Canadian Music History Radio
Canada’s new music calendar delivers an especially diverse mix this week, moving from young blues and experimental indie rock to garage punk, cinematic cello and a collaboration between two established Canadian bands. This week’s Maple Music Lounge picks include a remarkable debut from British Columbia...
Released on July 1, 1968, Music from Big Pink introduced The Band with a sound that seemed almost completely removed from the psychedelic experimentation dominating rock music at the time. Earthy, collaborative and deeply rooted in folk, blues, country and gospel traditions, the album helped...
September begins with a particularly varied week for Canadian music. One of Canada’s biggest international pop successes gets a 20th-anniversary expansion, a Canadian-born country artist delivers his debut album, and independent musicians are moving through R&B, jazz, ambient music, contemporary composition and electronic experimentation....
September has delivered some remarkable moments in Canadian music history. It is the birth month of Leonard Cohen, Neil Peart, Sylvia Tyson, Ian Tyson and Avril Lavigne; the month Rush released several important records; and the month Toronto hosted a concert that unexpectedly became part...
Released on December 27, 1967, Songs of Leonard Cohen introduced the wider music world to an artist unlike almost anyone else of his generation. Sparse, intimate and deeply poetic, Leonard Cohen’s debut album transformed his literary voice into songs that would eventually become standards. Cohen...
Friday is here, and Canadian music has delivered another strong batch of new releases. From intimate folk and acoustic songwriting to psychedelic rock and a deeply Canadian musical tribute, this week’s New Music Friday has plenty to discover. Here are five Canadian albums and EPs...
Released on January 18, 1974, Gordon Lightfoot’s Sundown marked a defining moment in the career of one of Canada’s greatest songwriters. Blending folk, country and soft rock, the album brought Lightfoot extraordinary international success while preserving the thoughtful storytelling that had already earned him widespread...
Canadian music takes centre stage this week with a release slate that stretches from one of the country's most important rock bands to independent country and adventurous experimental music. Leading New Music Friday for August 21, 2026 is a landmark live collection from The Tragically...
Released on February 1, 1972, Neil Young’s Harvest captured a quieter side of rock music at a time when the genre was growing louder and heavier. Blending folk, country and rock with deeply personal songwriting, the album became a defining moment in Young’s career. Its...
Canada’s music scene delivers another strong week of releases, with indie rock, R&B, country, folk and dream pop all represented. This week’s New Music Friday: Made in Canada puts the spotlight entirely on Canadian artists. From established performers to emerging voices, here are some of...
