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CTV News
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘Music is medicine, we need a dose right now': Great Big Sea member stopping in Edmonton on Canadian tour
Séan McCann of Ottawa and St. John's, N.L., is invested as a member of the Order of Canada by Gov. Gen. Mary Simon during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. McCann was a founding member of folk rock band Great Big Sea, and now advocates for mental health as a solo artist. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang) Séan McCann, founding member of Great Big Sea, is taking the road less travelled this summer as he tours Canadian cities and towns. 'The Great Big Canadian Road Trip' tour kicked off in May in Sudbury, Ont., and is something of a love letter to Canada. McCann will be hitting venues that are off the beaten path in towns less travelled. 'It's about reminding Canadians, from Kamloops to Kenora, that their stories matter and their voices count,' said a press release. 'Together we are strong enough to overcome every challenge we may face as a country moving forward.' McCann will be bringing his one-man show to the Grace United Church in the Fulton Place neighbourhood on June 14. The Order of Canada recipient said the tour isn't about hating on Americans, but embracing his home country by bringing music to people who need it most in places that don't always make the tour poster. 'I love Americans,' said McCann in a statement. 'I love them so much that I even married one, but I won't return to the states until the current president is gone and our neighbours change their angry tone.' McCann has already hit Medicine Hat and Calgary, playing at the public library and Parkdale United Church, respectively. Before coming to the city of champions next week, McCann will play a benefit concert in Jasper on June 13 at the Historic Jasper Baptist Church to raise funds for victims of last year's wildfire. 'I believe that Canada needs a little more singing and a little less shouting.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
6 Canadian artists performing at Osheaga 2025 that you need to pay attention to — bbno$, Aqyila, The Beaches and more
Canadian music lovers, get ready: Osheaga 2025 is set to be full of incredible acts you won't want to miss. Some of the biggest names in the industry are set to trot over to Montreal later this summer, filling up one of Canada's major cities with chart-topping tunes you'll probably want to jam along to. Rock fans can anticipate The Killers giving an energetic rendition of "Mr. Brightside" and Cage The Elephant crooning out to "Cigarette Daydreams," while rap lovers ought to be excited for powerful performances from Tyler, The Creator and Doechii. Pop stans might, on the other hand, be counting down the days to tear up with Gracie Abrams or belt along to that part in Olivia Rodrigo's mega-hit "drivers license." But don't be so quick to count out Canadian musicians; there's a wealth of talent that can't go unrecognized across this vast country. From the soulful tones Toronto R&B singer Aqyila lets fall into place, the eclectic bars Vancouver rapper bbno$ delivers with confidence or the unapologetic attitude served by rock band The Beaches, there's truly something for every music lover at this year's event. The Osheaga Music and Arts Festival runs from Aug. 1 to 3 this year at Parc Jean-Drapeau. Whether you're undecided about making plans to attend or you can't wait for Canada's biggest music festival, read on to learn more about some of the country's top-rising stars who are set to take the stage in Montreal later this year. If you happen to catch a performance by Aqyila, it's likely you'll get a show that's full of immaculate vibes. That's essentially what's been at the core of her music making, and with a recently-released debut album that sounds smooth as butter, it's a direction that seems to be paying off. "I'm a very much vibes type of artist," she explained to Yahoo Canada. "It's just like, 'OK, this feels good, this feels good, this flows nicely.'" The Toronto singer, whose real name is Taahira Aquiyla Duff, released her first album this past March. Titled Falling Into Place, it's full of silky, intimate songs that make you feel warm inside, with one love song on the project, a 2024 viral single called "Bloom," being the epitome of that feeling." But she doesn't want listeners to miss "Give Me More" when she takes the stage in Montreal this summer. The opening track to her 37-minute album is one she's excited for people to hear live: "Every time when the bass hits in that hook, I'm falling. I love that part." This will be her first time at Osheaga, and she said her and her band are excited to get on stage and showcase the new music. "Being able to finally showcase these new songs that I've added to my discography is super exciting. I'm very much looking forward to gaining some new fans out there, that'd be dope." Leading up to her Montreal show, lots has been happening in her career, from spending some time in the U.K. where she did a "nice, chill R&B set" that "felt very soulful," to starring as a special guest on singer Pink Sweats' tour earlier this year. That touring opportunity gave her the chance to get "warmed up" with performing across numerous cities in the U.S., along with pitstops in Toronto and Vancouver. NXNE Music Festival is also coming up in