International Recording Artist JC Sol Releases a Passionate Duet with Classic Burt Bacharach Cover

Fri Aug 08, 2025

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.

Picture This! With Tracey Savein

Fri Aug 01 2025
Picture This! With Tracey Savein

Photos and content submitted by Tracey Savein
© for Cashbox Canada

A refreshing addition to our brand is a column dedicated to the night life (and some days) in the great city of Toronto, featuring live event photos. 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

Blue Rodeo - July 28th @ The Distillery District, Toronto

Blue Rodeo - July 28th @ The Distillery District, Toronto

Cashbox Radio Brings Back The Pick Hits Playlist – Announces August’s Top 10

Fri Aug 01 2025
Cashbox Radio

“Back in the Day” in the 60’s & 70’s, listeners could call radio stations and request a song, sometimes resulting (especially in the artist/band’s local area) and it brought the dj’s and the public into an awareness of the music.

Cashbox in its original heyday was instrumental in breaking records through the jukeboxes by counting the ‘spins’ by the amount of dollars deposited into the “cashbox” in the machines.

Cashbox Canada Magazine, now in its 18th year, has been a strong supporter of the legendary artists and a champion for the indie artists.

Cashbox Radio, the digital music platform associated to Cashbox Canada, has been using the same mandate and now in its 6th year, we are bringing back a Top Pick Hit monthly, kicking off with the 10 new releases by artists most played on the station in the last few weeks.

Artists nowadays have a difficult time breaking into major market radio, and we feel this is way for us to support them.

Erroll Starr’s Journey: From Award-Winning Doc “Temple of Love” to Electrifying New Music with TRIBZ

Fri Jul 25 2025
Erroll Starr

Watch the full film: 

 

Temple Of Love Album Streaming Links: errollstarr.hearnow.com/temple-of-love

Juno Award-winning artist Erroll Starr Francis has long been a force in Canadian music, his voice echoing across decades and genres. Now, his remarkable story is reaching new audiences through the acclaimed short documentary, Temple of Love: The Erroll Starr Story—and through the powerful new sounds of his band, TRIBZ.

Eric Andersen Dance Of Love and Death

Fri Jul 25, 2025

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.

Eddie Schwartz Triumphantly Returns with New Single “We Win” and Film School EP

Fri Jul 18, 2025

“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.

Birdsong New Music Foundation hosts HOT! HOT! HOT! Fundraiser at The Duke

Thu Jul 10 2025
D.M. Lafortune with Platinum Award winning producer Greg Kavanagh in studio

As the summer blossoms, the charity is hosting a Mid- Summer fundraiser party - in Toronto at The Duke Live, (1225 Queen St. East.) The event promises to be full of great music, dance and loving support hosted by Canadian TV personality Michael Williams and Birdsong Foundation founder Margaret Konopacki. All songs performed are original songs created by Birdsong Artists subsidized by the Birdsong Foundation.

The line-up includes Poet and artist Robert Priest, D.M. Lafortune, Dustin Harder (a.k.a. Prairie Soul), Arif Jinha, Jordan Gow, Ashley Bell, Jhmal King, Dianne Samuels (a.k.a Bird of Paradise) and Bryant Didier with the Birdsong Village Band.

Voices Travel the WInd - Hey Na Na Na Ney 
Song by Dustin Harder - Produced by Birdsong New Music Foundation
Music Producer: Bryant Didier

Summer Live Music Festival Returns to SummerSeries in Trillium Park at Ontario Place

Thu Jul 10 2025
WIBI A Cappella

Music series showcases up-and-coming artists, award-winning performers and renowned a cappella groups

TORONTO, ON, July TBC, 2025 – 2025 Summer Live Music Festival brings together an exceptional lineup of award winning jazz bands, contemporary a cappella groups, and one of Toronto’s premier DJs for an evening of unforgettable performances by the lake. As part of SummerSeries in Trillium Park, Summer Live Music Festival is a FREE, family-friendly music festival that takes place in Trillium Park at Ontario Place. The much-anticipated festival is the result of a partnership between SING! The Toronto International Vocal Arts Festival and EAA Emerging Artists Association (formerly Toronto Undergraduate Jazz Festival Inc.), two vital arts organizations that have designed this showcase to give emerging talent an opportunity to learn, network and perform alongside seasoned performers.

