March is Music Therapy Awareness Month, a time to recognize the life-changing impact of music therapy on people of all ages. This year, the Canadian Music Therapy Fund (CMTF), based in Toronto, is calling for urgent support to ensure that older adults, particularly those with dementia and cognitive challenges, can continue to access this essential care.

 For 31 years, CMTF has worked to make music therapy accessible to those who need it most—children with autism, people experiencing mental health challenges and older adults facing cognitive decline. As one of the only non-profits in Canada providing subsidized music therapy services, CMTF has seen firsthand how music connects, heals, and restores dignity when words are no longer enough.

The Glastonbury 2025 lineup has been announced, revealing that British rock band The 1975 and US pop star Olivia Rodrigo will join Neil Young as the festival’s three headliners.

Other acts on the lineup include Brit Award and Grammy-winning star Charli XCX, singer RAYE, Grammy-winning rapper Doechii, British hip-hop artist Loyle Carner, Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro and rapper Busta Rhymes.

It was announced last year that Rod Stewart will take on the Sunday teatime Legends Slot on the Pyramid Stage.

Buffy Sainte-Marie appointment to the Order of Canada — the second-highest honour for merit in the systems of orders, decorations and medals of Canada — has been terminated.

As David Friend reports for the Canadian Press, Sainte-Marie has reasserted that she "never lied about her identity" and returned her Order of Canada "with a good heart."

In her first statement since being stripped of the honour, she said that she had "made it completely clear" to Rideau Hall — and to former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau upon his invitation for her to perform for Queen Elizabeth in 1977 — that she was not Canadian. As her birth certificate reflects, Sainte-Marie is an American citizen and holds a US passport; however, she was adopted by a Cree family in Saskatchewan as a young adult.

The singer-songwriter expressed her "love and gratitude to Canada," and said that she's "overwhelmingly grateful that I've been able to make my contribution."

Celtic Icon Lucy MacNeil Announces Long-Awaited Solo Album and 2025 Tour Dates

 After 37 years of enchanting audiences worldwide as a member of the legendary Barra MacNeils, Lucy MacNeil is stepping into the spotlight with her highly anticipated solo album and a string of tour dates that will bring her rich, soul-stirring voice and deep-rooted Cape Breton traditions to audiences across Canada.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbT80YCrky0

Bruce Cockburn, Ani DiFranco, Oysterband and Guy Davis Among Participating Artists

In September of 2022 an international folk supergroup consisting of 16 artists from six countries on four continents released “Which Side Are You On?” Originally penned as a union song by Florence Reece in 1931, Artists for Action’s version took aim at the rise of far-right politics and the resurgence of fascism around the globe, the most glaring example of which was Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine.

Plus Major Acts Including Doechii, Gracie Abrams, Finneas And More! And For The First Time Ever, An Artist Will Play Both Osheaga And Lasso Montréal!

OSHEAGA Music and Arts Festival presented by Bell in collaboration with Coors Light, is back for its 18th edition! Music lovers will once again gather at Montréal's breathtaking Parc Jean-Drapeau from August 1-3, 2025 to experience a weekend of exhilarating performances, unforgettable moments, and the unmatched atmosphere at one of the most picturesque festival venues there is. This year, for the first time in a long time, OSHEAGA is unveiling its full lineup at once, including a trio of powerhouse headliners that promise to deliver unforgettable performances. The OSHEAGA booking team has curated a festival lineup to include fans of every genre and generation in mind - and to give festivalgoers the opportunity to see the next rising stars before anyone else. It's time to discover your new favourite artist among 87 performers on this year's lineup!

Much like Buddy Holly’s Apartment Tapes, Murry Robe’s Dial Tones delivers raw, lo-fi home demo recordings packed with infectious melodies, witty lyrics, and an authentic blend of doo-wop, garage rock, and rockabilly. Stripped down yet bursting with energy, Murry Robe channels the golden age of rock ‘n’ roll with a modern rebel spirit—unpolished, unfiltered, and undeniably catchy.

Listen here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/murryrobe/dial-tones

Photo Credits: Tracey Savein South Paw Productions

On January 31 Barney Bentall & The Cariboo Express’ celebrated their farewell tour and final concert in Toronto, “The Last Roundup,” joined by an all-star lineup of special guests – William Prince, Jim Cuddy, Tom Wilson and Thompson Wilson, Devin Cuddy, Sam Polley, and Anne Lindsay. It was magical night with great performance by all mentioned.

This sold-out concert was the last chance for fans to catch one of Canada’s most beloved roots and folk collectives while raising funds for Classroom Champions, a nonprofit organization, connecting professional athletes, Olympians and Paralympians with underserved and Indigenous students, fostering social, emotional, and academic growth.

