Music Day in Canada coming to Saskatoon on September 27, 2025

Guess what, Saskatoon? Mark your calendars!

On September 27, 2025 at Amigos Cantina at 8 p.m., Music Day in Canada will be coming to Saskatoon during their national celebration of live music, community connection, and artist development!

And SaskMusic is excited to be partnering with Lemmon Stage and Amigos Cantina to make it happen!

Artist information will be announced soon, but for the rest of the week you can grab EARLY-BIRD tickets for just $10 on their website!

For more information about this Canadian celebration of music, visit their website!

FINAL Sweet Summer Concert show set for August 30

SaskMusic's next and final Sweet Summer Concert will feature Drea Naysayer, Actor Director, and Loud Neighbors! The concert will take place on August 30, 2025 at the Exchange in Regina at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

Join us for three great artists at this FREE show, open to all ages!

For more information, visit our website!

BreakOut West Registration

BreakOut West is happening September 24-28, 2025 in Winnipeg MB! Check out the conference speakers and agenda at breakoutwest.ca and register if you're planning to attend.

Call for Afrobeats Submissions

SaskMusic will be hosting an Afrobeats After Dark networking party during BreakOut West in celebration of the addition of the Afrobeats category to the Western Canadian Music Awards. During this event and throughout BOW we are planning to distribute USB sticks containing tracks from Saskatchewan Afrobeats artists (including Afrobeats, Afrobeat, Afro-fusion, Amapiano, Afro-pop, Afrohouse, Afro-soul, Alte, HighLife and any Afro-influenced genres and styles) to attending delegates and industry professionals, with further information linked for each artist. 

All Saskatchewan-based artists with tracks in these genres are invited to submit, regardless of whether you will be attending BOW this year.

What you need:
- Up to 2 track uploads in MP3 or M4A format ONLY. Tracks should be current - having been released after Sept 1, 2023, or as yet unreleased. 
- Artist biography 
- Artist promotional photo
- Permission to distribute your track/production ownership

Submissions will be screened for completeness and production quality to determine their inclusion. A maximum of two tracks per artist will be included. Once confirmed for inclusion, artists will be required to sign a release form giving SaskMusic permission to distribute your track(s) in this manner.

To submit, complete this form. 

For more information, please contact Rooky, SaskMusic at 1-800-347-0676 (toll-free in Saskatchewan) or rooky@saskmusic.org.

2025 Indigenous Songwriters Retreat a success!

SaskMusic would like to offer a HUGE thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2025 Indigenous Songwriters Retreat and its accompanying public workshops!

This Sunday, we wrapped up an inspiring, and information-packed retreat weekend that ran from August 15–17, 2025 in Saskatoon and at the sacred gathering site of Wanuskewin.

Twenty-four Indigenous songwriters gathered for a weekend full of connection, mentorship, and discovery. A huge thank you to our talented participants!

Also, a massive shoutout to incredible mentors and speakers—Dale Mac (Dale McArthur), Lindsay “Eekwol” Knight, Logan Staats, Matt Maw, and Nigel Irwin— for sharing your artistry, wisdom, and inspiration with all of us.

To enrich the weekend even further, we were proud to host two free, open-to-the-public workshops with our partners:

• Friday, August 15 — Creative Visioning: Ceremony, Sound, and Self-Leadership, hosted in partnership with Imagiin Lab.
• Sunday, August 17 — a SOCAN workshop at Wanuskewin on How to Register Your Works hosted in partnership with SOCAN.

A massive shout-out to our partners Imagiin Lab and SOCAN, alongside our funders Creative Saskatchewan, the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR), Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters, and the Government of Canada, for making these experiences possible.

To every participant, mentor, speaker, and community member, thank you! This weekend wasn’t just about songwriting; it was about building community, nurturing voices, and planting seeds for future collaborations and creative potential.

To see more photos of the retreat, visit our social media pages!

SaskMusic welcomes SOCAN to Saskatoon for their 100th Anniversary 

SaskMusic was delighted to welcome SOCAN Music back to Saskatoon on Monday, August 18 for SOCAN Connection, a gathering which celebrated SOCAN's 100th Anniversary!

