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Shervin Lainez
Alanis Morissette
FYI
Music News Digest: Alanis Morissette Becomes a Canada Soccer World Cup Ambassador, Summer Concert Series Announced
Also this week: Gala SOCAN recognizes Francophone artists in Montreal, the CMAOntario Awards announces award performers and SiriusXM Top of the Country reveals its three finalists.
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Alanis Morissette is the latest Canadian star to join Canada Soccer and Infinity &'s Iconic XI ambassador program. The Billboard Canada Icon Award winner will use her international renown to help cheer on the Canadian team.
The program is designed to rally the country behind the Men's National Team as North America prepares to host the FIFA World Cup and support initiatives that benefit youth soccer through the Canada Soccer Foundation.
She joins previously announced program members Simu Liu, Shawn Mendes and Sidney Crosby. The remaining seven ambassadors are still to be named.
There's also a separate music ambassador program headed by star producer Boi1da, who is curating a special Perfect Pitch album featuring Nelly Furtado, NorthSideBenji Charlotte Cardin, The Tragically Hip and many more that will come out in June.
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Awards News
On May 3, SOCAN will host the 35th edition of the Gala SOCAN, at Montréal’s TOHU, a celebration bringing together songwriters, composers and music publishers from Québec and Francophone communities across Canada. The evening, hosted by Radio-Canada’s Philippe Fehmiu, with Chloé Lacasse serving as musical director, will feature performances, musical tributes and award presentations.
Renowned lyricist Luc Plamondon will be honoured with the lifetime achievement award, recognizing the lasting mark he has left on generations of artists and audiences in Canada and beyond. SOCAN will present cultural impact awards to Marjo (for her classic song "Provocante") and Harmonium for their song "Un musicien parmi tant d’autres," Les Cowboys Fringants' JF Pauzé will receive the songwriter award and Ruffsound will be honoured with the songwriter award — non-performer.
This year’s international award will go to Men I Trust and Christian Clermont will receive the screen composer award.This edition of the gala also marks the introduction of the publisher award — creative impact, joining the publisher award (both recipients are TBA). This year’s music partner award will be presented to non-profit music presenter SPEC du Haut-Richelieu.
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SOCAN will also present popular song awards, recognizing the most performed songs of the past year, plus other awards covering specific musical genres. The complete list of winners for the 2026 edition of the Gala SOCAN will be published on the evening of May 3.
– Following a nationwide public vote, the top 3 finalists for this year’s SiriusXM Top of the Country competition are Blue Ridge Band (from Lévis, Quebec), Morgan Griffiths (Abbotsford, B.C.) and Shawnee Kish (Edmonton, Alberta).
As finalists, they’ll receive exclusive mentorship opportunities and perform at major live events across the country, including Montréal’s LASSO Country Music Festival. At Country Music Week 2026 in Saskatoon, one artist will be crowned the winner and awarded the $25,000 grand prize.
– The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) has announced the performers for the 2026 CMAOntario Festival & Awards taking place May 29-31 in Mississauga’s lakeside community of Port Credit. The first event (on May 29) is Songs & Stories, a songwriters showcase in the Credit Room at the Port Credit Memorial Arena that features 2026 awards nominees Elyse Saunders, Parker Graye, Ryan Langdon and Yan Leduc of Les Rats d’Swompe.
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New this year is The Trail, two nights of free live music at five venues on May 29-30, featuring nominees and emerging talents. Bonfire, presented by Misty City Music Festival, May 30 at Port Credit Memorial Arena with performances by Paige Rutledge, Jade Hilton, Bradley Hale, Tanaeya and CMAOntario 2025 breakthrough artist Sully Burrows.
