Toronto-based power pop trio Flash Bangs Release Debut Single "Hide  Away"

Fri Jun 06 2025
Flash Bangs

"Hide  Away" is the debut single from Toronto-based power pop trio Flash Bangs. The three-piece embrace all things pop, rock, and, of course, flash. "Hide Away" is the first single from their self-titled EP which will be available digitally on Bandcamp this Friday June 6th and later this summer on luxurious vinyl and your favourite streaming service.

Formed in late 2023 the band made their debut at the late great Dakota Tavern in February 2024. With a mutual love for all things rock'n'roll, George Westerholm of George Westerholm And The Wild Wild Cats, James Clark of The James Clark Institute and Sean Ryan of Mr. Miyagi thought it might be fun to put together a little side project where they could explore their mutual musical passions.

STRANGE ADVANCE in Toronto June 13 @Phoenix Concert Theatre

Fri Jun 06 2025
Strange Advance

While celebrating 40 years since their debut, Strange Advance sold out shows across the country — and now they're bringing the party to Toronto. The legendary Canadian prog-rock-pop group, a staple of 1980s MuchMusic, has announced a Toronto date to mark the 42nd anniversary of their breakout album Worlds Away. The record featured the hit singles “She Controls Me” and “Kiss in the Dark,” and earned the band a JUNO nomination for Most Promising Group of the Year in 1983.Tomas Mureika of AllMusic calls this album one of Canada's most underrated new wave debut releases.

Peter Foldy (Feat. Beki Colada) Debuts Smooth New Yacht-Rock Single, “Showdown”

Fri Jun 06 2025
Peter Foldy (feat. Beki Colada)

Australian pop star, Beki Colada has joined forces with Canadian recording artist Peter Foldy on a chill R&B / yacht-rock-inspired track titled “Showdown.”

Foldy began his music career with the #1 Canadian hit Bondi Junction, earning him two Juno Award nominations. He went on to enjoy success on major labels including Capitol/EMI Canada, Polydor, and RCA Records in the US. Now based in Los Angeles, Foldy has also built a successful film career, directing projects with stars such as Paul Rudd, Eugene Levy, Beverly D’Angelo and Louise Fletcher. He continues to release new music, with recent tracks like Toxic World, Friend-Zone and Jump Like This gaining traction on Spotify and earning him new followers.

Acclaimed Canadian Country Artist Jason McCoy Wins the Inaugural Real McCoy Award at the 13th Annual CMAOntario Awards

Fri Jun 06 2025
Jason McCoy CMAOntario Awards Photo Credit Grant W. Martin Photography

At the 13th Annual CMAOntario Awards in Hamilton, ON acclaimed Canadian country artist Jason McCoy, was honoured with the inaugural Real McCoy Award, a new award created to recognize an individual who truly represents the spirit of Ontario’s country music community.

Bara Jonson and Free Release New Single “War Is Over”

Fri Jun 06, 2025

We’re not diplomats. We’re not politicians. We’re musicians. So silence is not an option.

Bara Jonson and Free War is OverSwedish duo Bara Jonson and Free break the silence with their new single “War Is Over”, set for release on June 13. It’s not a celebration of peace – it’s a reminder of its absence.

“We wrote this song when Russia attacked Ukraine,” says Jonas Tancred (Bara Jonson). “The title might sound hopeful, but it’s about the brutal distance between what could be and what is.” Instead of a mournful ballad, they chose a driving, upbeat sound – something that makes you sing along before you realize what you’re singing. “We wanted to create something people would feel,” says Malin Östh (Free). “Because war is still here. In Ukraine. In Gaza. In Sudan. And silence is no longer an option.”

Birdsong New Music Foundation Announces Summer Fundraiser “HOT, HOT, HOT! at the Duke in Toronto

Fri May 30 2025
BIRDSONG FUNDRAISER

Birdsong Music Foundation is set to turn up the heat this summer with a Mid-Summer Night’s Fundraising party at Toronto’s legendary music venue, The Duke, in east end Toronto.

Save the date! Birdsong Proudly Presents HOT, HOT, HOT!

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Doors:  7pm  Show: 8pm

Picture This! With Tracey Savein

Fri May 30 2025
Tracey Savein

"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

Bill Henderson/Chilliwack - May 22nd @ Massey Hall, Toronto

Lennie Gallant announces Spring/Summer Tour promoting the release of his new album SHELTER FROM THE STORMS

Fri May 30, 2025

East Coast musical icon and masterful storyteller Lennie Gallant is set to release his brand-new album, SHELTER FROM THE STORMS on all major platforms on Friday, June 6. Already earning rave reviews is the first single, “Counting on Angels” available now.