Thank you to SOCAN for coming to Saskatoon, for gathering with industry friends and Saskatoon-based SOCAN members, and for bringing the Sask. music industry together for community, celebration, and networking in the Remai Modern's stunning Riverview Room!

SaskMusic staff pictured above: Roxie Riffel (Administrative Assistant), Lorena Kelly (Executive Director), Ben Valiaho (Education & Program Manager), Miguel Fenrich (Marketing & Communications Manager), Rooky Kamiz (Community Engagement Coordinator), Kaelen Klypak (Export & Program Manager), and Denny Blackstar (Indigenous Music Development Program Coordinator)!

SaskMusic and Sask. artists at Reeperbahn 2025

SaskMusic and two Saskatchewan artists will be attending the 2025 Reeperbahn Festival & Conference on September 17-20, 2025. This year, Marissa Burwell and Merv xx Gotti have been invited to perform at the official Canada House showcases. SaskMusic will be on the ground facilitating connections on behalf of the Saskatchewan music industry

SaskMusic will be also on the ground participating in pre-Reeperbahn business events at the Canadian Embassy in Berlin.

On Monday, September 15, CIMA, in partnership with the Embassy of Canada to Germany and MMF Canada, will host an afternoon of business programming including business-to-business meetings, a networking reception, and roundtable discussions between German and Canadian delegates.

SaskMusic will also participate in a Berlin Experience — a full day of industry sessions and networking organized by the Reeperbahn team and a Meet the Canadians matchmaking event on September 16.

This Canada House event is being coordinated by CIMA and presented in partnership with SaskMusic, Alberta Music, Manitoba Music, M for Montreal, Music BC, MusicOntario/Ontario Creates, and Quebec Creates/SODEC.

The official Canada House showcase will take place September 18-19, 2025, starting at 12 p.m. on the 18th, and 1 p.m. on the 9th at Uwe (Spielbudenpl. 21, 20359 Hamburg) and will feature 24 Canadian artists.

The full Canada House lineup includes: Marissa Burwell, Bria Rose N’ Thorns, Desiree Dorion, The Bankes Brothers, Kimmortal, Bonnie Trash, Magi Merlin, Pierre Kwenders, Patche, Annie-Claude Deschênes, Holy Void, Goodnight Sunrise, Ash Molloy, Kue Varo & the Only Hopes, Hendrika, Kaïa Kater, Bye Parula, Thea May, Merv xx Gotti, Kubla, Chiara Savasta, Maya Killtron, Retrofile, and Bad Buddy.

Congratulations to the Sask. showcasing artists!

Sask. Showcase times:

• Marissa Burwell: Thursday, September 18, 12 p.m. at UWE (Official Showcase)
• Merv xx Gotti: Friday, September 19, 6p.m. at UWE (Official Showcase)

Additional European dates tour dates for the musicians will be added below as they’re announced!

How were the artists chosen?

A call for artist submissions was made by Reeperbahn for official showcases and by CIMA for those interested in performing at Canada House. Reeperbahn selected artists for their festival - including those playing Canada House - through their own curation processes.

SaskMusic is sponsoring the showcase presentation costs of the Sask artists who were selected for Canada House but was not involved in the selection process.

Learn more about Reeperbahn: https://www.reeperbahnfestival.com

SaskMusic acknowledges and thanks the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR), and Creative Saskatchewan for their support of our export programming.

SaskMusic seeking expressions of interest for Black Advisory Committee

SaskMusic is currently seeking interested individuals to participate on our new Black Music Advisory Committee (BMAC), dedicated to uplifting and empowering the Black/African music community in Saskatchewan.

The committee will play a crucial role in guiding, advising, and supporting SaskMusic as we continue to better understand and meet the needs of Black (or those of African descent) artists, creators, and professionals in the province’s music industry.

Specifically, the committee will be consulted on various strategies, initiatives, and programs that ensure meaningful inclusion, representation, and support for Black musicians and artists in Saskatchewan, in an advisory capacity.