Hosted by country star Jason Blaine and Sam McDaid, the CMAOntario Awards Show will close out the weekend on May 31 at Port Credit Memorial Arena. Performers include Burrows, who leads with six 2026 CMAOntario nominations; 4x nominee Olivia Mae Graham, triple nominee Jessica Sevier, up for three awards, dual nominees Elyse Saunders, School House and Tyler Lorette, plus Cory Marks, Les Rats d’Swompe and the CMAOntario house band (and 2x nominees), The Western Swing Authority. The CMAOntario Festival & Awards will also host the industry-focused R2i Conference from May 30-31. More info here.
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Industry News
CIMA has issued a Call of Interest for an inbound trade mission of Music Export Offices (EMEE) from Europe. CIMA will partner with EMEE on this custom trade mission to connect European music export offices from Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Ukraine, Ireland, Lithuania, Germany, France and more with Canada’s music industry through targeted one on one meetings, speed meetings, networking events, information sessions, on site office and venue visits and more. It runs May 24-30, starting in Toronto then moving to Montreal. Complete the form here.
Festivals News
The annual Summer Nights Concerts series at the PNE in Vancouver recently announced its lineup of shows that will run Aug. 22 to Sept. 7. Blue Rodeo takes the opening night slot, followed by a musically eclectic list of stars including The Beaches, Nelly, Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman as The Guess Who, Train, Barenaked Ladies, Zedd, Mt. Joy and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra with Cynthia Erivo. Of note: Shows are at the new Freedom Mobile Arch, an open-air venue replacing the old amphitheatre setup. More details here.
– Jackson-Triggs, the Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario winery, has announced the return of its summer concert series, one that has operated since 2001, and it again features recognizable CanCon pop, rock, country and roots artists. Kicking things off on June 12 and 13 is the Sam Roberts Band, a series favourite who has played the venue 22 times.
Other returning regulars include Jim Cuddy, Chantal Kreviazuk and the Strumbellas, alongside the likes of The Trews, July Talk, USS, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Wild Rivers, Dallas Smith, Colin James and 54-50. The series closes out on Sept. 19 with cover band Dwayne Gretzky. The 500-seat amphitheatre at the winery has previously hosted such stars as the Tragically Hip, City & Colour, Gordon Lightfoot and Arkells and Dallas Green. Info and tickets here.
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Artists News
The Winnipeg-based duo sundayclub has just announced that their self-titled debut album, SUNDAYCLUB, will be released on July 10 via noted Toronto indie label Paper Bag Records. Their sound is self-described as “dreamy, gut-punch pop,” as showcased on lead single “Camera Shy.” sundayclub will perform in Brighton, England, at The Great Escape on May 14 and 16, alongside four other shows in England and a May 19 gig in Hamburg.
– Legendary American folk troubadour Tom Rush is still going strong at age 85, releasing new material and playing concerts. He is heading north of the border this week for keenly-anticipated concerts at Hamilton’s Westdale Theatre on April 23 (tickets here) and Toronto’s Hugh’s Room on April 24 (tickets here). Rush should be considered an honorary Canadian given that he covered songs by Joni Mitchell, Murray McLauchlan and David Wiffen back when they were virtually unknown. Given the latter's recent passing, we expect Rush to pay tribute by reprising his superb version of Wiffen classic “Driving Wheel.” Of note: These Canadian shows are promoted by Bernie Fiedler, owner and operator of legendary '60s and '70s Toronto folk club the Riverboat.
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– Juno‑winning and Grammy-nominated Canadian singer‑songwriter Loreena McKennitt has announced a second show at famed Toronto venue Massey Hall. It will be an afternoon show (1:30 pm) on Nov. 1 as part of her Toronto stop on The Mask and Mirror Tour, celebrating the 30th anniversary of one of the internationally popular artist's best-selling albums (over two million copies sold). Her first Atlantic Canada dates in a decade take place from Oct. 13 to Oct. 20. Tickets for the new Toronto show go on sale this Friday, April 24 here. Check the full tour itinerary here. McKennitt was inducted into the Canadian Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in March 2023 and The Canadian Music Hall of Fame May 2025.
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