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The following musical events and releases that happened in 2020 in Canada.
Events
- April 4 – 15th Canadian Folk Music Awards are announced online following the cancellation of the ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- May – Prism Prize
- June 15 – Preliminary longlist for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize is announced
- June 29 – Juno Awards of 2020 are announced online following the cancellation of the original March 15 ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- July – Shortlist for the Polaris Music Prize announced
- August 5 – SOCAN Songwriting Prize winners announced
- October 19 – Backxwash wins the 2020 Polaris Music Prize for the album God Has Nothing to Do With This Leave Him Out of It.
- November 1 – 42nd Felix Awards
Albums released
#
A
- Allie X, Cape God – February 21
- Don Amero, The Next Chapter – September 25
- Ammoye, I Am Love
- Tafari Anthony, The Way You See Me
- Arkells, Campfire Chords – August 20
- Tenille Arts, Love, Heartbreak, & Everything in Between – January 10
- Aquakultre, Legacy – May 8
- Aquakultre and Uncle Fester, Bleeding Gums Murphy – October 9
- Art of Time Ensemble, Ain't Got Long
- Rich Aucoin, United States – September 18
- Austra, Hirudin – May 1
B
- Backxwash, God Has Nothing to Do With This Leave Him Out of It
- Badge Époque Ensemble, Self-Help
- Bahamas, Sad Hunk – October 9
- Jason Bajada, Elizabeth
- Tim Baker, Survivors – July 10
- Jill Barber, Entre nous
- Gary Beals, Bleed My Truth – October 23
- Daniel Bélanger, Travelling – October 2
- Belinda (Lisa LeBlanc), It's Not a Game, It's a Lifestyle
- Beòlach, All Hands
- Beyries, Encounter
- Laila Biali, Out of Dust
- Justin Bieber, Changes – February 14
- Billy Talent, TBA
- The Birthday Massacre, Diamonds – March 27
- Forest Blakk, Sideways
- Bob Moses, Desire (EP) – August 28
- Will Bonness, Change of Plans
- Born Ruffians, JUICE – April 3
- Braids, Shadow Offering – June 19
- Dean Brody, Boys – November 18
- Bruce Peninsula, No Earthly Sound – April 17
- Roxane Bruneau, Acrophobie
- Basia Bulat, Are You in Love? – March 27
C
- Shawna Cain, The Way
- Lou Canon, Audomatic Body
- Caribou, Suddenly – February 28
- Carys, To Anyone Like Me
- Casey MQ, babycasey
- Jennifer Castle, Monarch Season – October 16
- Cindy Lee, What's Tonight to Eternity
- Cindy Lee, Cat o' Nine Tails
- Clairmont the Second, It's Not How It Sounds – July 10
- Classified, Time – September 25
- Louis-Jean Cormier, Quand la nuit tombe
- Rose Cousins, Bravado – February 21
- CRi, Juvenile
- Crown Lands, Crown Lands
- Crown Lands, Wayward Flyers Vol. 1
D
- The Darcys, Fear & Loneliness – November 13
- Sophie Day, Clémence
- The Dears, Lovers Rock – May 15
- Helena Deland, Someone New – October 16
- Destroyer, Have We Met – January 31
- Dizzy, The Sun and Her Scorch
- Dog Day, Present
- Gord Downie, Away Is Mine – October 16
- Alan Doyle, Rough Side Out – February 14
- Drake, Dark Lane Demo Tapes – May 1
- Dvsn, A Muse in Her Feelings – April 17
E
- Fred Eaglesmith and Tif Ginn, Alive
- Jade Eagleson, Jade Eagleson – July 24
- Kathleen Edwards, Total Freedom – August 14
- Elephant Stone, Hollow – February 14
- Lindsay Ell, Heart Theory – August 14
- Elliott Brood, Keeper – September 18
- Emanuel, Alt Therapy Session 1: Disillusion (June); Alt Therapy Session 2: Transformation (December)
- Eric Ethridge, Good with Me – October 30
- Evening Hymns, Heavy Nights – June 26
F
- Fast Romantics, Pick It Up
- Luca Fogale, Nothing Is Lost
- FouKi, Grignotines de luxe
- FouKi and Koriass, Génies en herbe