downtown Toronto, where she's set to perform at Sankofa Square on June 12: "That'll be the first time I'm getting to do the album full band live. It'll gear me up for Osheaga, for sure." While crafting good vibes has propelled her to some success in the industry already, it's not something she envisions will shape her art for the long haul. "I want to be a bit more precise," she shared, explaining she feels she's currently the "discovery part" of her artistry. But who knows? Perhaps once her festival stops have wrapped this summer, Aqyila could be coming to a city near you: "We'll just have to see what's in store." Between catchy beats, a playful personality and simply not taking himself too seriously, there's something infectious about bbno$ (pronounced "baby no money") that makes you reel for more. At some point, the rapper might've caught your ears, either by pure interest or a moment of unwillingly being able to escape his viral hit like "edamame" or "Lalala." Born and raised in Vancouver, the Canadian star — whose real name is Alexander Gumuchian — has seemingly never been afraid of how he's perceived by others. You can see that quality in nearly any of his more than two dozen music videos that have surpassed one million views on YouTube. Or, simply look to the 2025 Junos red carpet and see how he let everyone know he's "the sh—." The self-described "Gen Z Eminem" (as he puts it on bass-heavy house track "It Boy") once — now regrettably — called his sound "oxymoronical rap." And while fans attending Osheaga should get a glimpse of his typically amusing tunes, it's probably safe to bet his set will see numerous electronic-infused songs in the same vein of "mary poppins" and "boom," singles he both released in May. "I want my live show to be like a rave," he told Out this spring. There's an evolution that Debby Friday is excited to share with audiences, both in her music and in the way she navigates the world. The Montreal-bred artist is gearing up to release a new album during Osheaga weekend, and it's one that's a true representation of where she's at in life. "I feel like I am the most secure that I've ever felt as far as the decisions that I'm making for myself and for my career," she told Yahoo Canada, explaining how The Starrr Of The Queen Of Life, releasing Aug. 1, represents this new era of her journey. It's a moment in her career that she hopes people understand she's "not afraid to shine anymore." Friday's new album follows her Polaris Prize-winning debut album, Good Luck, which she said in 2023 featured the truest, most honest form of her songwriting. The Starrr Of The Queen Of Life is a continuation of that openness, and she's excited to connect with fans on an even deeper level — all with new experimentations with her sound and art. "There is this opening up that has happened inside of me. I think previously, I really used music as a way to channel and to say things that I may not have been able to say quite plainly," she shared, explaining she's a shy person and used to "obscure" herself in the past. "But with this record, I just feel so much more open. I also feel a lot more comfortable being vulnerable and showing that vulnerability publicly. ... I'm using my voice in different ways, I'm producing in different ways, I'm playing with different sounds. I keep calling it an opening." This June, she's joining experimental pop musician Spellling on a tour across Europe, where she's looking forward to getting familiar with her new music, understanding how to perform the songs and even see how her performing style has evolved. "I'm sure by the time Osheaga rolls around, we'll be seeing some of that." The sound on her new album is very reflective of London, as that was the city she spent a majority of the time crafting the project in. But she also drew from her own observations about the world around her, pulling inspirations of love for her triumphant opening track "1/17," as well as existential aspects on "All I Wanna Do Is Party." She called the two sister songs, with the latter being "about the end of the world" but a chance to let fans dance and still feel happiness despite what's going on in the world. "I'm just super excited to get on that stage and to play the new songs. I love performing and I always love a new experience." Begonia might be in a transitory stage at the moment, but that doesn't mean she's slowing down. Coming off the success of her Juno-nominated 2023 album Powder Blue, the Winnipeg singer is about to start ramping things up in hopes of taking over the music landscape. "I'm in this little cuspy zone of finishing off one album; Powder Blue touring, finishing off that touring; and then on the eve of starting some new touring. So, I'm right in this middle zone that's interesting. I'm contemplating all these questions." The singer, whose real name is Alexa Dirks, told Yahoo Canada she's preparing an entirely new project, but she's currently in the throes of creating visuals as well as crafting a final track list. "There will be a single out this summer," she revealed. "Hopefully we'll be performing a couple new things on the Osheaga stage — that's all I can say.' But the thought of blending that new material with her critically acclaimed work all into a condensed show sparks numerous questions, of course. "When I first started, I felt like I was grasping at straws to fill an hour. ... Now it's like the best problem ever to have