TVO's Steve Paikin Puts the Spotlight On Canada's Music Scenes

By FYI Staff

Pubcaster TVO's weekday public affairs program The Agenda more than not delves into political and social issues of the day, but host Steve Paikin twice this week has focussed his attention on aspects of Canadian music and he does it, as ever, with clarity, humour and professionalism. With credit to the public broadcaster, and The Agenda with Steve Paikin, here are the two shows we thought to bring to your attention.

Over the last number of years, Canada has lost musical giants Leonard Cohen, Tragically Hip's Gord Downie, and Rush's Neil Peart. But, are they being replaced by a generation of Canadian musical stars - Drake, and Alessia Cara, for example - who are more confident and unabashedly Canadian? On Monday, TVO’s weekday show, The Agenda with Steve Paikin, asked some aficionados to weigh in on how the music industry is changing.

Toronto’s hardcore punk-rock past

Was "Toronto the Good" once a hardcore punk-rock haven? Yes, say the authors of Tomorrow is Too Late - Toronto Hardcore Punk in the 1980s, which details the often-angry and wall-shaking subculture that existed in the city. The book is a result of two years of interviews with punk bands and their followers and endless sifting through thousands of grimy photographs. Co-author Shawn Chirrey and contributing author Simon Harvey discuss their work.