Neena Rose Rises Above with Powerful New Pop Anthem “Superman”

Thu Jul 10, 2025

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.”

Cactai Road – Between Soil and Stardust

Fri Jul 04 2025
Cactai Road

Photo Credits: Per Jahnke

With roots deep in the swampy blues of the American South and the haunting tones of Nordic folk, Cactai Road carves out a sonic path entirely their own. Based on the southern coast of Sweden, this genre-defying trio blends rootsy country blues with atmospheric soundscapes to create a musical experience that is both grounded and otherworldly.

Jasmine Lyhagen - Cactai Road
Jasmine Lyhagen - Cactai Road

Described as a Delta Space Trio, Cactai Road seamlessly merges the raw authenticity of roots music with bold sonic exploration. Their sound feels both timeless and immediate – as if they’re standing firmly in the rich soil of Österlen while reaching for the sky.

"Picture This!" With Tracey Savein

Fri Jul 04 2025
"Picture This!" With Tracey Savein

Photos and content submitted by Tracey Savein
© for Cashbox Canada

This new addition to our brand is a column dedicated to the night life (and some days) in the great city of Toronto, featuring live event photos. 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

Angelique Francis - June 28th @ The Redwood Theatre, Toronto

Canadian Emerging Artist Music Awards (CEAMA) Launches Toronto Artist-in-Residence Program, Welcomes Afropop Star ZOCHI as First Recipient

Fri Jul 04 2025
ZOCHI

Toronto, ON — The Canadian Emerging Artist Music Awards (CEAMA) proudly announces the official launch of the CEAMA HOUSE Artist in Residence Program, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to artist development and industry mentorship for Canada’s most promising emerging talent. The program kicks off in Toronto with its inaugural 2025 Artist in Residence: ZOCHI, the Nigeria-born, Saskatchewan-based Afropop trailblazer, known across the country as Canada’s Queen of Afropop.

As the 2025 CEAMA HOUSE Artist in Residence, ZOCHI will receive a fully funded, one-year residency and development scholarship that includes housing, marketing and publicity support, artistic development, and full-service artist management through Black Exposed Entertainment. ZOCHI has also been officially signed to CEAMA HOUSE, a music development company — not a traditional label — built by legendary Canadian artists for the next generation of creators.

Men Without Hats Travel Back to the Future With New Single “I ❤️ the ‘80s” and UK/EU Tour

Fri Jul 04, 2025

Dust off your Walkman, dig out that denim jacket, and prepare for a neon-coloured nostalgia trip: Men Without Hats are back with a synth-pop banger that celebrates the decade that made them legends. Their new single, “I ❤️the ‘80s,” lands June 26 with a hair sprayed wink and a shoulder-padded strut, and it's everything you’d expect from the band who gave us “The Safety Dance”—and more.

“I ❤️ the ‘80s” is a riotous, melodic time machine powered by boom boxes, moonwalks, tube tops, and enough pop-culture references to make Stranger Things blush. “Everybody felt alive / Back in 1985,” sings frontman Ivan Doroschuk, before commanding us to “Party like it’s ‘82” and “Dance safely across the floor / Like we did in ‘84.” If you were there, you’ll get goosebumps. If you weren’t, this is your crash course.

"Picture This!" with Tracey Savein

Fri Jun 27 2025
Picture This!

 

"Picture This!" With Tracey Savein
Photos and content submitted by Tracey Savein
© for Cashbox Canada

This new addition to our brand is a column dedicated to the night life (and some days) in the great city of Toronto, featuring live event photos. 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

Mavis Staples - June 23rd @ The Wintergarden Theatre, Toronto

Four Winds Music Fest Is Almost Here: Celebrating Canadian Music and Community, July 11–13, 2025

Thu Jun 26 2025
Four Winds Music Fest

After an incredibly successful second year, Four Winds Music Fest is returning July 11–13, 2025, at Riverstone Retreat, Durham, ON and the stage is set for its biggest celebration yet. With a stunning setting, a community-focused spirit, and an all-star lineup of Canadian talent, the third edition of Four Winds promises a weekend of music, joy, and connection.

