2023 in Canadian music explained

The following musical events and releases that happened in 2023 in Canada.

Events

• March 13  - Juno Awards of 2023
• April 2  - 18th Canadian Folk Music Awards
• June 30  - The 36th annual Saskatchewan Jazz Festival kicked off in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.^[1]
• July 6  - Prism Prize
• September 16  - 2023 Canadian Country Music Awards
• September 19  - 2023 Polaris Music Prize
• November 5  - 45th Félix Awards

Albums released

A

• Alaskan Tapes, Who Tends a Garden - January 13^[2]
• All Hands Make Light, Darling the Dawn - April 21^[3]
• Matt Andersen, The Big Bottle of Joy - March 10^[4]
• Aqyila, For the Better^[5]
• Arkells, Laundry Pile - September 21^[6]
• Aysanabee, Here and Now^[7]

B

• Bahamas, Bootcut - September 15^[8]
• Tim Baker, Along the Mountain Road - October 20^[9]
• Gord Bamford, Fire It Up - April 28^[10]
• Del Barber, Almanac - April 28^[11]
• Jill Barber, Homemaker - February 10^[12]
• The Beaches, Blame My Ex - September 15^[13]
• Begonia, Powder Blue - February 24^[14]
• Black Atlass, When The Darkness Fades - October 6
• Haley Blais, Wisecrack
• Dean Brody, Right Round Here - September 15^[15]
• Louise Burns, Element - April 21^[14]

C

• Daniel Caesar, Never Enough - April 7
• Aleksi Campagne, For the Giving / Sans rien donner
• Charlotte Cardin, 99 Nights - August 25^[16]
• Chiiild, Better Luck in the Next Life - March 3^[17]
• City and Colour, The Love Still Held Me Near - March 31^[18]
• Charlotte Cornfield, Could Have Done Anything - May 12^[19]
• Cowboy Junkies, Such Ferocious Beauty - June 2^[20]
• Crash Adams, California Girls

D

• Helena Deland, Goodnight Summerland - October 13
• Mac DeMarco, Five Easy Hot Dogs - January 20
• Mac DeMarco, One Wayne G - April 21
• Devours, Homecoming Queen
• DijahSB, Living Simple - February 10^{[14] [21]}
• The Dirty Nil, Free Rein to Passions - May 26
• Fefe Dobson, Emotion Sickness - September 29
• Gord Downie and Bob Rock, Lustre Parfait - May 5^[22]
• Drake, For All the Dogs - October 6
• Drake, For All the Dogs Scary Hours Edition - November 17
• Kevin Drew, Aging - November 3
• Dumas, Cosmologie - January 27^[23]
• Jeremy Dutcher, Motewolonuwok - October 6^[24]

E

• Jade Eagleson, Do It Anyway - September 29^[25]
• Elisapie, Inuktitut^[26]
• Elliott Brood, Town

F

• Stephen Fearing, Vejpoesi
• Feist, Multitudes - April 14^[27]
• Dominique Fils-Aimé, Our Roots Run Deep - September 22^[14]
• Luca Fogale, Run Where the Light Calls
• Jeanick Fournier, Vivante - May 19^[28]
• The Franklin Electric, Oh Brother - June 30
• Debby Friday, Good Luck - March 24^[29]
• Fucked Up, One Day - January 27^[30]

G

• Gayance, Mascarade
• Hannah Georgas, I'd Be Lying if I Said I Didn't Care - August 25^[31]
• Shane Ghostkeeper, Songs for My People^[32]
• The Glorious Sons, Glory - September 6
• Jenn Grant, Champagne Problems - June 21^[14]
• Great Lake Swimmers, Uncertain Country - April 28^[33]
• Emm Gryner, Business & Pleasure^[34]

H

• Half Moon Run, Salt - June 2^[35]
• Harrison, Birds, Bees, the Clouds and the Trees^[36]
• Hayden, Are We Good - April 5^[37]
• Tim Hecker, No Highs - April 28
• Matt Holubowski, Like Flowers on a Molten Lawn - March 24
• Home Front, Games of Power

