Cashbox Canada and Sandy Graham have been Crossing Borders and Building Bridges In Europe for over 8 years, after having met Malin Osth and Jonas Tancred in Newfoundland at a Showcase Festival on Burin Peninsula. Appearing as the duo Bara Jonson and Free, Newfoundland fell in love with their music and this is  where a business and personal relationship was formed with Sandy and Canada.

When Malin and Jonas renamed a barn at the Lilla By Festivalen in Rinkaby, Sweden, Kanaladan (the Canada Barn), the magic happened and we now want to expand on the appearances and experiences of Canadian artists in 2026.

So we are launching North2North, a Canadian indie artist competition, that is open now, and artists will 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 who 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. 

Industry icon and entrepreneur extraordinaire Jim Norris has announced the launch a new podcast series brings authentic stories from the entertainment industry "Backstage Insider with Jim Norris".

The entertainment world has a new destination for authentic, unfiltered conversations. "Backstage Insider with Jim Norris," invites audiences into the real world of the entertainment industry through compelling interviews with the people who shape the entertainment industry, today and tomorrow.

Host Jim Norris brings his extensive entertainment industry experience to be in conversations that go beyond the surface. From seasoned professionals who've shaped the industry to emerging talents making their mark, each episode uncovers the untold stories that rarely make headlines.

Singer Burton Cummings and founding guitarist Randy Bachman are bringing The Guess Who back together for the first time in more than two decades, marking a victory following their legal fight to reclaim the Canadian rock band’s name.

The reunion comes after Cummings and Bachman successfully sued to gain control of the Guess Who trademark. Their dispute centered on a touring version of the band that had been performing without any original members after founding bassist Jim Kale and drummer Garry Peterson, who held the rights to the name, retired. 
The lawsuit alleged the touring group used original recordings in advertising “to give the false impression that Plaintiffs are performing.”

Cummings told Rolling Stone in April 2024 that he was “willing to do anything to stop the fake band; they’re Randy and my life story and pretending it’s theirs.”
Cummings went as far as sacrificing some of his own publishing royalties to prevent the other group from performing his songs.

Every December, something extraordinary happens. The lights shine a little brighter. The songs sound a little warmer. And somewhere between the first snowfall and the last encore, Andy Kim steps on stage and reminds us that kindness still sells out.

The 21st Annual Andy Kim Christmas is coming back to Toronto’s legendary Massey Hall on December 3, a tradition so deeply Canadian it might as well come with a double-double and an emotional standing ovation. For more than two decades, Andy has turned his holiday concert into a season of giving, raising over 2.25 million dollars for charities across Canada. This year, the Toronto show supports CAMH’s Gifts of Light, bringing hope and care to people in need.

November 7, 2025, Remastered for the First Time, Featuring Unreleased Tracks and Demos

Formed in 1969 by drummer/ composer Skip Prokop and keyboardist/ composer Paul Hoffert, Lighthouse shattered musical boundaries with their trailblazing fusion of rock, jazz, and classical music. Dubbed a “rock orchestra,” the multi-JUNO Award–winning band quickly became one of Canada’s most electrifying live acts, performing sold-out shows around the world, including Carnegie Hall, the Fillmore East and West, Expo ’70 in Japan, and the Isle of Wight Festival — where Lighthouse was an audience favourite (among Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, and more), and the only band invited to perform an additional set at the closing concert.

Sometimes a song has to wait for the right time and the right artist for it to make its full impact. I believe that Michael Peterson’s version of “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” is a perfect example of that scenario. The song was a hit for The Hollies in 1969, but there’s never been more need for its message than in the divided world we inhabit in 2025. Million selling recording artist and award-winning singer songwriter Michael Peterson delivers a career performance on his newly released version of this classic song.

Juno-nominated, acclaimed singer-songwriter Lisa Hartt returns with “Quiet Spaces”, a soul-stirring new single from her forthcoming EP Hiraeth. Following the hauntingly beautiful “Nobody’s Wife”, this new song deepens the journey of love, loss, and spiritual connection that Hart began after the death of her beloved husband Michael in 2022.