- The Franklin Electric, In Your Head/In Your Heart
G
- The Garrys, Haxan
- Hannah Georgas, All That Emotion
- Matthew Good, Moving Walls – February 21
- Grandson, Death of an Optimist – December 4
- Great Lake Swimmers, When Last We Shook Hands: Cover Songs, Vol. 1
- Great Lake Swimmers, Live in Ottawa at the 27 Club, October 3, 2019
- Grimes, Miss Anthropocene – February 21
- Matthew Grimson, Prize for Writing
H
- Half Moon Run, The Covideo Sessions
- Half Moon Run, Seasons of Change
- Harm & Ease, Midnight Crisis
- Sarah Harmer, Are You Gone – February 21
- High Valley, Grew Up On That – May 8
- Matt Holubowski, Weird Ones
- Holy Fuck, Deleter – January 17
- Andrew Hyatt, Neverland
J
- Sammy Jackson, With You
- David James, If I Were You – March 13
- Ryland James, Ryland James
- Ryland James, A Little Christmas
- Japandroids, Massey Fucking Hall – June 19
- Yves Jarvis, Sundry Rock Song Stock – September 25
- Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated Side B – May 21
- The Jerry Cans, Echoes – May 15
- Berk Jodoin, Berk Jodoin
- July Talk, Pray for It – July 10
- Junia-T, Studio Monk
K
- K-Anthony, The Cure
- Peter Katz, City of Our Lives
- Khotin, Finds You Well
- Brett Kissel, Now or Never – January 1
- Kiwi Jr., Football Money
- k-os, Boshido – May 29
- Krief, Chemical Trance – August 14
L
- Matt Lang, More – June 5
- Land of Talk, Indistinct Conversations
- Jessy Lanza, All the Time – July 24
- Laurence-Anne, Accident
- Shay Lia, Solaris – September 25
- Gordon Lightfoot, Solo – March 20
- Loony, JOYRiDE
- Loud Luxury, Nights Like This – March 27
- Corb Lund, Agricultural Tragic – July 26
M
- Catherine Major, Carte mère
- Dan Mangan, Thief – November 20
- Cory Marks, Who I Am – August 7
- Matthew Tavares & Leland Whitty, Visions – March 20
- Matt Mays, Dog City – August 28
- Jon McKiel, Bobby Joe Hope
- Shawn Mendes, Wonder – December 4
- Tyler Joe Miller, Sometimes I Don't, But Sometimes I Do – November 6
- Ryland Moranz, XO, 1945
- Alanis Morissette, Such Pretty Forks in the Road – July 31
- MSTRKRFT, Black Gloves – October 30
- David Myles, Leave Tonight – May 8
N
- N Nao and Joni Void, Nature morte
- Eliza Niemi, Glass
- Nyssa, Girls Like Me
O
- The OBGMs, The Ends – October 30
- Ocie Elliott, In That Room; Tracks
- Odario, Good Morning Hunter – October 23
P
- The Pack A.D., It Was Fun While It Lasted
- Partner, Never Give Up – November 20
- PartyNextDoor, Partymobile – March 27
- PartyNextDoor, Partypack – October 16
- Nico Paulo, Wave Call
- Orville Peck, Show Pony EP
- Klô Pelgag, Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs
- Philémon Cimon, Philédouche
- Lido Pimienta, Miss Colombia
- Dany Placard, J'connais rien à l'astronomie
- Plants and Animals, The Jungle
- Joel Plaskett, 44 – April 17
- Population II, À la Ô Terre
- MacKenzie Porter, Drinkin' Songs: The Collection – November 6
- William Prince, Reliever – February 7
- William Prince, Gospel First Nation – October 23
- Protest the Hero, Palimpsest – June 18
- P'tit Belliveau, Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
- Purity Ring, Womb – April 3
Q
- Quin with One N, Out of the Blue
R
- Billy Raffoul, International Hotel
- Allan Rayman, Christian – April 3
- Savannah Ré, Opia
- Regina Gently, Don't Wait to Love Me – September 18
- Noah Reid, Gemini – May 28
- The Reklaws, Sophomore Slump – October 16
- Jessie Reyez, Before Love Came to Kill Us – March 27
- Daniel Romano, Content to Point the Way
- Daniel Romano, Dandelion
- Daniel Romano, Forever Love's Fool
- Daniel Romano, Okay Wow
- Daniel Romano, Spider Bite