I

• Chin Injeti, Vessels - November 2
• Islands, And That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs - August 25

J

• Jackson Hollow, Roses^[38]
• James Barker Band, Ahead of Our Time - October 20^[39]
• Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loveliest Time - July 28
• July Talk, Remember Never Before - January 20^[40]

K

• Karkwa, Dans la seconde - September 8^[41]
• Khotin, Release Spirit
• Kid Koala, Creatures Of The Late Afternoon - April 14
• Shawnee Kish, Revolution
• Brett Kissel, The Compass Project - East Album - April 28^[42]
• Brett Kissel, The Compass Project - North Album - December 1^[43]
• Brett Kissel, The Compass Project - South Album - January 27^[44]
• Brett Kissel, The Compass Project - West Album - November 3^[45]
• Patrick Krief, Skylines - September 8

L

• Land of Talk, Performances - October 13^[46]
• Thierry Larose, Sprint!
• Simon Leoza, L'Enfer d'un monde
• Murray A. Lightburn, Once Upon a Time in Montreal - March 31
• Gordon Lightfoot, At Royal Albert Hall - July 14^[47]
• Lightning Dust, Nostalgia Killer
• The Lowest of the Low, Welcome to the Plunderdome - October 6^[48]

M

• Majid Jordan, Good People - November 3
• Amanda Marshall, Heavy Lifting - June 9^[49]
• Kyle McKearney, A Traveler's Lament
• Tate McRae, Think Later - December 8
• Metric, Formentera II - October 13^[50]
• Tyler Joe Miller, Spillin' My Truth - August 25^[51]

N

• N Nao, L'eau et les rêves
• Ron Nelson, 40 Years Too Late
• The New Pornographers, Continue as a Guest - March 31^[52]
• New West, Based on a True Story
• NOBRO, Set Your Pussy Free
• The Northern Pikes, Time to Time - June 2
• Justin Nozuka, Daydreams & Endless Nights - June 16

P

• Griffen Palmer, Unlearn - April 28^[53]
• Nico Paulo, Nico Paulo^[54]
• Planet Giza, Ready When You Are^[55]
• poolblood, mole^[56]
• Population II, Électrons libres du Québec
• Postdata, Run Wild - September 22^[57]
• William Prince, Stand in the Joy - April 14^[58]

R

• Raised by Swans, Volume 2: Run With The Silent Wildfires - March 30
• Jimmy Rankin, Harvest Highway
• Rêve, Saturn Return
• Benjamin Dakota Rogers, Paint Horse
• The Rural Alberta Advantage, The Rise and the Fall
• Allison Russell, The Returner - September 8^[59]
• Justin Rutledge, Something Easy - May 19

S

• Josh Sahunta, To Be Loved, Vol. 1
• Sam Roberts Band, The Adventures Of Ben Blank - October 20
• Jacques Kuba Séguin, Parfum no.1 - February 17^[60]
• Ron Sexsmith, The Vivian Line - February 17^[61]
• Joseph Shabason, Welcome To Hell - October 20
• Andy Shauf, Norm - February 10^[14]
• Gabrielle Shonk, Across the Room - February 24^[62]
• Vivek Shraya, Baby, You're Projecting - May 12^[63]
• Silverstein, Misery Made Me (Deluxe) - April 7^[64]
• Skiifall, Woiiyoie Vol. 2 — Intense City^[65]
• Dallas Smith, Dallas Smith - October 27^[66]
• Arielle Soucy, Il n'y a rien que je ne suis pas^[67]
• Souldia, Non conventionnel
• John Southworth, When You're This, This in Love - May 12^[68]
• Rae Spoon, Not Dead Yet^[69]
• Colin Stetson, When We Were That What Wept for the Sea - May 12^[70]
• Alexandra Stréliski, Néo-Romance - March 31^[71]