too many songs that I love to play live. It's going to take a moment to craft." From fan-favourite tracks like "Heaven" and "Married by Elvis" on her most recent album, to unforgettable gems on her first album, Fear, along with all the music from her EPs, it'll be a difficult task trying to craft a cohesive show that resonates will all audiences. And while indulging in the fashion, makeup and theatrics of these live performances is a major part of the fun for Dirks, there's a care for the audience's reception to the show that plays an equally important role. "It's not going to be all new material that's not even out yet, ... I want to pepper it in," she shared, explaining how it's not necessarily enjoyable when an artist gets on stage and performs multiple songs no one is quite familiar with yet. When it comes to live shows, it's the audience that can really change an artist's perspective on their music, Dirks added. "You can rehearse new material with your band in your basement and you can think that it's going to feel a certain way, but it completely changes once you are on that stage in front of a variable audience — things just innately feel different," she explained, sharing she might think one part will be a hit with the crowd but it's actually an entirely different moment that resonates best. "It's just so informative. I feel like I'm excited for that, to just learn some new lessons with some of these new songs." The Beaches are the all-woman indie-rock band the music industry has been begging for, and they've been taking the world by storm every chance they can. Between winning the Group of the Year Juno Award for the second time and coming out of playing Coachella earlier this year, the quartet is certainly more than ready to light up Montreal and other Canadian cities on their tour in late 2025. Formed in Toronto in 2013 by Jordan Miller, Eliza Enman-McDaniel, Kylie Miller and Leandra Earl, these stars aren't newcomers to the music world. But according to Earl, "there's definitely some pressure" to being the only Canadian top-billed act at Osheaga this year: "I think we're gonna do what we always do: Perform the best we can and have the best time," she told Yahoo Canada. Still, the band's breakup song, "Blame Brett," might be one of the best songs released by an all-woman group in recent years (although "Gnarly" by pop girl group KATSEYE is going triple platinum, at least in my house). There's a nonchalant brashness to the viral 2023 hit — featured on their Juno-winning album Blame My Ex — that can infect pretty much anyone with the urge to jump up and down while headbanging. "The album is very much about my breakup, more over what happened after I experienced the breakup, the journey I went on, the ups and downs," Miller told Yahoo Canada a month after that album came out. "The heartbreak, the grief, the rediscovery of myself, falling in love with myself again, falling in love with my friends again, getting back into dating again." Leading up to Osheaga, the band is preparing for their third album — No Hard Feelings — to wash ashore at the end of August: "We will have a couple of new singles out by then, so we'll definitely be playing those," Earl shared. "Get ready, Montreal!" There's a raw, husky quality to Ruby Waters' voice that makes you feel wrapped up in a warm, comforting blanket. Born just outside of Shelburne, Ont., the songstress — who's currently based in British Columbia — draws from genres like folk, indie-rock and pop. Some might know the rising star from her first song, "Sweet Sublime," which went Reddit viral in 2018. But those who've followed her career over the past few years knows she's seen greater success. In 2022, she received her first Juno nomination for her EP, If It Comes Down to It, followed by a second nod earlier this year for her debut album, What's the Point. Beyond her music releases, it's been show after show for the singer-songwriter — and that's continuing later this year. On top of Osheaga in August, she'll perform at Hillside Festival in Guelph, Ont., Highlands Music Festival in Palmer Rapids, Ont., and the Winnipeg Folk Festival. What appears to be at the heart of Waters' artistry is her identity. Being Métis, she previously told Cult MTL her roots have inspired some of the songs she's written, and she enjoys using her music to tell stories from the perspectives of people who are less fortunate: "I'd love to be able to learn how to speak out for any community that feels like they don't have enough word in the world."
CTV News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Let's Go: The Beaches to play two Maritime shows this fall
The Canadian rock band The Beaches is pictured. (Source: The Beaches/X) The Canadian rock band The Beaches is headed for the Maritimes this fall. The Juno Award-winning group will bring their 'No Hard Feelings Tour' to the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax on Nov. 13 and Casino New Brunswick in Moncton on Nov. 15. The tour is in support of their third studio album 'No Hard Feelings,' which is set to be released on Aug. 29. The Beaches will be joined by Valley, a Canadian alternative pop band, whose new album 'Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden,' will be out on Aug. 30. Tickets for the Halifax show go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. and tickets for the Moncton show will be available starting Monday at 10 a.m.
