Music News Digest: VELD, Departure Festivals Announce Lineups

Awards News

SaskMusic recently revealed the 2025 Saskatchewan Music Award nominees, spread over 21 artistic and industry categories. Tickets are now on sale here for the Awards show, hosted by the Regina Performing Arts Centre on March 2. The public can help determine some of the SMA winners by voting on four award categories. Info here. See the full list of nominees here.

Festivals News

– Produced by INK Entertainment Group, major Toronto EDM/dance music festVELD Music Festival returns to Downsview Park, Aug. 1-3, and the full lineup for the 12th edition has just been announced.

Previously-announced headliners deadmau5, Tiësto, John Summit and Dom Dolla are joined by the likes of Alesso, Loud Luxury, D.O.D., Rezz, Danny Avila and Eli Brown. Sign up for pre-sale tickets here.

The full lineup is below:

• Alesso
• Deadmau5
• Tiësto
• Excision
• Lane 8
• Loud Luxury
• John Summit
• Rezz
• Cosmic Gate
• Crankdat
• Sullivan King

• Alycvtt
• Blanke
• BUNT.
• Chris Avantgarde
• D.O.D
• Dab The Sky (Dabin B2B Said the Sky)
• Danny Avila
• Dom Dolla
• Eli Brown
• Green Velvet B2B Layton Giordani
• Inpekt
• Kai Wachi
• Korolova
• Massano
• Nostalgix
• Odd Mob
• Paper Skies
• Space Laces
• Third Party
• Timmy Trumpet
• Twinsick

– Described as “a reimagined and expanded vision of Canadian Music Week (CMW),” the Departure Festival + Conference launches its inaugural edition in Toronto this summer (May 6-11) and it made its first lineup announcement earlier this week. The event covers the fields of music, art, comedy and tech, a major identity shift for the conference for the first time since the early '80s.

Heading the list of speakers are Bryan Adams, celebrity chef/actor Matty Matheson, acclaimed musical artists T-Minus in conversation with Brian “B.Dot” Miller, Snap Inc.'s Matt McGowan, crisis PR expert Molly McPherson, and Tim Leiweke, Chairman & CEO of Oak View Group, which has teamed with Loft Entertainment to produce Departure. Read Billboard Canada's recent Q&A with Leiweke about his expanding footprint in Canada here.

On the music side, Mustafa, Tia Wood and Death From Above 1979 will play, while city venues will also host R&B artist Avenoir, French pop duo Papooz, indie roots rockers Rural Alberta Advantage, adventurous indie act Freak Heat Waves, emerging singer-songwriter Bria Salmena, Brooklyn-based punk band YHWH Nailgun and more TBA. Additional guests and events will be announced in the coming weeks.

– Coastal Jazz has announced that Richard Bona and Bill Frisell will headline the 40th anniversary Vancouver International Jazz Festival. Grammy-winner Bona will play Vancouver on June 23 with his Asante Trio, with U.S. guitar star Frisell performing with his long-standing trio on June 24. The VIJF runs When: June 20 to June 29 at various city venues. Tickets here.

– One of the country's biggest free music fests, The Sound of Music festival in Burlington, Ontario, is accepting applications for its Battle of the Bands contest. The grand prize is a performance on the Main Stage at Sound of Music, happening June 12-15. The winner will be announced at a Grand Finale event on June 3. Register here by Feb. 1.

– The Mariposa Folk Festival's Mariposa Showcase For Emerging Artists is accepting applications until Feb. 13. For information and application, click here. The Showcase is a free concert featuring 10 acts, set to take place on April 12, at St Paul's Centre in Orillia.

Industry News

– Music Publishers Canada (MPC) is now accepting applications for their 2025 Women in the Studio National Accelerator program. Now in its seventh year, the Accelerator is designed to provide the cohort with skills development and networking opportunities. Topics featured include technical and songwriting skills, branding and financial literacy and opportunities for creative collaborations are offered. The Accelerator will run from June to October 2025 and the sessions and workshops will take place virtually and in person. The week-long in-person residency program will take place in Toronto late July. Applications will be accepted online here until Feb. 21 at 5pm ET.

– On Jan. 29, Creative BC opens applications for two grant programs. The Demo Recording program provides grants of up to $2,000 to create demo recordings and engage in mentorship with local music producers, while the Business Foundations program covers grants up to $10,000 for music businesses to build networks, develop capacity and strengthen their infrastructure. The application deadline is March 12. More info here

Artists News

– This week, award-winning Canadian country artist Gord Bamford announced his 2025 Just Gettin’ Started tour, one celebrating a now 25-year long career in music. Part one of the tour will kick off in High Prairie, Alberta on March 14. Spanning two consecutive years, this tour will roll out in multiple phases as it crosses Canada. Expect a set list covering his whole career and including his many Canadian hits. Ticket information here. Bamford recently released a new single, Just Gettin’ Started,” with another arriving in late Feb. A new EP is coming in the fall.

– Leader of Hamilton cult heroes Simply Saucer, singer-songwriter Edgar Breau celebrates the release of his new record Acadian Drifter with a hometown matinee (2 p.m.) show at The Capitol Bar on Feb. 1. His ace band will include D'Arcy Good. Another top local troubadour, Martin Verrall, opens. Tickets here.

– Veteran folk/roots singer-songwriter Stephen Fearing remains active in roots trio Blackie and The Rodeo Kings while still pursuing a solo career. His 15th album, The Empathist, is being prepped for release, preceded by a new single and lyric video, "Far From The Middle." The virile blues-rock tune has a timely message.

– Men Without Hats – Live , coming on Feb. 21, features the '80s synth-pop hitmakers captured live on the 80’s Club Tour, recorded last year. Naturally, global hits "Safety Dance" and "Pop Goes the World" are included.

– The cultural legacy of legendary Toronto concert and film promoter Gary Topp extends beyond his hometown, as was shown in Hamilton on the weekend. To promote He Hijacked My Brain, the fascinating new book focused on his career, Topp appeared at a book signing event in top Hammer bookstore City And The City Books. It came as no surprise that the joint was jammed with local music luminaries, including Mickey DeSadist (Forgotten Rebels), Scott McCullough (Doughboys, Rusty), Pete Lambert, Sammy Squid, Ronley Teper (a Topp favourite), Ivar Hamilton, video director Roy Pike and promoter Lou Molinaro (he helped organize the event), while another Topp fave, singer-songwriter Joe Cash, serenaded with some eloquent songs. Word is the book is close to selling out its first edition.