From the kitchen party culture of the east coast to west coast jazz, Canada’s vibrant music scene boasts a spectacular roster of talent and innumerable ways for fans to enjoy the music.

Canadian artists continue to pump out top-drawer recordings notably Calgary-based Grammy Award winning bluesman Donald Ray Johnson, Quebec City’s Carocol, Toronto’s Shakura S’Aida and Vancouver’s Randy Bachman of Bachman Turner Overdrive fame. Recently, Canadian artists made a strong showing at the US Grammy Awards and they may walk away with more awards when we celebrate Canadian talent at the upcoming JUNO Awards in March.

Youthful stars such as pop dynamo Justin Beiber, jazz singer Nikki Yanofsky, and classical piano sensation Jan Liesicky have captured the world’s attention, standing shoulder to shoulder with the likes of jazz icon Oliver Jones , and renowned folk/pop artists Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Bryan Adams, Bruce Coburn, Ian Tyson and Gordon Lightfoot.
Events such as the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Toronto Beaches Jazz Festival, Winnipeg Folkfest, Calgary International Blues Festival and the Vancouver Island MusicFest speak to the range of dynamic, family-oriented events showcasing local, regional and international music. Live clubs have dedicated years to presenting Canadian music notably the Yardbird Suite in Edmonton that recently celebrated 50 years of bringing marvellous music to patrons, Bud’s on Broadway in Saskatoon and the Bistro a Jojo in Montreal. Distinguished venues such as Massey Hall in Toronto, Vancouver’s Orpheum and the Chrysler Theatre in Windsor are home to some of the finest symphony orchestras and opera companies in the world.

Radio stations both commercial and commercial-free continue to profile the vast array of up and coming Canadian talent as well as reminding us of those that created the musical footprint. Television programming gives us Elvis Costello’s Spectacle, along with Bravo, Much Music, and CBC television that all profile musical greats for the planet to enjoy.
Canadians and visitors to our fair nation can anticipate an exciting and eclectic music scene in any given community across the country, one simply has to choose from a myriad of selections of genres, styles and artists. We are proud of our music and are more than willing to share. Indeed we do, with our artists being picked up by record companies and setting off on tours around the globe for millions of fans.

Cindy McLeod producer of the
Calgary International Blues Festival
calgarybluesfest.com