The 2026 Nominees list has been announced and as always, the strong support of Canadian Indie Artists is outstanding.

2026 JUNO Award Independent Nominees:
TD JUNO FAN CHOICE bbno$ - Independent*Broke/CMG Shubh – Independent   

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY FACTOR, THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND CANADA’S PRIVATE RADIO BROADIO BROADCASTERS
Goldie Boutilier - Independent Jutes - Position Music Noeline Hofmann - La Honda*The Orchard Saya Gray - Dirty Hit*Virgin Sofia Camara - 21 Entertainment*Universal

ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY SIRIUSXM CANADA
bbno$ - Independent*Broke/CMG

CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SOLO ARTIST)
Zaytoun - Haitham Haidar - Athene*Naxos Awake and Dreaming - Katherine Dowling - Independent*Leaf/Naxos Obsession - Marie Nadeau-Tremblay - ATMA*Universal

Tracey Savein brings an incredible eye (of the lens) capturing special moments in time. Because as the saying goes – A picture is worth a thousand words. “Any kind of photography, as I see it, is all about capturing motion and emotion. Whether the subject is raucous and rockin’ or the location is silent and still, if you can transport the viewer into a moment in time with an image and relay the energy of that moment, well, there’s your photograph.” – Tracey Savein

Paul James 75th Birthday - January 17th @ The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto

Local rock n’ roll reveller, Paul James belts out the blues on his 75th during his annual birthday bash for a full house of longtime friends and fans at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto

Cashbox Canada recently announced the inaugural competition of North2North, The Artist Gateway between Canada and Sweden.

We are happy to announce that industry icon Eric Alper joins the Team as an Adjudicator for North2North Competition, a Canadian indie artist competition, that is open now. Artists will have the opportunity to have top notch adjudicators hear, listen and provide feedback on each and every submission, a value that creates winning no matter what the final decision is for the chosen participants. The winners will travelling in a Canadian contingency to appear at Lilla By Festivalen, in Rinkaby, Sweden, June 12 and 13, 2026. In addition, the winners will receive great prizes right here in Canada.

There are some voices in the Canadian musical canon that paint entire cinematic landscapes. Marc Jordan is one of those rare, essential artists. Today, he is thrilled to announce the release of Rhythm of My Heart: The Authorized Biography of Marc Jordan, a deep-dive exploration of a career that has shaped the sound of popular music for over fifty years. Written by Don Breithaupt and available now, this book offers an unprecedented look at the Brooklyn-born, Toronto-raised legend whose songs have sold over 35 million units and defined the uncompromising quality that is the hallmark of a true visionary.

Bif Naked Doc Screenings: Film, Q&A with Bif, Acoustic Performance:
February 26, 2026, Isabel Bader Centre, Kingston, ON
March 1, 2026, Yates Theatre, Lethbridge, AB
March 2, 2026, Bella Concert Hall, Calgary, AB
March 4, 2026, Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre , Medicine Hat, AB
March 5, 2026, Dekker Centre, North Battleford, SK
March 7, 2026, Dow Centennial Centre (Shell Theatre), Fort Saskatchewan, AB
March 9, 2026, Broadway Theatre, Saskatoon, SK
March 10, 2026, Towne Theatre, Vernon, BC
March 13, 2026, Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, Thunder Bay, ON

Fresh off a triumphant run of sold-out documentary screenings across Canada in 2025, which kicked off with an Audience Choice Award at the Calgary International Film Festival and streaming debuted on Super Channel—iconic Canadian artist Bif Naked releases the new single and music video, “Snowblinded,” from her acclaimed 2025 studio album, Champion. The release marks a powerful next chapter, channelling the raw energy and connection of her recent documentary successes directly back to her fans.

Christmas has passed and we are off galloping into 2026 but still feeling the positive after-effect of the healing power of live new music and the belief that music can help people. We need hope in our lives, especially during our long cold Canadian winters, hence this retrospective on the Annual Christmas Concert now in its second year, from Birdsong New Music Foundation.

