The Yorkton Film Festival has announced the first round of nominees for the 2025 Golden Sheaf Awards, with Ultramagnetic Productions’ new documentary Play it Loud! How Toronto Got Soul earning a nomination for Best Arts/Culture Film.

The TVO Original doc reveals the vibrant but largely ignored Toronto Jamaican music scene from the 1960’s to the ‘90’s, through the life and music of the legendary Jay Douglas. The teenaged Douglas moved to Toronto to join his mother in 1963 and was quickly initiated into a thriving, underground Black music scene. As the lead singer of The Cougars, a group that included local legends Jackie Richardson, Jo Jo Bennett and Everton “Pablo” Paul, Douglas broke into the competitive Yonge Street music scene as one of only two bands to play at the storied Le Coq d’Or. The other group was Ronnie Hawkins’ Hawks, precursor to The Band.

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Tommy James — best known for hit 1960s singles such as “Mony Mony,” “Hanky Panky,” “Crimson and Clover” and “I Think We’re Alone Now” — still maintains a busy touring schedule with his band the Shondells, and also works as a DJ on SiriusXM satellite radio’s ’60s Gold channel (channel 73), and on various other projects. And next month, he will marry his longtime manager Carol Ross. “We’re squeezing this wedding in, between two gigs,” he says with a laugh.

For decades, James’ and Ross’ relationship was platonic. But after Ross’ husband Bill died in 2011, and James’ wife Lynda died in 2022, that changed. Their wedding is scheduled for April 5.

James calls it “kind of a cool little love story.”

Rick Springfield recently found out that a bad fall he took in 2000 resulted in brain damage. The 75-year-old "Jessie's Girl" singer has revealed that after getting a whole-body MRI scan he was told that he still has lasting brain damage from an on-stage tumble during a Las Vegas show 25 years ago.

"I fell 25 feet, hit my head and then wood came down and hit my head, and then my head hit the stage again," Springfield said of the nasty fall. "I thought I had just broken my wrist, but on the scan, I found out I have some brain damage from the fall, so I'm working on trying to repair that." Unlike most people, who Springfield said "don't want to know what's wrong with them," the singer and former soap opera star said he's the "opposite."

And with good reason.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Newfoundland/Irish folk group, The Irish Descendants in a special 35th Anniversary concert at the Light House Arts Centre in Halifax on Saturday, March 15 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are available now at theirishdescendants.com. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show is for ages 19 plus.

The Irish Descendants are Con O’Brien on lead vocals and guitar, Rowan Sherlock on mandolin, fiddle, piano and vocals, Jeff Kinsman on bass and vocals, and Madeline Carter on fiddle and vocals.

MTS Management Group and MTS Records, founded by award-winning songwriter, musician, and producer Michael Stover, proudly celebrate 15 transformative years of empowering independent musicians and achieving extraordinary success in the music industry.

Founded in 2010, MTS has become a trailblazer in the independent music market. Under Michael Stover’s leadership, MTS has amassed a legacy of excellence, releasing over 100 Top 40 New Music Weekly chart singles, including 15 #1 hits and 5 Billboard chart-topping singles (two of which reached the Top 10). Additionally, MTS has promoted 100+ Top 40 iTunes chart singles, including 60+ Top 5s and 40+ #1s. These achievements reflect MTS’s unwavering commitment to helping indie artists succeed on a global stage.

A Legacy Built on Passion and Perseverance

March is Music Therapy Awareness Month, a time to recognize the life-changing impact of music therapy on people of all ages. This year, the Canadian Music Therapy Fund (CMTF), based in Toronto, is calling for urgent support to ensure that older adults, particularly those with dementia and cognitive challenges, can continue to access this essential care.

 For 31 years, CMTF has worked to make music therapy accessible to those who need it most—children with autism, people experiencing mental health challenges and older adults facing cognitive decline. As one of the only non-profits in Canada providing subsidized music therapy services, CMTF has seen firsthand how music connects, heals, and restores dignity when words are no longer enough.

The Glastonbury 2025 lineup has been announced, revealing that British rock band The 1975 and US pop star Olivia Rodrigo will join Neil Young as the festival’s three headliners.

Other acts on the lineup include Brit Award and Grammy-winning star Charli XCX, singer RAYE, Grammy-winning rapper Doechii, British hip-hop artist Loyle Carner, Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro and rapper Busta Rhymes.