Finally, when your kids ask you what you did in the 80’s that was important and why you listen to that old music so loud!

Take them to see “Just For One Day”!

Watch the YouTube Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3qU20iNN8I

For Every Much Music fan and beyond this is a must see, because we were there together in 1985. When music wanted to save the world.

Brilliantly done, amazing cast great voices great band doing justice to the music of the 80’s.

The highly anticipated Canada’s Teen Jam is bringing together a network of the most talented teen musicians from this country for an unforgettable showcase. Finalists will take the stage at the iconic TD Music Hall in Toronto on February 27, 2025, performing original songs and vying for top honors, cash prizes, and invaluable industry exposure. Tickets are now on sale here.

Highlight: Performances by hip-hop legends Dream Warriors and Mathematik, DJ sets, special guest speakers, and the Canadian Cyphers exhibit at the City of Toronto Archives.

This Black History Month the Canada Black Music Archives celebrates Toronto’s hip-hop icons and the impact the city has had on the genre. Often overlooked due to the popularity of our neighbours to the south, Toronto hip-hop is long overdue for its flowers.

Starting February 1^st and running to the end of the month, Canadian Cyphers: Elements of Toronto Hip-Hop will be open to the public at the City of Toronto Archives located at 255 Spadina Rd. This exhibition offers a glimpse at the many greats who have built the Toronto hip-hop scene and the elements that set the genre apart. Explore album covers, photographs, turntables and more. The exhibit will also feature items from Toronto’s iconic 100 Miles brand and an audiovisual display featuring a mix of live performances and interviews from hip-hop’s early days.

Internationally acclaimed country-rockers, the Cooper Brothers, are joining the fight against the threat of U.S. tariffs. 

With the possibility of 25% tariffs being levied by new U.S. President Donald Trump on all Canadian goods as early as February 1st, the Cooper Brothers are re-releasing their song "That's What Makes Us Great".

The 51tst State? Take off, eh! The Cooper Brothers are back with a song that’s as Canadian as a double-double, a frozen pond, and a game-winning goal in overtime.

“That’s What Makes Us Great!” is a love letter to the True North, strong and free, celebrating the spirit, resilience, and unshakable pride that defines this country.

Inspired by a chance encounter with young soldiers returning from Afghanistan, Richard Cooper channeled their passion, dedication, and unwavering belief in making a difference into lyrics that remind us of what it means to be Canadian. “We never seem to toot our own horn,” Cooper reflects, “but we have so much to be thankful for.”

COUNTRY MUSIC TAKES OVER MONTREAL: LASSO 2025 LINEUP UNVEILED,
WITH SHERYL CROW, RILEY GREEN, SHABOOZEY AND MORE
JOINING PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED HEADLINERS
BAILEY ZIMMERMAN AND JELLY ROLL!

Saddle up, country music fans! LASSO Montreal, presented by Bell in collaboration with Coors Original is thrilled to announce the lineup for its 2025 edition, taking place on August 15-16 at the picturesque Parc Jean-Drapeau on Montreal's Île Sainte-Hélène (and LASSO in the City on August 14). Building on the excitement of the previously announced headliners Bailey Zimmerman and Jelly Roll, this year’s festival promises a celebration of country music like never before, bringing together chart-toppers, legends, and rising stars. 

The award-winning band Bara Jonson and Free are taking a significant step in their musical journey. With the help of an EU grant from the Belem program, the band is translating their acclaimed album BJF New Era into Swedish under the title BJF Ny Era. The result will be released as a fully Swedish version of the album in the summer of 2025.

“This is going to be amazing!" says Malin Östh, one of the band members. “It feels like a natural next step for us to reach even more people with our songs, now in our own native language.”

Jonas Tancred adds, “With the support from Belem, we have the opportunity to truly explore linguistic nuances and do justice to our lyrics in Swedish. We hope this will create an even stronger connection with our audience, both at home and in other parts of the world.”

The Belem program is part of the EU’s efforts to promote cultural diversity and linguistic translations, and Bara Jonson and Free are among the few Swedish bands to have received this prestigious grant.

February 14–16, 2025

Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Avenue, Toronto, ON
Friday, February 14: 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Saturday, February 15: 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Sunday, February 16: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Earlybird Tickets Now On Sale Until January 31 Here

Winterfolk, Toronto’s beloved annual celebration of folk, blues, and roots music, returns for its 23rd year from February 14–16, 2025, at the iconic Tranzac Club. This year’s festival promises an extraordinary mix of established artists, including Michael Jerome Browne, Dala, Sultans Of String, Donné Roberts, Russell deCarle, Amanda Rheaume, and Tannis Slimmon, alongside emerging talent and community-driven performances, all set to reignite the spirit of live music and inspire audiences of all ages.