"The lyric for "Nobody's Wife" came to me fully formed out of a dream in those early nightmarish days when I still awoke at 2 am, thinking I heard Michael coughing or moving about, and then realizing in a moment of clarity that he is gone."

In a music career spanning more than five decades, Harold Payne has worn many hats: multi-platinum songwriter, improvisational performer, global traveler, and tireless advocate for the power of positive music. He has written with and for legends like Bobby Womack, Patti LaBelle, Rod Stewart, and his songs have appeared in films from Beverly Hills Cop II to Splash. Yet today, at a moment when the world feels fragmented, Payne’s focus is simple, human, and profoundly connective: his new EP, My Tribe.

It’s a collection born not of commerce but of calling—a suite of songs that circle around unity, gratitude, and the recognition that music can be both a balm and a gathering place. “Most of the songs that I’ve been creating for the last few decades have been on the positive, uplifting side,” Payne says. “That wasn’t just a strategy. It’s who I am. It’s what I naturally gravitate to.”

Building Music in the Public Square

David Pomeranz has announced he is going to be performing a special concert in Los Angeles, California to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of his classic Arista album, “It’s In Every One Of Us” on November 1^st, 2025.

This is the album which contained the original recordings of his hits, “Tryin’ To Get The Feeling Again” (a #1 hit for Barry Manilow), “If You Walked Away", and “It’s In Every One Of Us” (sung by Freddie Mercury, John Denver and many more,) and it’s going to be a very special evening you won’t want to miss. 

Born in Montreal and raised on the St Lawrence River in Brockville, ON, in the 1000 Islands region, Errington followed the river to Prince Edward Island on Canada's East coast. There, she was first introduced to blues, folk, country and Celtic music. She lived in PEI and performed throughout the Maritimes in a duo with Island vocalist Dawne Fraser. Eventually returning to Ontario and settling in Toronto, Errington is now part of the city's rich music scene - as a featured performer and a backup vocalist, often collaborating with other artists, both onstage and in the studio.

With a voice timeless and true, Toronto singer-songwriter Clela Errington releases her second single, "Standing On The Platform."

Legendary songwriter and pianist Gowan will be back in Quebec this November as part of the 40^th anniversary of the album Strange Animal!

The tour will start on November 19 at Lac Brôme. This will be followed by shows in Sherbrooke (20/11), L'Assomption (21/11), Trois-Rivières (22/11), Quebec City (23/11), Montreal (25/11), Sainte-Agathe (26/11), Drummondville (27/11) and Gatineau (28/11). He will end the tour at Toronto's legendary Massey Hall on November 29.

Gowan has had a special relationship with Quebec for more than 40 years.

He says: "I remember very well the first time I played in Quebec at the Albert-Rousseau Hall in Quebec City on November 11, 1985. I absolutely want to remain loyal to the Quebec public as the public has been with me for 40 years."

There’s something very rewarding about watching the evolution of an artist. I first saw Meredith Moon about eight years ago and she was doing mostly folky Appalachian style music on a banjo, claw hammer style. She was very good at it, but you’d could see she had only scratched the surface of her musical soul. I watched her evolve into the artist she is today and it was like watching a caterpillar turn into a beautiful butterfly and I think with this new album Meredith Moon has become that beautiful butterfly.

youtube.com/@meredithmoon

Her latest album From Here To The Sea finds Moon springboarding off her base from the Appalachian old-time roots of the new album's predecessor, Constellations, as she finds her voice and calling.

Legendary Songwriters Andy Kim, Jane Siberry, Ian Thomas, Triumph, and Gino Vannelli to be Inducted in Toronto; François Cousineau, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Michel Pagliaro, and Florent Vollant in Montreal

Pop-rock revivalists Mystery Romance are set to light up the summer with the release of their dazzling new single, “Electric Love”—the title track from their forthcoming album out now on all major streaming platforms.

 Serving as the third single from the upcoming record, “Electric Love” showcases the duo’s boldest transformation yet. Originally conceived as a slow-burning ballad, the track was once a completely different song lyrically, with a softer, more intimate narrative. Over time, however, founding members Mike Scullion and Rhys Green reworked it both musically and lyrically, transforming it into a dance-tinged, feel-good anthem—a shimmering statement piece that radiates joy, energy, and connection.

