Blab Music
Canadian Music Scene Shifts: Warner Music Expands, Festivals Fold, and Artists Return to the Stage
Warner Music Group has broadened its Toronto footprint by adding two seasoned talent‑scouts. George Kalivas, who left his A&R post at Warner Music Canada in 2024 to launch his management firm SWING, will now lead global A&R for the group. Kalivas will guide new signings at Warner Music Canada and its independent‑distribution arm ADA, while keeping an eye on talent for WMG’s flagship labels. He will also continue to manage his SWING roster, which includes Diamond Cafe and Steven Lee Olsen. In a company statement, Kalivas said, “From our very first conversations, it was clear that Eric Wong and the team share a similar belief in artist development and long‑term thinking.”
In parallel, Jordan Kendal, formerly of Sheet Happens Publishing, has joined Warner Music Canada’s commercial team as director of physical sales. Kendal will oversee the company’s physical, e‑commerce and customer‑services departments across Canada.
The Canadian festival landscape took a sharp turn when Victoria, B.C.’s Rifflandia announced its closure. The long‑running summer music event, which had celebrated 18 years, cited rising costs and a lack of profitability as the reason for its end. Organisers posted the decision on the festival’s website and it was reported by Vicnews.com. While the festival itself is folding, the Rifflandia entertainment company will continue to expand, pursuing a diverse slate of projects both domestically and internationally.
In a separate chapter of musical‑political crossover, former NDP MP Andrew Cash returned to the stage for a one‑night performance at Hamilton’s Capitol. The former Toronto punk icon, who first made his mark in the early 1980s with L’Etranger, delivered a 90‑minute set that included solo hits such as “Boomtown” and “Time And Place” as well as songs he co‑wrote with his brother Peter for The Cash Brothers and Skydiggers. The sold‑out venue was filled with family, friends, fellow MPs and long‑time fans. Skydigger Michael Johnston provided accordion accompaniment, and the show opened with local singer‑songwriter Darryl Gould.
The Henry Armstrong Award committee announced that Métis country singer‑songwriter Catie St. Germain will receive the 2026 award. Hailing from Niverville, Manitoba, St. Germain is the granddaughter of Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Métis legend Ray St. Germain. She has earned multiple MCMA Award nominations and was named emerging artist of the year in 2023. The award carries a $10,000 bursary and a customized mentorship program. The Henry Armstrong Award, a bursary and mentorship initiative for Indigenous Canadian artists, was launched by MDM Recordings Inc. president Mike Denney.
Carleton University honored Ottawa‑based Juno‑winning singer‑songwriter Kellylee Evans with an honorary Doctor of Music degree at its June 10 convocation. Evans addressed the graduating class, and the university cited her distinguished career and resilience in overcoming personal adversity. She is a four‑time Juno nominee and won the award for vocal jazz album of the year for Nina.
Do It For The Culture, a platform for Black artists that has run annually in Kelowna for four years, will stage its first Vancouver edition from Aug. 27–29. Founder Teon Gibbs, a Vancouver‑based, Botswana‑born artist, said the response has already been overwhelmingly positive and that artist applications have surged by over 400 %. The lineup announced includes SadBoi, RAAHiiM, ARDN, Adewolf, Ahsia, Mikey Jose and Dacey, with additional artists, conference programming and industry delegates to be added.
The 24th BreakOut West festival and conference will take place in Victoria, B.C., from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4. The first wave of showcase performers has been named, including Jaiden Riley, Neighbour Andy, The Bankes Brothers, Art d’Ecco, Belle Plaine, daysormay, FRANKLIN and Gnarwhal. The festival portion runs Oct. 1–3 across multiple downtown venues.
Paquin Artists Agency expanded its roster with two Canadian acts. Derik Baker, performing as Virginia To Vegas, is a pop‑electronica singer‑songwriter‑producer with over 735 million global streams, multiple platinum‑certified singles, a Juno nomination and four SOCAN Awards. The agency also added country singer‑songwriter Jess Moskaluke, a Juno‑winning artist who released her debut album Light Up the Night in 2014.
In Hamilton, the duo Two Pianos No Rodeo—Bob Wiseman and Mike Boguski—opened for the Something Else! festival. Wiseman, the original keyboardist for Blue Rodeo, delivered a mix of instrumental and vocal pieces, while Boguski performed solo piano sets ranging from neo‑romantic to contemporary styles.