If you are motivated to contribute your voice and help direct our organization toward a more equitable future, please visit the form to learn more or to apply!

CIMA seeking Board Directors for 2025-2028 Term

Want to join CIMA’s Board of Directors?

Are you interested in making your voice heard? Are you an entrepreneur operating a Canadian-owned music company? Are you an advocate for a stronger, more dynamic, and equitable music industry in Canada? Then why not run for election for CIMA’s Board of Directors?

Alongside basic contact information, as part of an update of CIMA's nomination process, those standing for election are asked to submit the following information for their nomination profile:

• Incumbency/Challenger Status
• Committee Experience
• Mission Statement: Why do you wish to sit on CIMA's Board of Directors? (100 Word Limit)
• A high-resolution .jpg photo of yourself

CIMA will post your submission on their website, on their socials and in their weekly newsletter so your CIMA member colleagues will know who to vote for!

The deadline for nominations and materials is September 19.

For more information, visit the nomination form!

The 2026 JUNO Awards Submissions Presented by TD - Opens September 22! 

Mark your calendars! The 2026 JUNO Awards Submissions Presented by TD Bank Group open September 22nd and will close on November 6th at 11:59 p.m. PT - November 7 at 2:59 p.m. ET.

National music release dates must fall between the eligibility period of  September 1, 2024, to November 7, 2025, to be considered for nomination.

For a complete list of JUNO Awards categories, eligibility rules, and voting criteria, visit The JUNO'S website.

SaskMusic will once again be offering a bursary to assist with the cost of submissions, including CARAS membership for those applying.

A link to submit your receipts will be posted soon!

Call for 2026 JUNO Awards Judges

Do you work in the Canadian music industry?

Help shape the biggest night in Canadian music. Apply now to be a judge for The 55th Annual JUNO Awards and play a direct role in selecting this year’s nominees and winners.

Applications are open until October 31, 2025.

Emerging Artist Opportunity - Creative City Centre's RAD Program

Creative City Centre is excited to announce the return of a program designed to support emerging music artists: the Recording Artist Development (RAD) Program. 

This program provides four-week access to a studio space to rehearse and record original...

Deadline: August 29, 2025

READ MORE

Awards Opportunity; Billboard Canada Women In Music 2025

Billboard Canada’s celebration of the trailblazing women of the music industry is making its return to Canada for its second year in Toronto. Nominations are open now.

One of Canada’s most powerful nights in music is back — even bigger than last yea...

Deadline: September 5, 2025

READ MORE

Showcase Opportunity : FOCUS Wales 2026

With 300+ live performances, the festival showcases the very best new talent emerging from the nation alongside established names and a selection of exciting international acts. Submissions are open to all new music artists of all genres worldwide.

Deadline: November 1, 2025

READ MORE

Songwriting Opportunity - American Songwriter 2025 Song Contest

The American Songwriter Annual Song Contest is a unique opportunity to have your songs heard by #1 artists, songwriters, and music industry executives. The contest accepts all genres of music and is open to any songwriter, artist, musician, and/or band...

