Music News Digest: Jazz Meets Hip-Hop at Toronto Jazz Festival, Mississauga Music Walk of Fame's 2026 Inductees

The Toronto Jazz Festival opens its 39th edition on June 19 with Jazz Meets Hip Hop, a Black Music Month conversation presented with ADVANCE, Canada's Black Music Business Collective. Members of New Orleans brass band The Soul Rebels join Canadian artists and industry leaders to trace the musical DNA connecting jazz, hip hop and contemporary culture. The group will join a conversation with platinum-selling artist Kreesha Turner and other industry speakers, with acclaimed DJ and producer Skratch Bastid as moderator. The Soul Rebels then headline the festival's official opening night party at The Rex Hotel the same evening.

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Awards News

The Mississauga Music Walk of Fame has announced its two inductees for 2026; Emmy-winning musician, composer and bandleader (Monkey House) Don Breithaupt and founder and president of The Guitar Workshop Plus, Brian Murray. Both will be honoured as part of this year’s Southside Shuffle Blues and Jazz Festival in an induction ceremony on Sept. 13 at 10:45 a

m at Memorial Park in Port Credit, Ontario. Established in 2012, the MMWF has previously inducted Oscar Peterson, Triumph, Ronnie Hawkins, Tommy Hunter, Denny Doherty of the Mamas and Papas, Jeff Healey, Phil X of Bon Jovi, Liberty Silver, Alessia Cara and many more.

Festivals News

The critically-acclaimed Something Else! Festival, now in its 13th year, runs June 17-20 in Hamilton. It focuses on adventurous new and avant-garde music, featuring notable local, national and international artists. All the ticketed concerts take place at St. Cuthbert's Presbyterian Church, with a free launch concert at the Hamilton Public Library's central branch on June 17 (5 pm on). It showcases the talents of original Blue Rodeo keyboardist Bob Wiseman and current Blue Rodeo keyboardist Michael Boguski, each playing solo sets. Prominent names on the lineup include legendary American drummer Hamid Drake, Avran Fefer's Juba Lee 4tet, Elisa Thorn, Gordon Grdina, Peggy Lee, Brodie West, Eric McPherson, Josh Zubot and Stephan Crump. Full schedule and tickets here.

– The Innu Nikamu Festival returns for its 42nd edition, which will take place from July 31 to August 2 in Mani-utenam, in the Côte-Nord region in Quebec. American punk rock superstars The Offspring will kick off the festival on July 31. The full lineup will be announced shortly. More info here.

– Browntasauras Records has announced the details of its 2nd annual My House Junction Jazz Fest, held in Toronto from June 22 to June 28. It again features artist in residence Brownman Ali, an acclaimed trumpeter and composer who will be on stage all week as either sideman, soloist, leader or MC. The eclectic lineup will deliver classic jazz, electric jazz, Latin jazz and tributes to Herbie Hancock (featuring Nick Maclean), and the Prestige Years of Miles Davis. Also performing will be Jordana Talsky, vocalist Genevieve Marentette and Arecibo. All seven Junction Jazz Fest shows will be at My House, 2882 Dundas St. W.. Fest tickets here.

Brownman, Maclean and other Browntasauras Records artists will be on tour in Ontario, Quebec, New York State and beyond through the summer. Check a gig schedule here.

– A brand new hip-hop festival will launch in Penticton, B.C., this summer. Set for Okanagan Lake Park on Aug. 29, True Rhythm's just revealed artist lineup includes genre legends Public Enemy and G-Eazy, alongside Honestav, Collie Buddz, Canadian favourites Snotty Nose Rez Kids and Bedouin Soundclash and more. Tickets and VIP packages here.

Industry News

International Manager Buddies is an initiative of various music manager trade orgs from Canada (MMF Canada), the U.K., Europe, Australia and New Zealand. It is designed to facilitate meaningful connection between managers from different territories who are attending a particular international music conference and wish to develop their global networks. The next round of applications open June 29 for BIGSOUND (Australia) from September 1 to 4, 2026 in Brisbane, Australia. More info here.

– At a time of tension between Canada and the U.S., a musical initiative in Seattle aims to soothe the situation. Presented by radio show100 Miles of Music, Canadian Music Nights #1 is the first in a series of concerts where American artists will be celebrating their love of Canadian music and the culture that created it. “This is a love letter to Canada,” says musician and event organizer Davin Stedman. ”We will be singing the timeless songs that our neighbors up north penned or simply made famous.''

The show takes place at The Rabbit Box in the famed Pike Place Market on June 20, headlined by local gospel legend James Young & Friends and also featuring Erin McNamee, Jonathan Evergreen, Ian Jones, Gina Karaba, Mr Unity, Peter Spencer and more guests TBA. Of note: One of the organizers is former Canadian music journalist Phil Saunders, author of the book No Flash Please: Underground Music in Toronto 1987-1992. Now a Pacific Northwest resident, Saunders will be on hand to provide insights into the songs and the Canadian musicians spotlighted at the event.

Artists News

Pioneering Canadian keyboardist and composer trailblazer Beverly Glenn-Copeland has had an eventful week. It was recently announced that his 2026 collaborative album with his wife Elizabeth Glenn-Copeland, Laughter In Summer, made the prestigious Polaris Music Prize long list. The pair will also play European festivals this summer, including Harry Styles’ Meltdown Festival.

Glenn-Copeland has now shared details of the upcoming 40 Years of Keyboard Fantasies: The Music of Beverly Glenn-Copeland tour in 2027 with three Canadian dates, marking his only North American stops across famed theatres in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. Canadian composer Owen Pallett will be the opening act. Finally, Glenn-Copeland has unearthed an unreleased archival single and performance video titled "Light Of The Heavens,. Both were recorded and shot shortly after the creation of Glenn-Copeland’s beloved and influential 1986 album Keyboard Fantasies.