The Western Canadian Music Alliance recently announced the nominees for the 2026 Western Canadian Music Awards. Three artists from Manitoba, FONTINE, Leith Ross and William Prince, head the nominees list with three nods apiece, followed by ARDN, Begonia, Blue Moon Marquee & Northern Cree, Boy Golden, Burnstick, Calling All Captains, Empanadas Ilegales, Foxwarren, Katie Tupper, Mariel Buckley and The Mbira Renaissance Band, with two nominations each. The winners will be named at a special evening event during BreakOut West, which takes place Sept. 30 - Oct. 4 in Victoria.
This 24th edition of the BreakOut West conference and festival is supported by Music BC, Creative BC and the British Columbia provincial government and is hosted by Victoria for the first time since 2015. Voting has begun and closes June 18 and is open to all members of all western Provincial and Territorial Music Industry Associations. The full list of nominees is on BreakOut West's website.
Awards News
The winners of the 2025 Musicworks Electronic Music Composition Contest have been announced. Panayiotis Kokoras has won first prize for Viper Snake and the winner of the 2025 Marcelle Deschênes Prize in Electronic Music is Liann J. Kang for L’amour pur. All composer entrants to the 2025 edition of the EMC Contest who identify as female or non-binary were eligible for the Marcelle Deschênes Prize, which comes with a $300 cash prize and includes coverage on MusicWorks and other promotional opportunities.
Industry News
Applications for The Banff Musicians in Residence 2027 program are now open, with a July 29 deadline. It runs Jan. 10 - Jan. 30, 2027 and you can apply here.
– The Jazz@Vue New Talents Competition is dedicated to fostering and discovering new talent (all members must be between 18 and 30 years old) in Quebec’s jazz scene. Applications will be evaluated by a jury of professionals, leading figures in Quebec jazz. Following an initial selection, six ensembles will perform a mini-concert as part of a semi-final to be held at the new venue l’Entracte Jazz Bar (Montreal) and at Bar Ste-Angèle (Quebec City) in Sept. 2026. Three groups will then compete in the final, at the Théâtre Outremont on Nov. 1, where each will perform a 40-minute set. The final performances will be recorded. Finalists will receive professional guidance from Effendi, including advice and support for career development, plus other prizes.
– The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and Festival International de Jazz de Montréal have announced CINÉJAZZ: a series of free screenings at the Alanis Obomsawin Theatre in Montreal. A free program of cinema with music at its heart, it runs from June 26 through July 4 at the NFB’s Îlot Balmoral headquarters, steps from Place des Festivals. The short film Oscar, Marie-Josée Saint-Pierre’s touching portrait of Montreal jazz legend Oscar Peterson, will be presented before each feature. The program includes award-winning documentary RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World, a look at pioneering Indigenous musicians, Maroon: On the Trail of Creoles in North America, Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Leonard Cohen, a 1965 portrait of the bard of Montreal, and Show Girls which celebrates Montreal’s swinging Black jazz scene from the 1920s to the 1960s. More info at the CINÉJAZZ program.
Artists News
Veteran Toronto composer and guitarist David Occhipinti will release a new album, Looking Glass, on June 12 with Elastic Recordings. It features intricate ensemble writing centring his guitar alongside violin, viola, and cello, played (respectively) by A-list players Aline Homzy, Steven Dann and Maria Zachariadou (the BBC Philharmonic). Three other special guests are percussionist Beverley Johnston, mezzo soprano Alex Hetherington and soprano Charlotte Mundy. Pre-order here
– Acclaimed and award-winning Toronto singer-songwriter Tyler Ellis releases his ninth album to date, Hardwarestore, on June 12 and launches it with a record release party/concert on June 18 at Hugh’s Room in Toronto (tickets here).. His material draws on folk, country and blues traditions, and feature compositions that chronicler of working people’s lives in poetic fashion. A versatile artist, Ellis has also been collaborating with Julian Taylor and Ellis' song ''100 Proof'' is featured on Taylor's Juno-nominated roots album Beyond the Reservoir.
– Derek Downham is a Toronto-based musical jack of all trades; a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and producer whose credits include The Beauties and Andy Kim. He has just released his first-ever solo single, ''Praying,'' and you can stream it here. A totally independent release, it has been notching solid streaming numbers and playlist action and a follow-up, ''Kindness,'' is promised soon.
– Juno-nominated Montreal-based Cree pop artist Siibii has signed with Northstar Artist Agency in the U.S., and they recently won the 2026 RBC Emerging Artist Award and landed a network TV sync with their single "Body to Body" (Feat. Aysanabee) in the season finale of Sullivan's Crossing. On June 14, Siibii returns to Toronto to perform at the Harbourfront Centre as part of Luminato Festival, appearing ahead of fellow Ishkōdé Records artist Aysanabee. Siibii will then embark on a cross-country tour, performing at festivals and in communities, cities, and towns across Canada.