Lyric video on YouTube here:

SHELTER FROM THE STORMS is Gallant’s 16th album to date and his first English-language album in seven years. The 16-track release is a powerful exploration of the challenging times we live in, yet it’s ultimately a celebration of the human spirit and how love, beauty, and laughter help us deal with, and rise above adversity.

Picture This! With Tracey Savein

Fri May 23 2025
Picture This! With Tracey Savein

"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 

Judy Collins - May 20th @ Hugh's Room Live, Toronto

Cashbox Flashback: The Father Chuck Berry Of Rock And Roll Records His Breakthrough Single

Fri May 23 2025
Chuck Berry

It was recorded at this time in 1955 (Well, May 21, 1955). It became the Father of Rock And Roll's breakthrough hit....

"Maybellene" by Chuck Berry needed 36 takes while it was recorded at Chicago's Universal Record Studios. It would roar to #1 on the R&B chart for nine weeks and crossed over to the pop chart, where it reached #5. The song was based on an old country-western song called "Ida Red" (by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys).

The Legendary Kenny Nolan Returns With “Closer (Than My Shadow)”

Fri May 23, 2025

Kenny Nolan is a name that when you mention it, people say they loved his signatory hit “I Like Dreamin’”, but there is so much more to this prolific songwriter.  Best known for his era-defining hits "I Like Dreamin'" and "Love's Grown Deep," Nolan is also an award-winning songwriter whose work has resonated across generations and musical genres. His repertoire includes unforgettable hits such as "Masterpiece" by Atlantic Starr, "Shoot ‘em Up Movies" by The Deele and "Penny for Your Thoughts" by Tavares, to name just a few. One of Nolan's most iconic compositions, "Lady Marmalade," was recorded multiple times – by Labelle, Christina Aguilera/Lil’ Kim/Mya/P!nk and All Saints - each achieving number one success. In 2023, Nolan reissued two of his albums to streaming services for the first time.

It is a great thing to feature this Kenny Nolan on the cover of Cashbox Canada. He actually provided us with the original chart he was on in 1977 for “I Like Dreamin’” and we are honoured to have this interview.

Picture This! With Tracey Savein

Fri May 16 2025
Picture This! With Tracey Savein

"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 

Robert Thomas - May 2nd @ Hugh's Room Live, Toronto

Robert Thomas - May 2nd @ Hugh's Room Live, Toronto

Cashbox Canada Celebrates 18 Years

Fri May 16, 2025

A few years ago, I had the great pleasure of interviewing Tony Orlando (Knock Three Times, Tie a Yellow Ribbon, Bless You, Candida to name a few) He gave Cashbox Canada a beautiful quote: “Cashbox Magazine was the tree – the rest of the publications were the leaves that came from that tree.” – Legendary Artist Tony Orlando

Back in the day when the music industry relied on the trades, music magazines were the professionals’ music bibles. We had Radio and Records, Billboard, Cashbox and in Canada we had RPM Magazine and The Record.

Cashbox Magazine was launched before Billboard and the name was derived from the actual jukebox plays, when someone put the money in, it went to a box with a letter and a number. This was calculated by the spins the jukebox played. This way the jukebox companies could report the plays a song was getting in diners, clubs and more. Hence the ‘Cashbox’. The first charts were born and expressions like “Bubbling Under” and on the Charts “With a Bullet” were all part of the Cashbox legacy.

Cashbox Canada Announces New Column – Picture This! With Tracey Savein

Fri May 09 2025
Picture This! With Tracey Savein

"Picture This!"

 Photos and content submitted by Tracey Savein,

© for Cashbox Canada Magazine

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.

To kick off the column I asked Tracey to provide her 10 favourite photos from the past and present and she did not disappoint.

Hello Everyone,

First up, a big thank you to Sandy Graham and the Cashbox Canada team for having me aboard. I’m thrilled to be added to the masthead of this storied publication.

SING! Music Summit Presents a Unique Opportunity to Connect with the Experts of the Canadian Music Industry

Fri May 09 2025
SING! POSTER

SING! The Toronto International Vocal Artist Festival is Canada’s premier a cappella festival (singing without instruments). Held every year in May, SING! presents a week of outstanding concerts featuring the human voice. SING! brings together thousands of professional singers (Canadian and international), students, teachers, divas and in-the-shower belters. For more information visit: https://singtoronto.com/

One of the featured events of the SING! Music Business Summit is (in person) One-on-One Sessions with today’s industry leaders. This is a unique opportunity to connect with experts from many aspects of the music industry. Each attendee gets quality one on one time to discuss their own questions and ideas about marketing, media, publicity, royalty collection, bookings and more, with professionals from each of those areas. Meetings are on a first-come, first-served basis, so come early to sign up for the people you would like to meet! Space is limited so sign up ASAP here: https://singtoronto.tickit.ca/events/29062

Meet the experts:

First Video Episode Released For Rise And Thrive, Showcasing Real-Life Stories Of Resilience And Recovery

Fri May 09 2025
Rise And Thrive

Burlington Business leader/Philanthropist and award-winning videographer and Health and Wellness broadcaster team up to show how people Rise and Thrive.

