartet from Toronto. The winners will be named during the CFMAs, happening April 8–11, 2027, in Cape Breton.

The 2027 awards cycle introduces three changes. Songwriter of the year, formerly English songwriter of the year, will now accept submissions in any language. Francophone songwriter of the year, formerly French songwriter of the year, more explicitly celebrates Francophone songwriters from Quebec and communities across Canada, and a video of the year category debuts.

View the full list of nominees here.

Awards News

On Oct. 12, Calgary-born composer and organist Sarah Davachi was awarded the Silver Lion at the highly prestigious Biennale Musica 2026 in Venice. The award is for the 39-year-old's "lifetime body of work,'' and judges praised Davachi as "one of the most interesting and coherent voices in the contemporary musical landscape.'' Her discography includes 2024 record The Head as Form'd in the Crier's Choir and most recent album The Will of Tongues. Cadenza notes that ''Davachi, known for her immersive work with sustained tones, pipe organ, analog synthesizers, and electroacoustic composition, has built a distinctive artistic voice that bridges the worlds of contemporary classical music, experimental sound art, and gallery-based installation. ''

While in Venice, Davachi performed two concerts, the world premiere of a new work, ''Chanters,'' commissioned by La Biennale, and a solo organ concert in celebration of The Will of Tongues. Book of Carols, a companion to The Will of Tongues and a 6CD box set featuring commissioned and long form chamber works, will be released on Nov. 6. Comprising works composed by Davachi between 2023 and 2026, it also features performers Ï Î, Ghost Ensemble, NO HAY BANDA and Diapason. Pre-order here.

Industry News

As reported in Billboard Canada, Toronto's Harris Institute will cease operations in December after a run of 37 years as a leader in music industry education. The news from founder and leader John Harris is considered a major blow for this sector and many of the faculty and alumni expressed their regret at the news on social media.

Institute alumni have earned the industry's highest honours, including Grammy and Juno awards. Star producer Henry Walter a.k.a. Cirkut won both awards as producer of the year earlier this year. Artists who graduated from Harris include Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene), Julian Taylor and Pavlo and prominent figures in all sectors of the music industry taught at Harris. In 2014, a Billboard list of “Top Music Business Schools'' featured Harris Institute as the only school outside the U.S. included. Read a 2018 Billboard Canada FYI profile of John Harris here.

— CIMA has issued a call for applications for a business mission to Eurosonic 2027 in Groningen, Netherlands., running Jan. 13-16.

The trade org will hold a curated business day during the event and Canadian participants will work with its in-market consultant to meet with targeted delegates and foster connections within the European industry. CIMA will also organize an introductory session to better prepare participants ahead of the event. There is a deadline of Dec. 4 to apply here. Learn more about Eurosonic here.

— Launching on Oct. 14 with the Ontario Folk Music Awards (see the Billboard Canada report here), the annual Folk Canada conference got down to business with three more days of panels, keynotes, mentoring sessions and more, plus the artist showcases that are the core of Canada's biggest roots music event. The Sheraton in downtown Hamilton was the conference host and it seemed that every nook and cranny and hotel room was full of artists strumming, jamming and singing. On the Friday night, we hit the official showcases and, thanks to the rigidly enforced 20 minute sets, got to see five artists/bands in a two-hour stint.

Beloved roots-rockers The Sadies dazzled in a more acoustic, folk-inflected setting than is their norm, possibly grabbing the attention of folk fest programmers. Acclaimed rock singer-songwriter Skye Wallace stated she is now entering the folk realm, though her powerful stage presence and vocals retained a rock edge. The most pleasing discovery of the night was hotly-tipped emerging Indigenous artist JD Crosstown, whose superb set fused folk, country and bluesy elements. One to watch. Also impressing was L.A.-based Raye Zaragoza (of Mexican, Native American and Asian heritage) who was eloquent in a classic '60s/'70s folk style. She was one of just two U.S. showcasing artists here and her comment that ''I hope I've changed your opinion of us a little'' was a sad reminder of current cross-border tensions.

The buzz within the industry is that the event was a major success, impressing in the diversity of styles and genres positioned under the folk umbrella. It returns to Hamilton next year.

— For the sixth year, Mundial Montréal and M For Montreal host Artist Lab 2026, presented by Symphonic Distribution. On Nov. 20, from 10 am to 5 pm, at Ccentre Sanaaq, this entirely free event offers professional development opportunities, including panels and conferences, networking activities, immersive workshops, one-on-one meetings with funding organizations and booths featuring key players in the music industry. RSVP here.

— Last week's municipal elections in B.C. saw Vancouver elect a new mayor, Pete Fry, representing the Green Party. Interestingly, prior to getting into politics, Fry was known locally as a graphic designer and illustrator closely tied to the music scene in Vancouver. Using the moniker "Pete Digiboy,'' he designed gig posters and graphics for clients including the venue Graceland and alt-weekly paper Terminal City. On Facebook, Canadian music biz veteran and former graphic designer Ralph Alfonso posted that ''Back in the mid 90s, Pete was the go-to graphics designer in Vancouver for indie bands and promoters. He had a fun distinctive style that I liked. As befitting his punk past, he ran a fun campaign with hilarious ads, videos, and memes (Our guy, Pete Fry).'' Check a selection of Fry's poster work here.

Artists News

Two highly-regarded Ontario singer-songwriters, Stephen Stanley (The Lowest Of The Low) and Jennifer Foster (The Pursuit of Happiness), are teaming up next month for a recommended series of intimate shows in Ontario and Quebec. The trek begins on Nov. 5 at Clifford Brewery in Hamilton and closes out on Nov. 15 at Jimmy Joy's in Port Stanley. Check the itinerary here.

A Juno nominee, Foster is promoting her fourth album, Powerline, while Stanley will be previewing material from his new all-acoustic band NoElectric destined to appear on an upcoming debut studio record. His bandmates are Jason Mercer, Michael O'Grady and Chris Bennett.