London Music Week set to kick off
London is getting set to champion its homegrown music talent in a week-long celebration.
London Music Week kicks off this weekend with the 23rd Annual Forest City London Music Awards.
Hundreds of musicians will showcase their talents at venues throughout the city. The kickoff party is set for Saturday at Dundas Place.
The Awards Gala Volume One is set for June 1st at Aeolian Hall, celebrating classical, jazz, world music, and folk.
Volume two is set for June 8th, recognizing pop categories.
052925 - Music week
Forest City London Music Awards Chair Mario Circelli shows samples of the Anderson Craft Ales Forest City London Music Hall of Fame lager. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)
Awards Chair Mario Circelli says it's a chance for Londoners to get a taste of the musical talent their city has to offer.
'We're honouring over 200 musicians. Through the course of London Music Week, over 300 regional musicians will participate, and get paid to perform and showcase their stuff. So, it's an opportunity for Londoners to become familiar with local musicians,' said Circelli.
Among the many businesses taking part, Anderson Craft Ales will play host to one of nine Live after Five Events next Wednesday, June 4th. Andersons has also brewed a special Forest City London Music Hall of Fame beer for the annual celebration.
'We try our best to keep it with local London artists, and everything like that. We're just really happy to collaborate once again on the London Music Hall of Fame beer once again, and you know, be a part of the Forest City London Music Week,' said Anderson Craft Ales Taproom and Events manager Meghan Wright.
The Awards also honours Lifetime Achievement recipients, Barrie Woodey and Peter Brennan. Woodey hosted Jazz for a Sunday Night on Radio Western for over 30 years. Brennan created the popular Jeans 'n Classics concert series that blended rock music with orchestral arrangements.
The 2025 Forest City London Music Hall of Fame inductee 2025 is Laura Smith - best known for her 1995 single, 'Shade of Your Love' - one of the year's biggest hits on adult contemporary radio.
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