This Month in Canadian Music History: September
Birthdays, breakthrough albums, legendary concerts and defining moments that helped shape Canada’s musical story.
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 of Beatles history.
From folk and progressive rock to jazz, country and contemporary pop, here are some of the Canadian music moments worth remembering this September.
September 5, 2025 — Anne Murray Returns with Here You Are
At 80, Canadian music legend Anne Murray released Here You Are, an album built around 11 previously unreleased recordings made between 1978 and the mid-1990s.
Executive produced by Bob Rock, the project brought previously unheard Murray performances out of the archives. The album subsequently reached No. 1 on the Canadian Country Albums chart, giving Murray her first chart-topper there since Croonin’ in 1993.
September 7, 1982 — A Young Céline Dion Releases Tellement j’ai d’amour…
Years before becoming an international superstar, a 14-year-old Céline Dion was already building a remarkable career in Quebec.
Her third studio album, Tellement j’ai d’amour…, was released on September 7, 1982. The album became an important early success and included “D’amour ou d’amitié,” which would help Dion expand her audience beyond Quebec.
September 8, 1987 — Rush Releases Hold Your Fire
Rush released its 12th studio album, Hold Your Fire, on September 8, 1987.
Recorded in England, Montserrat and Toronto, the album continued the band’s synthesizer-rich 1980s sound while allowing Alex Lifeson’s guitar to become more prominent on several tracks. “Time Stand Still,” featuring Aimee Mann, became one of its best-known songs.
September 12, 1952 — Neil Peart Is Born
Neil Peart was born on September 12, 1952.
After joining Rush in 1974, Peart became both the band’s drummer and principal lyricist. His technical precision, ambitious compositions and thoughtful writing helped transform Rush into one of the most distinctive bands in Canadian rock history.
September 13, 1969 — Toronto Hosts the Rock and Roll Revival
On September 13, 1969, Varsity Stadium became the site of one of Toronto’s most extraordinary rock concerts. The Toronto Rock and Roll Revival brought together Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley, The Doors, Alice Cooper and others before an audience estimated at approximately 20,000.
Then came the surprise.
John Lennon arrived with Yoko Ono and a hastily assembled Plastic Ono Band featuring Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann and Alan White. The group performed what became the live debut of “Cold Turkey,” along with “Give Peace a Chance” and several rock-and-roll standards.
The Toronto appearance became particularly significant because it was Lennon’s first major rock performance without the other Beatles since the group had become famous.
September 14, 2024 — k.d. lang Reunites with The Reclines
More than three decades after they last performed together, k.d. lang reunited with The Reclines at the 2024 Canadian Country Music Association Awards in Edmonton.
The occasion marked lang’s induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame and brought her back together with the band that had accompanied her during the early years of her remarkable career.
September 17, 2024 — Canada Post Honours Sarah McLachlan
Canada Post issued a commemorative stamp honouring Sarah McLachlan on September 17, 2024.
The recognition celebrated a career that grew from her 1988 debut Touch into international success, multiple Grammy and JUNO Awards, and the creation of Lilith Fair.
September 18, 1995 — k.d. lang Releases “If I Were You”
k.d. lang released “If I Were You,” the first single from All You Can Eat, in September 1995.
Written by lang and Canadian musician Ben Mink, the song demonstrated the sophisticated pop direction she was exploring following the international breakthrough of Ingénue.
September 19, 1940 — Sylvia Tyson Is Born
Sylvia Tyson was born in Chatham, Ontario, on September 19, 1940.
As one half of Ian & Sylvia, she helped establish one of the most important partnerships in Canadian folk music. Her songwriting legacy includes “You Were on My Mind,” which became an international hit after being recorded by We Five.
Ian & Sylvia were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1992.
September 19, 2025 — Sarah McLachlan Releases Better Broken
Sarah McLachlan returned with Better Broken on September 19, 2025, her first album of new material in more than a decade.
The album became another chapter in a career built around deeply personal songwriting and McLachlan’s distinctive voice.
September 21, 1934 — Leonard Cohen Is Born in Montreal
Leonard Cohen was born in Westmount, Montreal, on September 21, 1934.