This year’s lineup features:
The Strumbellas, The Weather Station, Jeremie Albino, The Sadies, Cat Clyde, Ramon Chicharron, Wyatt C. Louis, My Son The Hurricane, Skye Wallace, Matt Weidinger, Conor Gains, Stephen Stanley Band, ONTARIANS, Melissa Payne & B. Knox, Cabin Fever, The Fraser Melvin Band, Jolie Anastasia Band, Choir Revolution, and Bambalamb!

Hosted on 136 acres of forest, farmland, and riverfront at Riverstone Retreat just outside Durham, Ontario, the festival combines outstanding music with sunrise yoga, saunas, swimming, camping, drumming, dancing, and more — a weekend getaway for music lovers of all kinds.

D12 & Friends Bring Legendary Hip-Hop To Canada This August With “It Ain’t Nothing But Music Festival”

Thu Jun 26 2025
D12

Detroit’s iconic rap crew D12 is heading north for a two-city takeover this August with the D12 & Friends: It Ain’t Nothing But Music Festival — a two-day celebration of legacy, loyalty, and lyrical firepower. Presented by Robbie G Presents and the International Touring Agency, this is more than a festival — it’s a full-on cultural moment for hip-hop fans from Alberta to Ontario.

Catch the shows:

  • August 22, 2025 – River Cree Casino & Resort, Enoch, AB (18+ indoor festival)
  • August 23, 2025 – Bush’s Watersports Park, Bala, ON (All ages, outdoor festival with camping)

Headlining both nights are D12, with their live band, delivering high-energy performances and a deep connection to their fans.

They're joined by a curated lineup that spans generations of hip-hop: Souls of Mischief, Onyx, Classified, Peter Jackson, Robbie G, and Eli Ble$$ed — son of late D12 founding member Big Proof — will all hit the stage to deliver a one-two punch of nostalgia and new school energy.

Muscle Shoals Singer Songwriter James LeBlanc Releases New Single “Desperate Things“

Thu Jun 26, 2025

It’s been a long time, too long, since Americana folk country blues singer songwriter James LeBlanc released some new music. But the good news is, the long wait is over. He has completed a new album and if the lead single “Desperate Things” is any indication the wait is well worth it. James is the total package, a songwriter with a depth that only experience can bring, a gifted guitar player and a raw vocal style that demands attention. He combines the social conscience and primal messages of Steve Earle, the flair of Townes Van Zandt and the poetry of Guy Clark and the deep south sensibility that keeps his art distinctly James LeBlanc.

"Picture This!"

Thu Jun 19 2025
"Picture This!"

Photos and content submitted by Tracey Savein
© for Cashbox Canada

This new addition to our brand is a column dedicated to the night life (and some days) in the great city of Toronto, featuring live event photos. 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

1. Simple Minds- June 18th

RUSHfest Canada 2025 Celebrates 10 Years Since Rush’s Final Concert with Two-Day Fan Festival at Massey Hall and TD Music Hall

Thu Jun 19 2025
RUSHfest Canada

TORONTO, ON – August 1–2, 2025 – This summer, RUSHfest Canada lands in Toronto for a once-in-a-generation celebration of one of Canada’s most iconic rock bands: Rush. Taking place Friday, August 1 at Massey Hall and Saturday, August 2 at TD Music Hall, this two-day event marks 10 years to the day since Rush played their final concert in Los Angeles on August 1, 2015—and brings together fans, friends, collaborators, and tribute artists in honour of drummer and lyricist Neil Peart.

Curated by RUSHfest Scotland founder Steve Brown and Canadian superfan and music journalist Paul Beaulieu, RUSHfest Canada is more than a fan convention—it’s a legacy event with heart, history, and an extraordinary mission: all profits will be donated to Brain Cancer Research at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto in honour of Neil Peart.

“We asked ourselves what the most excellent thing we could do would be,” says Brown. “And it was simple: bring Rush fans together, celebrate their music in the venue where it all started for them, and raise money in Neil’s memory.”