Prince Edward Island's award-winning event company, Whitecap Entertainment is marking a strong year for live music and tourism in Cavendish with the announcement of the substantial impact of their annual festivals, Bell Presents Cavendish Beach Music Festival (CBMF) and Sommo Festival. Together, the multi-day events generated a combined economic impact of over $30M, welcoming over 80,000 music and culinary fans to Prince Edward Island in 2025, reinforcing the role both events continue to play in attracting visitors, supporting local businesses and strengthening the Island's tourism economy.

“Our festivals are built with Prince Edward Island Tourism in mind,” said Ben Murphy, CEO of Whitecap Entertainment. “When people travel here for CBMF and Sommo, they're supporting far more than the festivals themselves; they're supporting local businesses, tourism operators and communities across the Island. Seeing that impact continue to grow year after year, especially in the shoulder season, is something we're incredibly proud of.”

Tracey Savein brings an incredible eye (of the lens) capturing special moments in time. Because as the saying goes – A picture is worth a thousand words.
“Any kind of photography, as I see it, is all about capturing motion and emotion. Whether the subject is raucous and rockin’ or the location is silent and still, if you can transport the viewer into a moment in time with an image and relay the energy of that moment, well, there’s your photograph.” – Tracey Savein

A Charlie Brown Christmas - December 20th @ Hugh’s Room Live, Toronto
Local jazzers, Sullivan-Parker-Kettlewell make merry with the classic sounds of The Vince Guaraldi Trio during their annual animated “A Charlie Brown Christmas” holiday show at Hugh’s Room Live in Toronto

Woolwich, Ontario. Folk singer Carla Muller proudly announces the re-release of her cherished holiday album 'Snow Came Falling', a collection inspired by family, tradition and the spirit of the season. The album returns with renewed focus on its themes of connection, memory and the warmth of shared music, inviting listeners into the comforting world Muller has created through song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8YdwWcPtQk

This winter, Maggie’s Wake invites listeners to nestle into the season with Close to Home, their new Holiday EP that leans into warmth, light, and connection over glitter and gloss. Blending Celtic tradition with contemporary folk, the band takes listeners through a winter landscape filled with stories, harmonies, and a few musical surprises along the way.

The title track sets the tone with its unbridled anticipation of returning to the people and places that mean the most. The band’s heartfelt take on The First Noel draws on gentle instrumentation and close vocal harmonies that highlight the grace in simplicity. O Holy Night (w/ Jig & Trad Reels) begins with quiet reverence before bursting into a lively session tune—an unexpected shift that nods to both the church pew and the kitchen party.

Indie music non-profit Wavelength Music announces its inaugural Music Festival and Conference, expanding its annual winter season festivities to include conversation programs and interactive activities along Toronto’s west end while shifting timing to the first weekend of spring. Following its massive 25th anniversary celebrations, in 2026 Wavelength goes global in scope, with emerging Canadian artists spotlighted alongside international guests from Australia, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Portugal and the United States. In addition to the 30+ live acts, a festival highlight will be the book launch event for the memoir by Melissa Auf der Maur, Canadian-born alternative rock icon (Hole, Smashing Pumpkins), in partnership with the AGO.

Date: Sunday, December 14, 2025
Venue: Lula Lounge, Toronto
Time: Doors 6:30 PM / Show 8:00 PM
Tickets: $59.64 (incl. tax) / $50 (all-inclusive for musicians)

For tickets: eventbrite.ca/e/bringing-you-a-little-happy-tickets-1739773833369 
Or Donate via website and bring a receipt to the door.
Website: birdsongnewmusicfoundation.ca/

 Released on August 5, 2025, Ezra Ben-Shalom’s Known and Unknown has emerged as a profound candidate for year-end "Best Of" lists, offering a courageous musical response to a world in conflict. A bold avant-folk record drenched in Jewish tradition, the album is ripe for this specific moment in a world longing to feel connected. Ben-Shalom, whose name translates to "helper son of peace," views this music as an act of engaging with the oral tradition of his ancestors to address universal questions of suffering and transcendence.