T

• Talk, Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees - October 20
• Theory of a Deadman, Dinosaur - March 17^[72]
• Timber Timbre, Lovage - October 6
• Shania Twain, Queen of Me - February 3^[73]

U

• U.S. Girls, Bless This Mess - February 24^[74]
• Universal Honey, Dandelion
• Terry Uyarak, Unnuaq^[75]

V

• Vivat Virtute (Christine Fellows and John K. Samson), Hold Music

W

• Rufus Wainwright, Folkocracy - June 2
• Alli Walker, Growing Up - March 10^[76]
• Colter Wall, Little Songs - July 14^[77]
• Wax Mannequin, The Red Brain - April 14^[78]
• Whitehorse, I'm Not Crying, You're Crying - January 13^[79]
• Roy Woods, Mixed Emotions - July 28

Y

• Jonah Yano, Portrait of a Dog
• Yukon Blonde, Shuggie - October 12

Z

• Zoon, Bekka Ma'iingan

Deaths

• January 12 - Robbie Bachman, drummer (Bachman–Turner Overdrive)
• January 17 - Leon Dubinsky, songwriter ("Rise Again")
• January 27 - Floyd Sneed, rock drummer (Three Dog Night)
• February 7 - Mendelson Joe, guitarist and painter
• February 13 - Guido Basso, jazz musician
• February 23 - Andrée Desautels, composer and music educator
• March 27 - Jocelyn Morlock, composer
• April 22 - Ron Cahute, accordionist
• April 28 - Tim Bachman, guitarist (Bachman–Turner Overdrive)
• May 1 - Gordon Lightfoot, singer-songwriter and guitarist
• July 5 - Martin Stevens, pop and disco singer
• August 9 - Robbie Robertson, rock singer and songwriter (The Band)
• November 11 - Peter J. Moore, record producer
• November 15 - Karl Tremblay, folk-rock singer (Les Cowboys Fringants)^[80]
• December 3 - Myles Goodwyn, rock singer (April Wine)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Your Guide to Saskatoon's 2023 SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival. Dupuis. Tara. June 16, 2023. Tourism Saskatoon. August 29, 2023.
2. Web site: Alaskan Tapes Shares New Track 'W(e)ave'. Major. Michael. December 2, 2022. BroadwayWorld. August 31, 2023.
3. Web site: ALL HANDS_MAKE LIGHT are Time Travellers on 'Darling the Dawn'. Sokic. Nicholas Sokic. April 20, 2023. Exclaim!. April 20, 2023.
4. Web site: Matt Andersen Announces New Album 'The Big Bottle Of Joy'. Ehrenclou. Martine. December 13, 2022. Rock & Blues Muse. August 31, 2023.
5. Devon Banfield, "Toronto R&B artist Aqyila speaks on her new EP ‘For The Better’". Now, May 23, 2023.
6. Web site: Arkells release new single, "Laundry Pile". Melanson. Jenna. May 17, 2023. Canada Beats Media. August 31, 2023.
7. Megan LaPierre, "Aysanabee Announces 'Here and Now' EP, Shares 'Alone'". Exclaim!, September 6, 2023.
8. Web site: Bahamas Goes Country on New Album 'Bootcut'. Hudson. Alex. July 11, 2023. Exclaim!. September 29, 2023.
9. Web site: Tim Baker Announces 'Along the Mountain Road' EP, Shares Lead Single. Okazawa. Ben. July 28, 2023. Exclaim!. July 28, 2023.
10. Web site: Future Releases for Country Radio Stations. https://web.archive.org/web/20230121164304/https://www.allaccess.com/country/future-releases . January 21, 2023. AllAccess.
11. Web site: Premier: Del Barber - 'I Told You So' . Holler . March 8, 2023 . April 6, 2023 . Owen. Jof.
12. Web site: Jill Barber Reflects on Marriage and Motherhood on 'Homemaker' LP. Hudson. Alex. September 28, 2022. Exclaim!. September 28, 2022.