Deadline: December 8, 2025

READ MORE

• Beach Deck Party, August 21, 2025, The Water Front Bar and Grill
• Grimelda w/ P3RV3RTS, Octopoulpe, Bos.senberg, August 21, 2025, Black Cat Tavern
• Roast and Toast: Phil Smith's 40th Birthday, August 21, 2025, Cure (The)
• Who Are You?: A Tribute to The Who, August 21, 2025, Casino Regina
• DTNYXE Patio Series Live Music, August 21, 2025, Bokeh on the Plaza - Alt Hotel
• HOT & SWEATY 3 - GREG ORRĒ & GHOST NOTE @ Art Bar with special guest NICE, August 21, 2025, Art Bar
• Crystal Journey In Lumsden, SK. Centennial Hall, August 21, 2025, Centennial Hall
• Nick Faye “(Good) Love” Album Release Party w/ Great Wealth and okimaw, August 22, 2025, Amigos Cantina
• DJ Tolley T, August 22, 2025, Cure (The)
• Mike Froh & The Bad News - Over Egged Tour Kickoff Show, August 22, 2025, Exchange/The Club
• Music For The Gut , August 22, 2025, TCU Place
• Darryl Anderson, August 22, 2025, Buds on Broadway
• Wonderland Party Band, August 22, 2025, Revival Music Room
• Shake The Lake, August 22, 2025, Wascana Lake
• Waskesiu Lakeside Music Festival | 10th Anniversary , August 22, 2025, Waskesiu Lake Main Beach
• Electric Sky Music and Arts Festival 2025, August 22, 2025, Ness Creek Music Festival
• dr.rift with Chesterfield and Bitterfly, August 23, 2025, Cure (The)
• BACK SEAT DRIVER, August 23, 2025, Lancaster Taphouse
• Seventh Dose w/ Ceilings & The Moon Runners, August 23, 2025, Black Cat Tavern
• Legends Rise Hip-hop and Music Show, August 23, 2025, The Brighton Amphitheatre
• Coal Creek Festival, August 23, 2025, Roche Percee Campground
• Over the Bridge: Summerfest, August 23, 2025, Urban Cellars Moose Jaw
• Brett Down Live at Bar Willow, August 23, 2025, Bar Willow
• Nick Faye (Good) Love Regina Album Release Party, August 23, 2025, Exchange/The Club
• Hal Schrenk: Amy Nelson, August 23, 2025, Moose Jaw Events Centre
• SUMMER BLUES SINGER/SONGWRITER SHOWCASE, August 25, 2025, Bushwakkers
• Tailgator at Rustic Nine Golf Course and Event Centre, August 26, 2025, Rustic Nine Golf Course
• NARROW GATE, August 27, 2025, Bushwakkers
• Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra Presents: Murdoch Mysteries, August 27, 2025, TCU Place
• Mickey Avalon and Rove w/ MC Homeless and Chaps, August 28, 2025, Amigos Cantina
• DJ SQUARESOUNDROUNDBODY & DJ Hendrika, August 28, 2025, Cure (The)
• KNOLL w/ Guests TBA, August 28, 2025, Black Cat Tavern
• Distillery Anniversary Tasting Dinner, August 28, 2025, Black Fox Farm & Distillery
• This is Tom Jones: The Tom Jones Experience, August 28, 2025, Casino Regina
• The Steadies - Summer 2025 Tour Pt. 2, August 29, 2025, Bar Willow
• Mr. Moya & $1 Draft with KOYOT, August 29, 2025, Cure (The)
• Brainstem w/ Ashes Of Yggdrasil & Wrought, August 29, 2025, Black Cat Tavern
• Combust, Meantime, Phrozen, Failed States, Criminal Mind, August 29, 2025, Exchange/The Club
• Woodhawk - Love Finds a Way tour w/Cheap Heat, Grond, Sed3ment, August 29, 2025, Exchange/The Club
• Kegcreek Ranch Barn Dance 2025, August 29, 2025, Vince & Kerry Gilroy’s Farm
• Little Manitou Art Gallery Music Festival, August 29, 2025, Little Manitou Art Gallery
• Gathering of Nations Jamboree of Music & Healing, August 29, 2025, Prince Albert Exhibition
• Manitou Music Fest & Rock N Roll Weekend!, August 29, 2025, Danceland
• Aversions with Oiseaux and Frequent Fliers Club, August 30, 2025, Cure (The)
• Skrizzly Adams Live On Tour, August 30, 2025, SunnySide Bar
• Lainey Wilson: Whirlwind Tour, August 30, 2025, Sasktel Centre
• Keegan Isaac & The Itsy Bitsy Big Band, August 30, 2025, Broadway Theatre
• Lost Highway Navigators at Rustic Nine Loft Sessions, August 30, 2025, Rustic Nine Golf Course
• Sweet Summer Concert with Drea Naysayer, Actor Director, and Loud Neighbors, August 30, 2025, Exchange/The Club
• Ranjit Bawa, August 31, 2025, TCU Place
• TRAFFIC JAM 2025 TOUR / Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley & Stephen Marley, September 2, 2025, TCU Place