Long before becoming one of Canada’s most celebrated songwriters, Cohen established himself as a poet and novelist. He eventually turned more seriously toward music in the 1960s, beginning an extraordinary recording career that would include “Suzanne,” “Bird on the Wire,” “Dance Me to the End of Love” and “Hallelujah.”
Cohen was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1991.
September 23, 2014 — Leonard Cohen Releases Popular Problems
Just days after celebrating his 80th birthday, Leonard Cohen released Popular Problems.
The album demonstrated that Cohen’s late-career creative renaissance was far from finished, with his unmistakably deep voice carrying songs that explored mortality, spirituality, love and the state of the world.
September 25, 1933 — Ian Tyson Is Born
Ian Tyson was born in Victoria, British Columbia, on September 25, 1933.
With Sylvia Tyson, he became a central figure in Canada’s folk revival. Tyson wrote “Four Strong Winds,” a song that became deeply embedded in Canadian musical culture and has been recorded by numerous artists.
Ian & Sylvia entered the Canadian Music Hall of Fame together in 1992.
September 25, 2007 — Blue Rodeo Releases Small Miracles
Blue Rodeo released its 11th studio album, Small Miracles, on September 25, 2007.
Recorded at the band’s Woodshed studio in Toronto, the album arrived two decades into Blue Rodeo’s recording career and demonstrated the longevity of one of Canada’s most enduring roots-rock bands.
September 1976 — Rush Releases All the World’s a Stage
September 1976 brought Rush’s first live album, All the World’s a Stage.
The performances had been recorded over three nights at Toronto’s Massey Hall during the band’s 2112 tour that June. The double album captured Rush at a pivotal moment as the group moved from struggling young rock band toward international success.
September 1977 — Rush Releases A Farewell to Kings
One year later, Rush returned with another landmark release.
A Farewell to Kings expanded the progressive ambitions heard on 2112. Recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, it included “Closer to the Heart,” which became one of Rush’s most enduring songs.
The album also became Rush’s first U.S. gold-selling album.
September 27, 1984 — Avril Lavigne Is Born
Avril Lavigne was born in Belleville, Ontario, on September 27, 1984, and grew up in Napanee.
Her 2002 debut Let Go and singles including “Complicated” and “Sk8er Boi” turned the teenage Canadian singer-songwriter into an international star and helped define the pop-rock sound of the early 2000s.
September 28, 1963 — A Young Joni Mitchell Performs in Calgary
Before the albums, Grammy Awards and international recognition, Joni Mitchell was developing her craft on the Canadian folk circuit.
On September 28, 1963, the young Joni Anderson performed at a freshman barbecue at Happy Valley Campground & Amusement Park in Calgary — one of the early documented performances in a career that would eventually transform popular songwriting.
September 29, 1980 — Dallas Green Is Born
Dallas Green was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, on September 29, 1980.
He would become known both as a member of Alexisonfire and through his acclaimed singer-songwriter project City and Colour, establishing two remarkably different musical identities within Canadian music.
September 2026: Canadian Music History Is Still Being Written
Because we’re publishing this in September 2026, I think a short contemporary box at the end is worthwhile.
September 12, 2026 — Céline Dion Returns to the Concert Stage
Céline Dion is scheduled to begin her new Paris engagement on September 12, marking a major return to sustained live performance. Sony Music Canada announced the five-week engagement earlier this year.
I’d keep this out of the historical chronology for now. Next September, once it has happened, it can graduate into the permanent timeline.
September 26, 2026 — Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame
As we identified earlier, this month’s Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony will also give us another future September history entry after the event has actually taken place.
Canadian Music History Lives On
September’s stories demonstrate just how broad Canada’s musical legacy has become.
Leonard Cohen emerged from Montreal’s literary world. Ian and Sylvia Tyson helped define Canadian folk. Rush took progressive rock onto the international stage. Céline Dion began building an extraordinary career while still a teenager. Sarah McLachlan and k.d. lang followed their own distinctive paths, while later generations brought artists such as Avril Lavigne and Dallas Green to audiences around the world.
Different eras. Different genres. Different parts of the country.
Together, they form another chapter in Canada’s continuing musical story.