Life can be beautiful, but also challenging.

And everyone, has challenging times.

That begs the question; how do people face those challenges, and Rise and Thrive?

The answers will come in a six-part, 30-minute mental health awareness video podcast series designed to educate, inspire, and promote mental wellness. Rise and Thrive is a six-part, 30-minute video podcast series featuring Ted Michaels and Michael Paletta. It focuses on critical mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, suicide prevention, and stress management, while showcasing real-life stories of resilience and recovery. Each 30-minute episode delves into real-life stories and highlights various themes, such as Physical Activity, Art, Music, Photography, Spirituality, and Pets, offering practical tips and actionable insights to viewers.

Meet the Team:

TORONTO MUSIC EXPERIENCE PLANS TO OPEN AS A PERMANENT CELEBRATION OF THE CITY’S ICONIC MUSIC LEGACY

Fri May 09, 2025

Over 250 artists and Canadian music industry heavyweights champion bold vision for TORONTO MUSIC EXPERIENCE – fundraising now underway.

Toronto’s rich musical legacy is taking centre stage with the launch of the Toronto Music Experience (TME) — a first-of-its-kind destination that will celebrate the city’s unparalleled contributions to music in Canada and around the world.

Attention all Collectors and Aesthetically Attuned Beings!

Fri May 02 2025
Devo

DEVO continues to celebrate 50 years of de-evolution on tour this spring, summer and fall of 2025. In honor of these legendary live shows DEVO Fine Art Prints is activating a hyper-limited art convergence in select cities.

DEVO will appear and present their fine art photography: a curated, strictly limited-edition portfolio of five rare or never-before-seen DEVO images by world-class lens operators: Neal Preston, Ebet Roberts, Allan Tannenbaum and Richard Alden Peterson. The prints are now available at the galleries shown below. 

What makes it worthy to you, the DEVOlutionary Army of savvy collectors?

These museum quality prints not only provide inconvertible proof of DEVO’s prescient visual impact on the history of music, they are hand-signed C numbered - No digital trickery, just pure analog DEVOtion.

Each print arrives with a Certificate of Authenticity – Hand-signed by DEVO to prevent counter- revolutionary fraud.

Limited Ǫuantities! – Once they’re gone, they’re gone. No reboots, no clones. The original art.

TORONTO’S 2025 LULAWORLD FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 12 DAYS OF WORLD MUSIC MAGIC

Fri May 02 2025
TORONTO’S 2025 LULAWORLD FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 12 DAYS OF WORLD MUSIC MAGIC

MAY 28 – JUNE 8, 2025 | TICKETS & INFO: lulaworld.ca/

In a time when music festivals across Canada are shrinking, folding, or reimagining themselves, one festival is standing tall, louder and prouder than ever. The 19th annual Lulaworld Festival is set to ignite Toronto from May 28 to June 8, 2025, offering a vibrant, soul-stirring celebration of Latin, Brazilian, and global roots music. This is not just a Toronto event — it’s a vital expression of who we are as a country: diverse, creative, and globally connected.

Hosted by Toronto’s legendary Lula Lounge, Lulaworld has evolved into a national cultural landmark — one that offers grassroots intimacy combined with international scope. Over the course of 12 genre-spanning days, more than 200 artists will gather from across Canada and the globe, sharing stages, stories, and songs from Colombia, Cuba, Brazil, Turkey, Jamaica, Nigeria, Algeria, Uruguay, Guatemala, and beyond.

Picture This! With Tracey Savein

Fri May 02 2025
Lunch At Allen's - April 28th @ The Regent Theatre, Oshawa

"Picture This!"

 Photos and content submitted by Tracey Savein 

© for Cashbox Canada

Cashbox Canada, Canada’s premiere online music magazine is launching a new column of live photos from shows and events in Toronto, Canada. Welcome to the advance teaser of our newest column “Picture This” with Tracey Savein of South Paw Productions.

“Picture This”! – the photo column of Cashbox!

Harry Manx - April 9th @ Hugh's Room Live, Toronto
Harry Manx - April 9th @ Hugh's Room Live, Toronto

Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Harry Manx brought his mesmerizing East meets West sounds, tied up in a bow of Harry humour, to the filled pews at Hugh's Room Live in Toronto