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Loreena McKennitt
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Music News Digest: National Music Centre Launches Exhibition for New Canadian Music Hall of Famers
Also this week: Popular East Coast singer-songwriter David Myles gets elected as a Liberal MP, notable songwriters go Inside the Song, a star-studded tribute to Neil Young and more.
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On May 7, National Music Centre (NMC), in partnership with the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), unveils a new exhibition at Studio Bell, celebrating the latest Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees. That list comprises Dan Hill, Ginette Reno, Glass Tiger and Loreena McKennitt. The exhibition opens in advance of the sold-out live Canadian Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, taking place on May 15 at Studio Bell.
The exhibit will showcase photos, storytelling, and memorabilia from the four inductees. Highlights include a synthesizer and stage outfits from Glass Tiger, along with handwritten lyrics for “My Town,” signed by Rod Stewart. Also featured are a Montreal Canadiens jersey worn by Ginette Reno during multiple national anthem performances, along with Loreena McKennitt’s harp and the ornate mask worn in her “The Mummers’ Dance” music video. There are also two learn-to-play interactives, allowing fans to get lessons directly from two inductees – acoustic guitar with Dan Hill and synthesizer with Sam Reid of Glass Tiger.
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The Canadian Music Hall of Fame: Class of 2025 exhibition is accessible with paid admission to Studio Bell and will run from May 7 until February 20, 2026. More info here. A Studio Bell exhibit about Sum 41, also new Hall of Fame inductees, opened on March 26.
Festivals
The
Stan Rogers Folk Festival has announced Level on the Level - A Celebration of John Prine will kick off Stanfest’s Mainstage shows, in Canso, Nova Scotia on Thursday, July 24. The show stars the John Prine Band, featuring Prine’s longtime sidemen Dave Jacques and Jason Wilber along with Kenneth Blevins and Fats Kaplin. Expect songs by and stories about folk legend Prine. A star-heavy guest list of other performers includes Adam Baldwin, David Francey, Dave Gunning, Jaimee Harris, Mary Gauthier, Matt Andersen, Mick Davis, Morgan Toney, Shane Pendergast and Terra Spencer. Tickets and weekend passes for Stanfest are available now at stanfest.com.
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Industry News
Inside the Song is an annual special invite-only event in Toronto designed to celebrate Canadian songwriters and publishers. It is presented by CMRRA, Music Publishers Canada (MPC) and the Junos, and the 2025 edition was hosted by singer-songwriter Lindsay Ell (Concord Music Publishing). She also joined fellow performers Joce Reyome (CYMBA Music Publishing), Polaris Prize-winning songwriter Patrick Watson (Secret City Records) and self-published singer-songwriter Georgia Harmer.
– On May 10, Ontario TV channel TVO hosts a live event in Hamilton entitled True North Strong: Why Music Matters. It features host Steve Paikin (The Agenda) sitting down with three of the region's most prominent musicians: Sarah Harmer, Tom Wilson (Junkhouse, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings) and Cadence Weapon. According to TVO's promo material, "The multi-award-winning Canadian musicians will explore how they relate their own politics to their music, how they understand the power they have, and how they see their place in the wider world of a democratic public conversation." The event is being held at The Music Hall, a 1,000 capacity music and performing arts venue situated inside New Vision United Church, in downtown Hamilton. Tickets to True North Strong are free with registration here.
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– Each year, the Toronto Blues Society looks for undiscovered blues talent from across the region in its Talent Search. Six finalists are selected to perform for a professional development package including festival gigs (Toronto Jazz Fest, Southside Shuffle and more), showcase opportunities, mentorship meetings, graphic design, studio rehearsal time and much more. The finals event is on June 22 at the TD Toronto Jazz Fest. The deadline to apply for the 2025 Talent Search here is May 19.
– Music Nova Scotia has announced The DAWN Fund Bursary Program, a designated investment program for artists who identify as trans, two-spirit, or non-binary. The program is funded by both Music Nova Scotia and The DAWN Fund, domiciled at the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia. The DAWN Fund Bursary Program offers a $2,000 investment toward a suite of artist development activities, including sound recording, video production, marketing and promotion. An additional $2,000 investment toward touring and showcasing is available if these activities are also part of the Artist Development Plan. Applications are open now here for the trial year of this program, with a June 15 deadline.
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– The Canadian Parliament just got more musical. Amongst the Liberal Party winners in last week's elections was one of the East Coast's most popular singer-songwriters, David Myles, who won in the Fredericton-Oromocto riding. The winner of a Juno and multiple East Coast Music and Music Nova Scotia Awards, Myles is a newcomer to politics. He takes his seat as Parliament's previous most musical member, the NDP's Charlie Angus (leader of folk-rockers Grievous Angels) left after his 20-year-long political career.
– April 25 saw the release of Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young Vol 1, a benefit compilation with a star-studded cast designed to support The Bridge School charity established by Neil and Pegi Young. It was launched with an event at L.A.'s Village Studios that featured performances by Courtney Barnett, Dramarama’s John Easdale and Devendra Banhart. Other contributors to the album include Fiona Apple, Eddie Vedder, Sharon Van Etten, Brandi Carlile, Steve Earle and The Doobie Brothers with Allison Russell. Neil Young was present to introduce the performers.
– There are multiple celebrations of life being held for drummer/vocalist Teddy Hawkins, which shows the great affection for the late musician in Canada. There have already been events in Toronto and his former hometown of Hamilton, and another one is set for May 10 at Smokeshow in Toronto. Co-hosted and co-organized by Mike Daley and Danny Marks, it runs 1-6 p.m., with all proceeds to Unison Fund. $15 cash cover at the door. The impressive list of guest singers and players includes Lori Yates, Lily Frost, Laura Hubert, Marks, Daley, Derek Downham, Clayton Yates, Victor Bateman, Michelle Josef and Bill Wood.
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Artists News
Veteran Toronto musician, author and newspaper publisher Dave Bidini (Rheostatics, West End Phoenix) trekked to Hamilton to play a solo matinee set at cozy bar/resto The Capitol on Saturday. He captivated the attentive crowd with a spirited set that included solo originals alongside a few Rheostatics numbers, including "Legal Age Life," and "Ol' Fort Mac," a tune popularized by Corin Raymond. Ever the engaging performer, Bidini even had the audience singing along to a new tune, "No Frills Warriors." Opening up with a short set of his darkly poetic material was local troubadour Martin Verrall. At the gig, Bidini informed Billboard Canada that he is excited about an upcoming Rheos project, one that'll feature a Polaris Prize winner, a global rock guitar hero and a pioneering American artist.
– Formerly with acclaimed Ontario roots-rockers
The Warped 45s, singer-songwriter/musician/producer Ryan Wayne made a mark with his 2023 solo debut release, Crow Amongst the Sparrows. He now returns with an equally compelling sophomore effort,Functioning Dysfunctionals, out on May 9. The album is self-produced, with additional production, engineering and mixing work from Annelise Norohna and Tim Vesely (Rheostatics), and guest turns from some top Toronto players.
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