Tracey Savein brings an incredible eye (of the lens) capturing special moments in time. Because as the saying goes – A picture is worth a thousand words.
“Any kind of photography, as I see it, is all about capturing motion and emotion. Whether the subject is raucous and rockin’ or the location is silent and still, if you can transport the viewer into a moment in time with an image and relay the energy of that moment, well, there’s your photograph.” – Tracey Savein

Gowan - November 29th @ Massey Hall, Toronto

Scarborough Scotsman and musical maestro, Gowan performs his 1985 hit album, “Strange Animal” in its entirety for a jam-packed hometown crowd during the record’s fortieth anniversary tour at Massey Hall in Toronto

Date: Sunday, December 14, 2025
Venue: Lula Lounge, Toronto
Time: Doors 6:30 PM / Show 8:00 PM
Tickets: $59.64 (incl. tax) / $50 (all-inclusive for musicians)
eventbrite.ca/e/bringing-you-a-little-happy-tickets-1739773833369
Website: birdsongnewmusicfoundation.ca

TORONTO, ON - Renowned comedian and actor Mae Martin, Juno Award-winning vocalist Liberty Silver, and the artists of the Birdsong New Music Foundation are set to unite for an evening of original music and holiday cheer on Sunday, December 14, 2025. This annual fundraiser, taking place at Lula Lounge, supports the production of new music created by individuals living with mental illness.

 Irish Millie, the 18-year-old Canadian fiddler, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who is taking the roots scene by storm, has released "You Were There," the standout single from her acclaimed EP Between Then and Now. The track has earned the young artist her seventh Canadian Folk Music Award nomination, this time for Single of the Year. Simultaneously, she earned her fifth consecutive nomination for Young Performer of the Year, having been recognized in that category every year since the release of her debut album Thirteen in 2021.

youtube.com/@IrishMillieFiddleTunes

Canada’s largest a cappella competition to award more than $10,000 in prizes

A cappella groups from across Canada are invited to showcase their voices on the championship stage at the 2026 SING! Canadian A Cappella Championships, taking place May 23, 2026 at Toronto’s renowned Koerner Hall.

Part of SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival (May 20 to June 1, 2026), the competition will offer more than $10,000 in cash and prizes, from future performance opportunities at SING! Toronto (including the opening slot for the Soundcrowd concert on May 30, 2026), to cash prizes and professional recording sessions.

The competition is open to any style of unaccompanied vocal group, with four categories: high school, university/collegiate, barbershop, and open (post-collegiate, semi-pro, pro, or other). A minimum of 12 groups, chosen from video submissions, will be invited to perform live at Koerner Hall on May 23, 2026.

Cashbox Radio has once again curated 12 great Top Pick Hits for December 2025.

Because we would like to think they are all #1’s on a chart, this list is in Alphabetical Order:

8Banger - Daddy's Girl
 

Ain't That a Trip - The James Hunter Six ft Van Morrison
 

Bella Cole - Got Your Number
 

Tracey Savein brings an incredible eye (of the lens) capturing special moments in time. Because as the saying goes – A picture is worth a thousand words.

“Any kind of photography, as I see it, is all about capturing motion and emotion. Whether the subject is raucous and rockin’ or the location is silent and still, if you can transport the viewer into a moment in time with an image and relay the energy of that moment, well, there’s your photograph.” – Tracey Savein

Earth, Wind & Fire - November 18th @ TD Coliseum, Hamilton

Multi-award-winning American super-soul funksters, Earth, Wind & Fire break out all their beloved R & B hits for a special event, blowing the brand new roof off a newly christened TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario

It’s where the magic happens as an artist opens to the physical world they grew up with and the spiritual realm where all the magic happens.

Like Jimi Hendrix, Brandon Boyd of Incubus, looks at his career in the same way, as if he is antenna or lightening rod for whatever he creates that comes from that special we can never quite explain … once called the ether.

Miles Davis and Joni Mitchell are painters. So many artists express their creativity in other mediums. Brandon Boyd exhibited his art publicly for the first time in Toronto at Tagialatella Gallery in Yorkville.

 Brandon and I wanted to talk not about the new record he is working on, nope I wanted to talk to Brandon the artist and decode that person.

MW: Brandon, was this the first time your art has appeared in Toronto?
BB: Yes. It was a great time….at times overwhelming—the number of people dropping in, the energy of it all. I’ve been a little wrecked ever since, but for all the best reasons. It was amazing to see how many people come out to look at and talk about art. Those are the things I love.