CBC
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Nonso Amadi joins Kito's party, and 5 more songs you need to hear this week
Songs you need to hear is CBC Music's weekly list of hot new Canadian tracks. Scroll down to discover the songs our producers are loving right now. Deya, Kito feat. Nonso Amadi Australian producer Kito knows how to get a crowd moving, and for her latest release, Deya, she enlisted the help of fellow party-starter Nonso Amadi. We last checked in with the Nigerian Canadian singer when he released Babyboo, a collab with fellow Torontonian Sylo. Deya lives in an entirely different world than that serene, melodic single — it's all laser synths and muffled bass, designed for a big room full of revelers. Amadi has much to celebrate as he sings about how far he's come, from the chemical engineering major doing music on the side ("This all started in my room") to touring internationally and having the crowd sing his lyrics back to him ("All the fans wanna jam to midnight, we shut the whole thing down/ pretty girls wanna sing, right/ We wanna hear that room sing loud"). It's not the first time the Afropop and R&B artist has dabbled in electronic music, and he flexes his vocals over the four-to-the-floor beat. Kito's production builds and builds until reaching a triumphant release, a moment of arrival with Amadi as self-assured as ever: "I'm a superstar in the making/ no rush though, I'm patient." — Kelsey Adams Wild World, Fine Food Market Fine Food Market, the project of Montreal's Sophie Perras, blends dream pop with folk and country on Wild World, a gorgeous song from her debut EP, I'm afraid to be in love with someone who crashes their car that much. Originally released in 2024 and re-released on the new project, the song leans into influences from Big Thief and Kurt Vile, pairing lush, blurred instrumentation with soft, sad harmonies. Perras begins by detailing how a fight with a lover spurred a tangle of memories, and slowly builds up to an emotionally charged chorus: "The whole wide world is falling apart, 'cause you broke my heart," Perras sings, her airy vocals fluttering across bursts of sunny steel guitar. Bright saxophone on the bridge floats in as she sings, "I want you by my side, you just seem to waste my time," letting listeners know that love is fragmented, messy and, in this case, crushing. — Natalie Harmsen Laini Tani, Nadah El Shazly with Sarah Pagé The title track from Nadah El Shazly's upcoming album, Laini Tani is both an invitation and a line drawn: the freeform mawwāl — a traditional Arab vocal genre of sung poetry — grounds you before the tension of the future looms with the incoming beat, a push-pull between the Egyptian-born, Montreal-based producer/vocalist/composer and harpist Sarah Pagé (whose name you may recognize as a founding member of the Barr Brothers). Laini Tani is a celebration of the two artists' close relationship, as they've been playing together since El Shazly recorded her debut album in 2016 at Montreal studio Hotel2Tango. In a press release the artist describes how Pagé was able to tune "her harp to Arabic scales — in this case, the Saba scale — and we can totally be in the same body and mind when we play together." It's a gorgeous meeting of talents, and a sign to keep an eye out for Laini Tani when the full album comes out on June 6 via Backward Music and One Little Independent Records. — Holly Gordon Oh No!, Afternoon Bike Ride When you're going through a crisis in public, the last thing you want is to run into a familiar face. Montreal band Afternoon Bike Ride's latest single, Oh No!, perfectly captures the panic that quickly sets in during those moments, albeit over gentle, contrasting strumming that soothes the nerves as singer Lia Kurihara narrates her anxious feelings. "My oh my/ how I try hard to hide/ my face from their eyes," she sings. "Oh no!/ We had to face/ one another getting off/ same direction." This track was inspired by Kurihara's own experiences riding the subway to and from visiting her dad, who lives in memory care. "I've cried and had panic attacks many times over during the ride," she explained, "and I've had to hide my face from acquaintances and strangers alike. As a prisoner of my own politeness, my worst nightmare is getting spotted during these moments." For those who understand that feeling all too well, the buoyant instrumentation of Oh No! can act as a balm to ease those intense emotions. All you have to do is take a deep breath and let the beautiful sounds of the piano and clarinet in the song's finale wash over you, its melodies comforting you one note at a time. — Melody Lau Natalie, Uncle Strut Vancouver indie rockers Uncle Strut showcase their upbeat surf rock on the puppy-love song Natalie from their debut album, Home at Last. Lead singer Tyson McNamara describes the song's protagonist as a girl who "gets a kick out of charming the pants off anyone she meets," before making a bold declaration on the chorus: "Got me running in circles baby, I could be your man." As he tries to woo her over honeyed, cheerful instrumentals, which have a Lime Cordiale meets Ocean Alley feel, it becomes clear that the song is practically begging to be a summertime sing-along. The bassline is simple but sticky, and the chorus is sweet but not