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Tanya Tagaq
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Festivals News
Music News Digest: Tanya Tagaq Helps Launch International Indigenous Music Summit, Oscar Peterson Celebrated
This week: Festival news across Canada, an honourary degree for Jim Cuddy, margø wins the City of Edmonton Music Prize and more.
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On June 14, 2025, Massey Hall in Toronto hosts an elite lineup of Canadian jazz talent to celebrate a true international jazz legend. Oscar Peterson at 100: A Canadian Celebration honours Peterson’s 100 birthday. Fellow jazz legends, Dave Young and Oliver Jones (both Officers of the Order of Canada), join a previously announced lineup that includes Amanda Tosoff, Andrew McAnsh, Caity Gyorgy, Chet Doxas, Chris Butcher, Colleen Allen, Jim Doxas, Jocelyn Gould, Jodi Proznick, Joe Sealy, Kevin Turcotte, Laila Biali, Mark McLean, Mike Downes, Reg Schwager, Robi Botos, Sean Nimmons, Thompson Egbo-Egbo and more.
Expect music from throughout Peterson's near seven-decade career, with a mix of both his original compositions and jazz standards, performed by an eclectic mix of artists who have all drawn inspiration from Peterson's immense legacy. The evening is co-produced by Céline Peterson and Juno-winning drummer, composer and the event's musical director, Jim Doxas. Tickets at masseyhall.com
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– IIMS 2025 (The International Indigenous Music Summit) has detailed the daytime programming for this year’s gathering in Tkaronto, June 2-6, centred at TD Music Hall, and welcomes Rhoda Roberts as the 2025 Keynote Speaker. A member of the Bundjalung nation, Widjabul clan, Roberts is an Officer of the Order of Australia, and has a special connection to the Summit’s origin. In 2018, Canadian Indigenous roots duo Digging Roots played Woodford Festival in Australia, and conversations with Roberts helped inspire ShoShona Kish to co-found the Summit.
See the full list of speakers and daytime panels at indigenousmusicsummit.com. Select daytime programming is intended for Indigenous delegates only. Register here. The Summit's opening night gala on June 2 includes performances from Polaris Prize winner Tanya Tagaq, Northern Cree, Alex Kusturok and Sara Curruchich, with a special appearance by Elder Gerard Sagassige and Nimkii Osawamick. Tickets are included in full IIMS 2025 registration packages or as a standalone purchase. Info here.
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Awards News
Earlier this month, indie pop artist margø won the $15,000 City of Edmonton Music Prize for her album who are you when you’re alone?Celeigh Cardinal’s Boundless Possibilities and King Thief’s self titled album scored the music prize’s runners-up spots Awards were also presented in film, books and visual arts categories, and the total value of the annual Edmonton Arts Prizes is an impressive $100K. More info here.
– Jim Cuddy, the highly-decorated co-leader/co-founder of Blue Rodeo, will soon receive another honour. The University of Saskatchewan has announced that Cuddy is one of four people who will receive an honourary degree next month. “He has donated his time and talent at more than 60 dinners, including 16 in Saskatchewan that helped to raise millions of dollars to fund music programs in the province,” the university noted in a statement. In 2012, Cuddy, a 15 time Juno Award winner, delivered a lecture and performed some of his hits at the university.
Festivals News
The Edmonton Folk Festival will reveal its full performers lineup on May 28, but has been announcing some headliners. Just named to head the bill on Aug. 9 are Philly hip-hop legends The Roots, known to many as the house band for late-night talk-show host Jimmy Fallon since 2009. Set to headline on Aug. 10 are American folk-rockers Mt. Joy. The fest runs Aug. 7-10, and tickets will go on sale here on June 7.
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– The Spring Reverb festival runs in the downtown Kingston area from May 29 to June 1, and the full lineup has been named. Notable artists performing include Lowest Of The Low, Terra Lightfoot, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Menno Versteeg (Hollerado), Casper Skulls, CJ Wiley, Ash Molloy and Chinese Medicine. Check the schedule here.
– Now in its third year, Nowadays, a music and culture fest held in downtown Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, has announced the first slate of artists for this year's fest, set for October 9-11. The eclectic list is headed by acclaimed Toronto singer-songwriters The Weather Station and Charlotte Cornfield, Philadelphia rock band Sheer Mag, guitarist and composer Jeff Parker, avant-garde musician and performance artist Hayden Pedigo, electronic duo Bodysync (helmed by producers Ryan Hemsworth & Giraffage), Drag City mainstay David Grubbs and Egyptian producer, vocalist and sound artist Nadah El Shazly are among the performers unveiled today. Festival passes for Nowadays are on sale now here.
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Industry News
On May 29, The Rivoli in Toronto hosts a benefit for the Red Nose Remedy foundation, a charity that offers therapeutic clowning services in Ontario hospitals and communities. An impressive list of local notables performing includes Chris Tait (Chalk Circle), Devin Cuddy, Stephen Stanley (ex-Lowest of the Low), Tamara Williamson (ex-Mrs. Torrance), Jennifer Foster, Arlene Bishop and Kathryn Rose. Of note is the appearance of Renann, a singer-songwriter who will be performing for the first time in 23 years. Tickets are available at rednoseremedy.ca.
– Now celebrating its 10th year, the popular Four Chords and The Truth songwriter series returns To TD Music Hall in Toronto on May 22. Series founder/curatorAndrea England hosts, and the formidable lineup comprises Terra Lightfoot, Jesse Gold, AHI and Logan Richard, plus surprise guests. The series has long boosted the coffers of the Unison Fund, and this year it partners with MusiCounts to support music education in Canada. More information on the show is available here.
– Last week, it was announced that Alexander Shelley, music director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa since fall 2015, will step down as the NACO leader after the 2025-26 season. In 2023, he was appointed artistic and music director of Artis−Naples, home of the Naples Philharmonic in Florida, and in 2024, Shelley was hired to take over the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, in Costa Mesa, California, beginning with the 2026-27 season.
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Artists News
On May 23, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Honour is presenting Colin Linden on The Copper Stage in Merritt, B.C. This is a new date on the roots veteran's Ride On Canadian tour, marking his 50th year of performing. A full tour itinerary here.
– Emm Gryner, the highly-regarded Ontario pop-rock singer-songwriter and backing vocalist (David Bowie) has announced that the live debut of her new band, Queen Beach Killer Cat, takes place at The Pilot in Toronto on May 24, on a bill alongside York Street Thought Process and Cabin Fever. In a Facebook post, Gryner confesses "I'm only slightly frightened." Tickets here.
– A double bill featuring two of today's best roots-based Toronto singer/songwriters comes to Mills Hardware in Hamilton on May 22. A longtime Hamilton resident, Lori Yates has moved back to Toronto and is basking in glowing reviews for her most recent album, Matador. A prolific songsmith, Jerry Leger is also highly-respected by his peers (Ron Sexsmith is a big fan) and has developed a loyal following in Europe and the UK (he has just returned from a solo tour there). Tickets here. The pair then play Sonic Hall in Guelph, May 23. Tickets here.
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