- Daniel Romano, Super Pollen
- Daniel Romano, Visions of the Higher Dream – March 17
- Daniel Romano, Daniel Romano's Outfit Do (What Could Have Been) Infidels By Bob Dylan & the Plugz
- Daniel Romano, White Flag
- Rum Ragged, The Thing About Fish
S
- Sam Roberts Band, All Of Us – October 16
- Sargeant X Comrade, Magic Radio – June 20
- Seaway, Big Vibe – October 16
- Shabason, Krgovich and Harris, Philadelphia
- Jairus Sharif, Q4DB (I Can Learn and Honor, Mould, In the Open, Simple)
- Andy Shauf, The Neon Skyline – January 24
- Crystal Shawanda, Church House Blues – April 17
- Silverstein, A Beautiful Place to Drown – March 6
- Dylan Sinclair, Proverb
- Gord Sinclair, Taxi Dancers – February 28
- Zal Sissokho, Kora Flamenca
- Dallas Smith, Timeless – August 28
- Arielle Soucy, Shame and Waterway
- Souldia, Silence radio and Backstage
- Storry, CH III: The Come Up
- Storry, Interlude-19
- Summersets, Small Town Saturday
T
- Julian Taylor, The Ridge – June 19
- Theory of a Deadman, Say Nothing – January 31
- Tobi, ELEMENTS Vol. 1 – October 21
U
- U.S. Girls, Heavy Light – March 6
- Terry Uyarak, Nunarjua Isulinginniani – October 30
V
- Mathew V, Two Faced
- Vagina Witchcraft, Vagina Witchcraft
- Rosie Valland, Blue
- Vile Creature, Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm!
- Vision Eternel, For Farewell of Nostalgia – September 14
W
- Rufus Wainwright, Unfollow the Rules – July 10
- Colter Wall, Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs – August 28
- We Are the City, RIP – January 24
- Ruby Waters, If It Comes Down to It
- Weaves, TBA
- The Weeknd, After Hours – March 20
- WHOOP-Szo, Warrior Remixes
- Wild Rivers, Songs to Break Up To
- JJ Wilde, Ruthless
- Witch Prophet, DNA Activation – March 24
- Wolf Parade, Thin Mind – January 24
- Donovan Woods, Without People – November 6
- Roy Woods, Dem Times – May 15
- Hawksley Workman, Less Rage More Tears – October 23
Y
- Jonah Yano, Souvenir
- Nikki Yanofsky, Turn Down the Sound – July 10
- Yukon Blonde, Vindicator – November 13
Z
- Zen Bamboo, Glu
- Zoon, Bleached Wavves
Deaths
- January 7 – Neil Peart, 67, drummer for Rush
- February 1 – George Blondheim, 63, pianist and composer
- March 7 – Laura Smith, 67, folk singer-songwriter
- April 4 – Barry Allen, rock singer
- May 12 – Renée Claude, 80, pop singer ("Tu trouveras la paix", "C'est toi, c'est moi, c'est lui, c'est nous autres")
- May 26 – Houdini, 21, rapper
- June 26 – Graeme Williamson, rock singer (Pukka Orchestra).
- August 10 – Salome Bey, 86, blues singer
References
- Philippe Renaud, "La Montréalaise Backxwash remporte le prix Polaris". Le Devoir, October 19, 2020.
- Dagg, Nanci (October 1, 2020). "Multiple award-winning country music artist Don Amero has released a new album The Next Chapter on the heels of his other successes". Canadian Beats Media. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- Brock Thiessen, "Arkells Strip Down for New Album 'Campfire Chords'". Exclaim!, July 30, 2020.
- Brazis, Emily. "Love, Heartbreak, & Everything in Between by Tenille Arts". Roots Magazine. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- Oliver Crook, "Aquakultre Cement Their 'Legacy' as Canadian Neo-Soul Breakouts". Exclaim!, May 5, 2020.
- Matt Bobkin, "Aquakultre and Uncle Fester Announce New Album 'Bleeding Gums Murphy'". Exclaim!, August 12, 2020.
- Allie Gregory, "Hear Austra Join Forces with a Toronto Children's Choir on 'Mountain Baby'". Exclaim!, April 16, 2020.
- Scott Simpson, "Backxwash Turns Hip-Hop on Its Head with Masterful 'God Has Nothing to Do with This Leave Him Out of It'". Exclaim!, May 28, 2020.