saccharine — the elements needed to set the mood for a budding romance. By the track's end, you can't help but hope that he eventually gets the girl as he sings, "It's the things that you're doing, the things that you're doing to me, Natalie." — NH Great White Sharks, Baby Nova Baby Nova's latest single, Great White Sharks is full of pain — the kind that sticks to your bones, and all she wants is to escape it somehow: "I'm dreaming of being real f--king far from here." Baby Nova is the moniker that Halifax singer-songwriter Kayleigh O'Connor unveiled at the start of 2025, though beforehand she released music and wrote for other artists under her own name. Great White Sharks, and the three previously released tracks from O'Connor's new era, were co-written with Lowell and Gus Van Go, and on the latest cut O'Connor's voice is broody and husky as she laments over swelling piano and guitar how she wants to escape the grasp of dangerous, lecherous men ("I'm scared to death he's just having fun/ got a real tight grip on his pearls and my neck") and the entrapment of a monotonous life ("Nothing's changed here/ the rich men get richer"). Fans of Lana Del Rey will find much to like in O'Connor's diaristic tunes, but the influence of Nashville, where she's spent many years writing, also gives O'Connor an alt-country vibe that sounds particularly de rigeur. — KA
CBC
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Joseph Shabason and Dawn Richard's ode to Sade, and 3 more songs you need to hear this week
Songs you need to hear is CBC Music's weekly list of hot new Canadian tracks. Scroll down to discover the songs our producers are loving right now. Broken Hearted Sade, Joseph Shabason and Dawn Richard There are covers, there are mash-ups and then there's Joseph Shabason and Dawn Richard's latest collaboration. On Broken Hearted Sade, the Toronto saxophonist and producer creates a new hybrid form of sorts by repurposing his track Broken Hearted Kota, off his 2019 Anne, EP, and bringing R&B artist Richard on to sing a mash-up of the Sade hits, No Ordinary Love, Is It a Crime and Cherish the Day. While each element comes from pre-existing releases, there's a laidback sense of improvisation throughout, and as Shabason explains in a statement, that's exactly how this collaboration started. While touring with Richard and Spencer Zahn last fall, Shabason would soundcheck with Broken Hearted Kota. "Almost immediately after the first soundcheck, Dawn would come in and start singing Sade songs over the chords," he said. "It worked so seamlessly that we made it part of the show every night." With Broken Hearted Sade, they've created the ultimate homage to one of music's most singular acts. — Melody Lau 6REASONSWHY, Samant Samant is back with another single from his upcoming debut album, and this time he enlisted the help of another one of my fave emerging Montrealers, Koko Love. 6ReasonsWhy was co-written by Koko Love, who also lends his voice to the song. The pair make an impressive songwriting duo: 6ReasonsWhy is infinitely catchy, tackling a tough subject with the brightest of vibes. As Samant's falsetto glides over bopping synths and drums, he paints the picture of an ill-fated relationship that he's not too sad to see come to an end: "You and I never felt that good." From avoidant behaviour, the fear of rejection and unreciprocated emotions, it seems the relationship was doomed from the start, but Samant and Koko Love made a banger out of the ashes. — Kelsey Adams Hypnotized, Kola "What happens when you combine bass, drums, keys, talkbox and falsetto vocals?" Montreal producer Kola asked on Instagram about his newest funk R&B jam, Hypnotized. The answer? A temperature-raising contender for song of the summer. Kola brings a sultry touch to the track, sliding over polished beats and Bootsy Collins-inspired instrumentals. "You got me hypnotized," he sings, sounding enamoured and eager to win over his love interest. His vocals, which sound a little Thundercat-like thanks to his use of his silky upper register, easily glide up before dipping into some gloriously distorted, talk-boxed ad libs. The song's groove is mesmerizing, and the break at the 3:08 mark really hits it home with its smooth bassline bumping along. Fans of Silk Sonic or the Free Nationals will likely consider the hip-swinging song to be a natural fit on their playlists. — Natalie Harmsen Borrow My Boots, Tami Neilson Tami Neilson returns this year with her first release of original music since 2022's chart-topping Kingmaker, and her most recent single is a country banger and empowerment anthem rolled into one. Featuring American country singers Shelly Fairchild and Ashley McBryde (whose friendship inspired the song), as well as rising guitarist Grace Bowers (who recently played for Dolly Parton and toured with Slash), Borrow My Boots shares its shine-theory message while riding a banjo line primed to fight for your song of the summer. "Hey hey sister, sometimes the only way through/ is to knock it down, break it loose, kick it in/ and borrow my boots," Neilson's powerhouse voice announces on the chorus. As a fun bonus, the video for Borrow My Boots features all four women onstage for Neilson's Grand Ole Opry debut. Neon Cowgirl, Neilson's 10th album, will be out July 11. — Holly Gordon