Finally, Toronto indie rockers The Get Alongs dropped their sophomore LP Second To None on Having Fun / We Are Busy Bodies. Recorded at Holy Mountain Sound in Montreal with producer Clayton Dupuis, the album blends classic garage and power‑pop influences.
These stories paint a picture of a Canadian music landscape in motion: major labels tightening their talent‑scouting net, long‑running festivals folding, veteran artists re‑entering the spotlight, and new platforms and awards championing diverse voices.
In parallel, Jordan Kendal, formerly of Sheet Happens Publishing, has joined Warner Music Canada’s commercial team as director of physical sales. Kendal will oversee the company’s physical, e‑commerce and customer‑services departments across Canada.
The Canadian festival landscape took a sharp turn when Victoria, B.C.’s Rifflandia announced its closure. The long‑running summer music event, which had celebrated 18 years, cited rising costs and a lack of profitability as the reason for its end. Organisers posted the decision on the festival’s website and it was reported by Vicnews.com. While the festival itself is folding, the Rifflandia entertainment company will continue to expand, pursuing a diverse slate of projects both domestically and internationally.
In a separate chapter of musical‑political crossover, former NDP MP Andrew Cash returned to the stage for a one‑night performance at Hamilton’s Capitol. The former Toronto punk icon, who first made his mark in the early 1980s with L’Etranger, delivered a 90‑minute set that included solo hits such as “Boomtown” and “Time And Place” as well as songs he co‑wrote with his brother Peter for The Cash Brothers and Skydiggers. The sold‑out venue was filled with family, friends, fellow MPs and long‑time fans. Skydigger Michael Johnston provided accordion accompaniment, and the show opened with local singer‑songwriter Darryl Gould.
The Henry Armstrong Award committee announced that Métis country singer‑songwriter Catie St. Germain will receive the 2026 award. Hailing from Niverville, Manitoba, St. Germain is the granddaughter of Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Métis legend Ray St. Germain. She has earned multiple MCMA Award nominations and was named emerging artist of the year in 2023. The award carries a $10,000 bursary and a customized mentorship program. The Henry Armstrong Award, a bursary and mentorship initiative for Indigenous Canadian artists, was launched by MDM Recordings Inc. president Mike Denney.
Carleton University honored Ottawa‑based Juno‑winning singer‑songwriter Kellylee Evans with an honorary Doctor of Music degree at its June 10 convocation. Evans addressed the graduating class, and the university cited her distinguished career and resilience in overcoming personal adversity. She is a four‑time Juno nominee and won the award for vocal jazz album of the year for Nina.
Do It For The Culture, a platform for Black artists that has run annually in Kelowna for four years, will stage its first Vancouver edition from Aug. 27–29. Founder Teon Gibbs, a Vancouver‑based, Botswana‑born artist, said the response has already been overwhelmingly positive and that artist applications have surged by over 400 %. The lineup announced includes SadBoi, RAAHiiM, ARDN, Adewolf, Ahsia, Mikey Jose and Dacey, with additional artists, conference programming and industry delegates to be added.
The 24th BreakOut West festival and conference will take place in Victoria, B.C., from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4. The first wave of showcase performers has been named, including Jaiden Riley, Neighbour Andy, The Bankes Brothers, Art d’Ecco, Belle Plaine, daysormay, FRANKLIN and Gnarwhal. The festival portion runs Oct. 1–3 across multiple downtown venues.
Paquin Artists Agency expanded its roster with two Canadian acts. Derik Baker, performing as Virginia To Vegas, is a pop‑electronica singer‑songwriter‑producer with over 735 million global streams, multiple platinum‑certified singles, a Juno nomination and four SOCAN Awards. The agency also added country singer‑songwriter Jess Moskaluke, a Juno‑winning artist who released her debut album Light Up the Night in 2014.
In Hamilton, the duo Two Pianos No Rodeo—Bob Wiseman and Mike Boguski—opened for the Something Else! festival. Wiseman, the original keyboardist for Blue Rodeo, delivered a mix of instrumental and vocal pieces, while Boguski performed solo piano sets ranging from neo‑romantic to contemporary styles.
Finally, Toronto indie rockers The Get Alongs dropped their sophomore LP Second To None on Having Fun / We Are Busy Bodies. Recorded at Holy Mountain Sound in Montreal with producer Clayton Dupuis, the album blends classic garage and power‑pop influences.
These stories paint a picture of a Canadian music landscape in motion: major labels tightening their talent‑scouting net, long‑running festivals folding, veteran artists re‑entering the spotlight, and new platforms and awards championing diverse voices.