13. Web site: The Beaches announce new album Blame My Ex, share single. Anderson. Carys. May 6, 2023. Consequence. August 29, 2023.
14. Web site: 31 Canadian albums we can't wait to hear in 2023. January 9, 2023. CBC Music. January 9, 2023.
15. Web site: Dean Brody's Eighth Studio Album, Right Round Here, to Drop on September 15. Nanci. Dagg. September 1, 2023. Canadian Beats Media. September 13, 2023.
16. Web site: Charlotte Cardin Announces Sophomore Album '99 Nights,' Shares Title Track. Bell. Kaelen. June 9, 2023. Exclaim!. June 9, 2023.
17. Web site: Chiiild Announces 'Better Luck In The Next Life,' Shares First Single. Schube. Will. November 9, 2022. uDiscover Music. August 31, 2023.
18. Web site: City and Colour Unveils New Album 'The Love Still Held Me Near,' Shares Single. LaPierre. Megan. January 19, 2023. Exclaim!. January 19, 2023.
19. Web site: Charlotte Cornfield Announces New LP 'Could Have Done Anything,' Shares "You and Me". March 9, 2023. Relix. August 30, 2023.
20. Web site: Cowboy Junkies return with "Such Ferocious Beauty" — hear first single "What I Lost". April 8, 2023. Slicing Up Eyeballs. August 30, 2023.
21. Web site: Dijahsb Announces 'Living Simple' EP, Releases New Single "Khadijah. Pavlakos. Louis. November 21, 2022. Complex. Complex.ca. August 30, 2023.
22. Web site: Gord Downie and Bob Rock's Collaborative Album Gets Release Date, New Single. Hudson. Alex. November 22, 2022. Exclaim!. November 22, 2022.
23. Web site: Dumas retombe amoureux de l'électro sur Cosmologie, son 12e opus. Rioux. Charles. January 27, 2023. Ici Radio-Canada. French. 27 January 2023.
24. Web site: Gord Downie and Bob Rock's Collaborative Album Gets Release Date, New Single. Hudson. Alex. June 20, 2023. Exclaim!. June 20, 2023.
25. Web site: Jade Eagleson announces his unapologetically country album, Do It Anway. August 29, 2023. RFDTV. August 30, 2023.
26. https://www.cbc.ca/arts/q/elisapie-on-her-new-album-inuktitut-1.6971863 "How Elisapie gave new meaning to 10 pop and rock classics by translating them into Inuktitut"
27. Web site: Feist Announces New Album Multitudes, Shares Songs. Corcoran. Nina. February 14, 2023. Pitchfork. August 31, 2023.
28. Cédric Bélanger, "Jeanick Fournier, gagnante de Canada's Got Talent 2022, lance déjà un deuxième album en mai". Le Journal de Québec, April 26, 2023.
29. Web site: DEBBY FRIDAY announces debut album, 'GOOD LUCK', shares single and video: Watch. Ramage. Jack. January 6, 2023. DJ Mag. August 31, 2023.
30. Web site: Fucked Up Announce New Album One Day, Share New Video . Pitchfork . October 25, 2022 . October 26, 2022 . Hussey, Allison.
31. Sydney Brasil, "Hannah Georgas Announces New Album 'I'd Be Lying If I Said I Didn't Care'". Exclaim!, May 31, 2023.
32. Emilie Richardson-Dupuis, "Shane Ghostkeeper Announces Debut Solo Album 'Songs for My People'". Exclaim!, May 17, 2023.
33. Alex Hudson, "Great Lake Swimmers Traverse 'Uncertain Country' on New Album". Exclaim!, February 17, 2023.
34. Nick Krewen, "Emm Gryner talks healing, life coaching and her new album ‘Business & Pleasure’". Toronto Star, December 8, 2022.
35. Alex Hudson, "Half Moon Run Announce New Album 'Salt,' Share Single 'Alco'". Exclaim!, April 20, 2023.