Ever wish your life came with leather seats, cruise control, and a killer soundtrack? Look no further. Canadian singer-songwriter Francine Honey’s single *'Cadillac'* is a joyful, high-octane ode to blazing your own trail with horsepower and heart. With lap steel licks and a hook, you’ll be humming for days, 'Cadillac' is the feel-good anthem for anyone who's ever wanted to floor it — in heels.

Buckle up: Bella Cole is back with a track that’s pure adrenaline, heart, and vintage cool. Her brand-new single “Drive”, out now on all streaming platforms, is a sonic joyride through whirlwind romance, fearless friendship, and the thrill of letting go — all wrapped in a pop-soul package that feels like a Mustang in flight.

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/artist/52pElUPB5HazzNDtQU4GXD

Bella Cole is quickly becoming one of Toronto’s most magnetic new voices. Blending old-school soul and funk with modern pop finesse, her sound has drawn comparisons to Amy Winehouse and Billie Eilish — think groove, grit, and a whole lot of storytelling. A graduate of Toronto’s Trebas Institute in Audio Engineering, Bella’s background in theatre and music gives her a rare command of both stage and studio. She’s already lit up iconic stages like El Mocambo, and now she’s ready to light up your playlists.

International Recording Artist JC Sol’s release of “Anyone Who Had a Heart” is the Canadian Songstress’s latest deep dive into the world of Retro Soul, masterfully fused with Smooth Jazz. Available on all streaming platforms now.

The time-honoured Burt Bacharach/Hal David collaboration famously performed by the legendary Dionne Warwick, was an instant hit upon its 1963 release, topping the Billboard Hot 100 and Cashbox R & B charts. JC’s 2025 version pays homage to the soulful 1986 arrangement released by the late great Luther Vandross, in a unique duet form with Toronto Based R & B vocalist Carlos Budd Ford.

Celebrated America writer William Faulkner said in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech “it’s a poet's, or writer's, duty to write about courage, honour, hope, pride, compassion, pity, and sacrifice.” Eric Andersen, songpoet, visionary, and figurehead of the ’60s folk singer songwriter movement from its Greenwich Village and Woodstock roots through its 21st century Americana and alt-Americana renaissance is a living example of that edict.

It would have been easy, and no doubt acceptable, for him to sit back and be satisfied with his extensive body of work starting in 1965 with his most famous early compositions like “Thirsty Boots,” “Violets of Dawn,” and “Close The Door Lightly When You Go” being covered by the likes of Bob Dylan, Ricky Nelson, Judy Collins, the Brothers Four, the Kingston Trio, the Blues Project and a host of others. But not acceptable to Eric. Being a true artist and writer Eric continues to create new works, seven decades in.

“We Win” is one of those songs that makes me remember why I got into the music industry in the first place. For me it has always been all about the song, the vocals, the lyrics, the music. This one was not what I expected, it is lyrically sonic, great hook, subtle production. It’s has been on repeat on my playlist all morning.

For decades, Eddie Schwartz has remained one of the most respected figures in the music world—an iconic Canadian songwriter, producer, performer, and rights advocate whose songs have echoed across generations. With his new single “We Win,” Eddie marks a bold and inspiring return to his roots as a solo artist, leading into the release of his new EP Film School, both out now. The project showcases the full spectrum of his brilliance: lyrical poignancy, musical craftsmanship, and the indomitable spirit that has defined his legacy.

With a voice that cuts like a comet and lyrics that strike the heart, Canadian pop sensation Neena Rose returns with her latest single, “Superman.” The fiery, emotional ballad is a bold next chapter in her unstoppable rise—one that now includes more than 12.4 million total digital streams, 875,000+ TikTok followers, 240,000+ playlists, and a growing fanbase that spans the globe.

“Superman” flips the fairytale. It’s not about waiting for someone to save you—it’s about realizing your worth when they don’t. Wrapped in Neena’s smooth, cinematic vocal performance, the track delivers soaring hooks and heart-on-sleeve honesty: “In the shadows / I fought your battles / When you said you were the one protecting me / But you’ll never be my Superman.”