Music News Digest: Rockin' Thunder Heads To Edmonton, Sled Island Festival Announces Lineup
Also in this week's news: A Portuguese musical mission to Montreal and Toronto, an Indigenous showcase series at Hugh's Room Live, The Washboard Union sign with Paquin Artists Agency and more.
Otoboke Beaver
Festivals News
As announced in Billboard Canada earlier, Calgary's Sled Island Music & Arts Festival this summer features guest curation and a performance by acclaimed Japanese punk rock band Otoboke Beaver. The musically adventurous fest, running June 18–22, has now named more of its lineup, one featuring music, comedy, art and conference programming in multiple venues across Calgary.
Amongst the 200+ bands are Brooklyn-based R&B Queen Yaya Bey, Canadian synth-popsters TOPS (who are also one of only two acts playing Coachella this year), Australian psych rock outfit Tropical Fuck Storm, hip-hop visionary Oddisee, Boston slowcore trio Horse Jumper of Love, L.A. experimental noise rock group Xiu Xiu, ambient harpist Mary Lattimore, punk band Snõõper, singer-songwriter Rae Spoon, genre-defying Chicago drummer Makaya McCraven, Portland-based black metal project Mizmor, Canadian-Filipino experimental rap artist Kimmortal, legendary Indigenous folk rock duo Willie Thrasher & Linda Saddleback, experimental Arabic post-folk group SANAM, indie rockers jo passed and art rock trio Motherhood.
Sled Island’s complete 2025 lineup will be announced in the coming months, including additional headliners. Fest passes are now on sale at SledIsland.com.
– The inaugural Rockin' Thunder festival is ready to roll out at the Exhibition Lands Racetrack in Edmonton, July 11-12. The just-revealed rock-based lineup features international stars Def Leppard, Weezer, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Stone Temple Pilots, Bret Michaels and Queensryche, sharing the bill with notable Canuck acts The Trews, Default, Sam Roberts Band and Toque.
The latter outfit is being dubbed a 'CanCon supergroup,' as it is headed by Todd Kerns (Slash’s Conspirators, Age of Electric) and features members who have gigged extensively with the likes of Streetheart, Shania Twain and B'z. Toque are repped on the agency side by Paquin, and a new single, "Broken," is co-written by Derry Grehan (Honeymoon Suite).T
Tickets for Rockin' Thunder are available now here with Tier one pricing starting at $150 for single day tickets and $275 for general admission weekend passes. More information here.
Industry News
– The rapidly-approaching 37th annual Folk Alliance International Conference in Montreal will feature 10 Portuguese artists as this year’s country focus program. They will also participate in an imaginative concert series in Toronto, at the Lighthouse ArtSpace (1 Yonge Street). The presenter, Starvox Entertainment, will integrate its projection mapping technology in a live music event that runs on Feb 14, 17, 24, 25 and 26. The music performances will run the gamut from folk, indie and pop to electronic. Tickets here.
Of note: The mission is directed by Neil Leyton, formerly a popular musician on the Toronto scene via The Conscience Pilate. Now based in Lisbon, Leyton's main project is the acclaimed Lusitanian Ghosts, an ensemble that places medieval instruments in a contemporary rock setting. That group is also hosting two master classes with students at the University of Toronto.
While in Canada, the 10 artists will also play in Toronto at at the Lighthouse ArtSpace (1 Yonge Street), a venue known for its immersive art exhibits. The performance will use presenter Starvox Entertainment's projection mapping technology, with video projections adding an extra element to the music. The Why Portugal series will run on Feb. 14, 17, 24, 25 and 26. Tickets are available here.
– Original People, Original Songs - The Contemporary Sounds of Indigenous Musicians is a new series curated by Merilainen Music for Toronto venue Hugh's Room Live with support from the Ontario Arts Council. Designed to showcase Indigenous artists, the series launches on Feb. 26 with a concert featuring two artists from Saskatchewan, Cree singer-songwriter, actor and activist Lancelot Knight and folk singer-songwriter Raven Reid. The series continues with The North Sound on Wednesday March 26, Mimi O’Bonsawin on April 26 and more artists TBA. Info and tickets here
– Juno and 9x CCMA Award-winning, platinum-selling Canadian country band The Washboard Union have announced a signing with Paquin Artists Agency's VPs Jason Furman and Todd Jordan for exclusive representation. During a busy 2024, the group signed a deal with ABC Music in Australia and toured across Canada playing major summer festivals.
– Women In Music Canada (WIMC) charity organization (not to be confused with Billboard Canada Women in Music) has named the nominees for the 2025 Women In Music Canada Honours, to be handed out on March 6 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre and Annabel’s, in Toronto, alongside musical performances. Career Achievement Awards will go to Leela Gilday, Lisa Logutenkow and Veronica Syrtash, with Alysha Brilla receiving the International Leader Award. See the full nominees list here. Tickets are available for purchase here. WIMC is a registered non-profit organization dedicated to fostering gender equality in the music industry.
– Presented by Downtown Guelph, Music Weekends is a free music series running now until March 9, at various venues in the city. One Feb. 15, Down By The Point Records hosts a showcase featuring Harry Lee Follon and Ben Somer, while acclaimed singer-songwriter Mattie Leon performs on Feb. 16. Fine Hamilton roots songstress Ginger St. James plays on March 8. More information here.
Artists News
– Montreal-based Brazilian-Canadian R&B artist Fernie is readying the Feb. 14 release of a new album, Hopeless Dreams(on Secret City), and has announced three launch shows to support it. He plays Ausfang in Montreal on Feb. 20, Le Phoque Off Festival in Quebec City on Feb. 21 and Adelaide Hall in Toronto, Feb. 24.
– Juno-winning roots singer/songwriter Stephen Fearing releases his 16th album, The Empathist, next month, preceded by a new single, "Valentine's Day." This week he also released a short documentary film, The Making of The Empathist, out on YouTube.