36. Tom Beedham, "Harrison Pushes Beyond the Material World on 'Birds, Bees, the Clouds & the Trees'". Exclaim!, April 26, 2023.
37. Kaelen Bell, "Hayden Announces New Album, Shares Video for "On a Beach" Starring Feist, Steve Buscemi and Matt Berninger". Exclaim!, February 28, 2023.
38. Tom Zillich, "Jackson Hollow goes beyond bluegrass with fresh new ‘Roses’ album from the Surrey-based band". North Delta Reporter, April 12, 2023.
39. Web site: James Barker Band Pops 'Champagne' For Upcoming EP 'Ahead Of Our Time'. Music Row. Lorie. Hollabaugh. September 23, 2023.
40. Alex Hudson, "July Talk Announce New Album 'Remember Never Before,' Share Three Songs". Exclaim!, October 5, 2022.
41. Alex Hudson, "Karkwa Return for First New Album in 13 Years". Exclaim!, May 18, 2023.
42. Web site: BRETT KISSEL PLANS TO DROP SECOND INSTALLMENT OF "THE COMPASS PROJECT" "EAST ALBUM" ON APRIL 28, 2023. Music City Memo. March 24, 2023. March 26, 2023.
43. Web site: The Compass Project – North Album (Live) by Brett Kissel. Apple Music. December 1, 2023. December 2, 2023.
44. Web site: Brett Kissel covers four points of the compass with new project. October 31, 2022. January 6, 2023. Preshias. Harris. Country Music News International.
45. Web site: BRETT KISSEL SHARES NEW SINGLE, "DEER BLIND". October 23, 2023. Nanci. Dagg. Canadian Beats Media. October 24, 2023.
46. Megan LaPierre, "Land of Talk Announce New Album 'Performances,' Share Lead Single 'Your Beautiful Self'". Exclaim!, August 14, 2023.
47. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2023/05/15/live-gordon-lightfoot-album-at-royal-albert-hall-set-for-release-in-july.html "Live Gordon Lightfoot album, ‘At Royal Albert Hall,’ set for release in July"
48. Calum Slingerland, "Lowest of the Low Return with New Album 'Welcome to the Plunderdome,' Share Fall Tour Dates". Exclaim!, September 15, 2023.
49. Web site: Amanda Marshall Returns With 'Heavy Lifting' And National Tour . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327220623/https://etcanada.com/news/980256/amanda-marshall-returns-with-heavy-lifting-and-national-tour/ . dead . March 27, 2023 . March 31, 2023 . Entertainment Tonight Canada. Anita Tai.
50. https://www.nme.com/news/music/metric-announce-formentera-ii-and-share-regret-disco-song-just-the-once-3466464 Metric announce 'Formentera II' and share "regret disco" song 'Just The Once'
51. Web site: Miller time: Debut album for Surrey country musician has him 'Spillin' My Truth'. Tom. Zillich. August 25, 2023. Surrey Now-Leader. August 26, 2023.
52. Jazz Monroe, "The New Pornographers Announce Album, Share Song: Listen". Pitchfork, January 9, 2023.
53. Web site: Griffen Palmer Releases Title Track From Debut 'Unlearn'. Lorie. Hollabaugh. Music Row. March 31, 2023. April 3, 2023.
54. Andrew Robinson, "St. John's-based songstress Nico Paulo, releasing debut full-length album, answers 20 Questions". SaltWire Network, April 3, 2023.
55. https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/planet-giza-ready-when-you-are/ "Planet Giza – Ready When You Are"
56. Noah Ciubotaru, "Toronto's poolblood Wrestles with Tenderness on the Sparkling 'mole'". Exclaim!, January 10, 2023.
57. Alex Hudson, "POSTDATA Goes "All-Out Stylistically" with New Album 'Run Wild'". Exclaim!, June 14, 2023.