It was announced last year that Rod Stewart will take on the Sunday teatime Legends Slot on the Pyramid Stage.

Buffy Sainte-Marie appointment to the Order of Canada — the second-highest honour for merit in the systems of orders, decorations and medals of Canada — has been terminated.

As David Friend reports for the Canadian Press, Sainte-Marie has reasserted that she "never lied about her identity" and returned her Order of Canada "with a good heart."

In her first statement since being stripped of the honour, she said that she had "made it completely clear" to Rideau Hall — and to former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau upon his invitation for her to perform for Queen Elizabeth in 1977 — that she was not Canadian. As her birth certificate reflects, Sainte-Marie is an American citizen and holds a US passport; however, she was adopted by a Cree family in Saskatchewan as a young adult.

The singer-songwriter expressed her "love and gratitude to Canada," and said that she's "overwhelmingly grateful that I've been able to make my contribution."

Celtic Icon Lucy MacNeil Announces Long-Awaited Solo Album and 2025 Tour Dates

 After 37 years of enchanting audiences worldwide as a member of the legendary Barra MacNeils, Lucy MacNeil is stepping into the spotlight with her highly anticipated solo album and a string of tour dates that will bring her rich, soul-stirring voice and deep-rooted Cape Breton traditions to audiences across Canada.

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Bruce Cockburn, Ani DiFranco, Oysterband and Guy Davis Among Participating Artists

In September of 2022 an international folk supergroup consisting of 16 artists from six countries on four continents released “Which Side Are You On?” Originally penned as a union song by Florence Reece in 1931, Artists for Action’s version took aim at the rise of far-right politics and the resurgence of fascism around the globe, the most glaring example of which was Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine.

Plus Major Acts Including Doechii, Gracie Abrams, Finneas And More! And For The First Time Ever, An Artist Will Play Both Osheaga And Lasso Montréal!

OSHEAGA Music and Arts Festival presented by Bell in collaboration with Coors Light, is back for its 18th edition! Music lovers will once again gather at Montréal's breathtaking Parc Jean-Drapeau from August 1-3, 2025 to experience a weekend of exhilarating performances, unforgettable moments, and the unmatched atmosphere at one of the most picturesque festival venues there is. This year, for the first time in a long time, OSHEAGA is unveiling its full lineup at once, including a trio of powerhouse headliners that promise to deliver unforgettable performances. The OSHEAGA booking team has curated a festival lineup to include fans of every genre and generation in mind - and to give festivalgoers the opportunity to see the next rising stars before anyone else. It's time to discover your new favourite artist among 87 performers on this year's lineup!

Much like Buddy Holly’s Apartment Tapes, Murry Robe’s Dial Tones delivers raw, lo-fi home demo recordings packed with infectious melodies, witty lyrics, and an authentic blend of doo-wop, garage rock, and rockabilly. Stripped down yet bursting with energy, Murry Robe channels the golden age of rock ‘n’ roll with a modern rebel spirit—unpolished, unfiltered, and undeniably catchy.

Listen here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/murryrobe/dial-tones

Photo Credits: Tracey Savein South Paw Productions

On January 31 Barney Bentall & The Cariboo Express’ celebrated their farewell tour and final concert in Toronto, “The Last Roundup,” joined by an all-star lineup of special guests – William Prince, Jim Cuddy, Tom Wilson and Thompson Wilson, Devin Cuddy, Sam Polley, and Anne Lindsay. It was magical night with great performance by all mentioned.

This sold-out concert was the last chance for fans to catch one of Canada’s most beloved roots and folk collectives while raising funds for Classroom Champions, a nonprofit organization, connecting professional athletes, Olympians and Paralympians with underserved and Indigenous students, fostering social, emotional, and academic growth.

Finally, when your kids ask you what you did in the 80’s that was important and why you listen to that old music so loud!

Take them to see “Just For One Day”!

Watch the YouTube Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3qU20iNN8I

For Every Much Music fan and beyond this is a must see, because we were there together in 1985. When music wanted to save the world.

Brilliantly done, amazing cast great voices great band doing justice to the music of the 80’s.

The highly anticipated Canada’s Teen Jam is bringing together a network of the most talented teen musicians from this country for an unforgettable showcase. Finalists will take the stage at the iconic TD Music Hall in Toronto on February 27, 2025, performing original songs and vying for top honors, cash prizes, and invaluable industry exposure. Tickets are now on sale here.