58. Alex Hudson, "William Prince Announces New Album 'Stand in the Joy'". Exclaim!, February 1, 2023.
59. Laura Stanley, "Allison Russell Celebrates Her 'Fierce, Hard-Won Joy'". Exclaim!, June 6, 2023.
60. Web site: Jacques Kuba Séguin begins new creative cycle with Parfum n°1. Feibel. Adam. January 31, 2023. Jazz.FM31. Jazz.FM. August 30, 2023.
61. Web site: Ron Sexsmith – The Vivian Line. Davies. Mike. January 14, 2023. Folk Radio UK. August 31, 2023.
62. Web site: Gabrielle Shonk shares new single, "People Pleaser". Melanson. Gabrielle. January 12, 2023. Canadian Beats Media. August 30, 2023.
63. Web site: Vivek Shraya announces Canadian tour in support of upcoming visual album, Baby, You're Projecting. Shemesh. Yasmine. April 4, 2023. The Georgia Straight. August 31, 2023.
64. Web site: Silverstein Announces Misery Made Me Deluxe, Shares New Single - 5/5 At Bogarts. March 23, 2023. Cincy Groove. August 31, 2023.
65. Erik Leijon, "After Breaking Out in the UK, Skiifall Has Global Goals: 'I Want to Be Worldwide'". Complex, May 12, 2023.
66. Web site: Dallas Smith Announces Self-Titled Fifth Studio Album. Steven. Boero. September 15, 2023. Music Row. September 23, 2023.
67. Louis-Philippe Labrèche, "Arielle Soucy: Il n’y a rien que je ne suis pas". Le Canal Auditif, October 20, 2023.
68. Timothy Monger, "When You're This, This in Love". AllMusic.
69. Web site: Rae Spoon's 'Not Dead Yet' Dances in the Face of Mortality. Baptiste. Francis. August 9, 2023. Exclaim!. August 9, 2023.
70. Web site: LIVE: Colin Stetson – Howard Assembly Room, Leeds, 02/05/2023. Godley. Simon. May 3, 2023. God Is In the TV. August 30, 2023.
71. Web site: Alexandra Stréliski Details New Album 'Néo-Romance'. Gregory. Allie. January 13, 2023. Exclaim!. August 31, 2023.
72. Web site: THEORY OF A DEADMAN Announces 'Dinosaur' Album, Shares 'Ambulance' Visualizer. January 13, 2023. Blabbermouth.net. August 31, 2023.
73. Web site: Shania Twain Announces New Album Queen of Me and 2023 Tour . Pitchfork . October 28, 2022 . October 28, 2022 . Torres, Eric.
74. https://ourculturemag.com/2023/01/10/u-s-girls-announce-new-album-bless-this-mess-share-new-single-futures-bet/ U.S. Girls announce new album 'Bless This Mess', share new single 'Futures Bet'
75. Anthony Boire, "Terry Uyarak's 'Unnuaq' Offers Warmth When the Sun Cannot". Exclaim!, June 20, 2023.
76. Web site: Growing Up: P.E.I. country artist Alli Walker releases her most personal album. Natalie. Lombard. Katie. Kelly. CTV News Atlantic. March 20, 2023. May 18, 2024.
77. News: Colter Wall - Little Songs: New Album 2023 Release Date and Tracklist. Holler Country. Maxim. Mower. May 2, 2023. May 28, 2023.
78. Web site: Wax Mannequin Announces New Album 'The Red Brain,' Shares Lead Single 'The Obelisk'. LaPierre. Megan. December 2, 2022. Exclaim!. December 2, 2022.
79. Web site: Whitehorse Channel Classic Country on New Album 'I'm Not Crying, You're Crying'. Slingerland. Calum Slingerland. September 7, 2022. Exclaim!. September 7, 2022.
80. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/les-cowboys-fringants-karl-tremblay-1.7029633 "Karl Tremblay, lead singer of Quebec band Les Cowboys Fringants, dies at 47"