- Stuart Berman, "Badge Époque Ensemble, Self Help". Pitchfork, November 21, 2020.
- Angela Morrison, "Bahamas' 'Sad Hunk' Lives Up to Its Name". Exclaim!, October 8, 2020.
- Allie Gregory (May 20, 2020). "Tim Baker Unveils 'Survivors' EP". Exclaim!.
- André Péloquin, "Daniel Bélanger fait son cinéma". Le Journal de Montréal, October 3, 2020.
- Josée Lapointe, "Lisa LeBlanc et son alter ego disco-bingo". La Presse, June 14, 2020.
- Kaelen Bell, "'Encounter' Shows Beyries' Hunger for Discovery". Exclaim!, November 13, 2020.
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- Doole, Kerry (November 22, 2020). "Dean Brody: Boys". FYI Music News. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
- Vish Khanna, "Bruce Peninsula's 'No Earthly Sound' Marks a Stunning Return from the Toronto Art-Folk Collective". Exclaim!, April 20, 2020.
- "Après la Dysphorie, l’Acrophobie de Roxane Bruneau". Ici Radio-Canada, October 30, 2020.
- Minsker, Evan (December 4, 2019). "Caribou Announces New Album Suddenly, Shares New Song "You and I": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
- Jacklyn (August 28, 2020). "CARYS Announces Anyone Like Me EP and Releases 'Crush' Single". Stage Right Secrets. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- Rachel Evangeline Chong, "Casey MQ Celebrates and Interrogates the Glamour of '90s Boy Band Pop on 'babycasey'". Exclaim!, August 17, 2020.
- Alex Robert Ross, "Jennifer Castle shares “Justice” and announces new album Monarch Season". The Fader, September 16, 2020.
- Sarah Murphy, "Rose Cousins Reveals New Album 'Bravado'". Exclaim!, November 7, 2019.
- "CRi lance Juvenile, un premier album 100 % québécois". Ici Radio-Canada, October 17, 2020.
- Stuart Derdeyn, "5 things to know about Someone New by Helena Deland". Vancouver Sun, October 13, 2020.
- Jesse Kinos-Goodin, "Listen to 2 songs from Gord Downie's final solo recording, Away is Mine". CBC Music, September 21, 2020.
- Steve Horowitz, "‘Alive’ Showcases the Two Sides of Fred Eaglesmith and Tif Ginn". PopMatters, November 12, 2020.
- Murray, Joshua; Cassling, Trish (July 24, 2020). "Jade Eagleson Album Review & 5 Quick Questions". The Reviews Are In.
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- "Lindsay Ell Details New Album, 'Heart Theory'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
- Calum Slingerland, "Elliott Brood Return with New Album 'Keeper'". Exclaim!, July 8, 2020.
- Brock Thiessen, "Sarah Harmer Returns with Her First New Album in a Decade". Exclaim!, November 14, 2019.
- Pearce, Drew (March 20, 2020). "High Valley 'Grew Up On That' in New Song, Upcoming EP". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- "CANADIAN COUNTRY ARTIST DAVID JAMES DELIVERS NEW EP "IF I WERE YOU", AVAILABLE TODAY (3/13)". MDM Recordings Inc. March 13, 2020.
- Matt Bobkin, "Japandroids Announce New Live Album 'Massey Fucking Hall'". Exclaim!, May 27, 2020.
- "CARLY RAE JEPSEN RELEASES SURPRISE ALBUM 'DEDICATED SIDE B'". Rolling Stone. May 21, 2020.
- Allie Gregory, "Jerry Cans Unveil New Album 'Echoes,' Plot North American Tour". Exclaim!, January 22, 2020.
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- Oliver Crook, "Matt Mays' 'Dog City' Turns a Corny Concept into a Heartwarming Experiment". Exclaim!, May 22, 2020.
- Vijai Kumar Singh, "Jon McKiel Communes with Ghosts on Postmodern Masterpiece 'Bobby Joe Hope'". Exclaim!, April 27, 2020.
- Dagg, Nanci (November 7, 2020). "Tyler Joe Miller released his debut album Sometimes I Don't, But Sometimes I Do with two songs reaching #1 at Canadian country radio". Canadian Beats Media. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Eric Volmers, "Lethbridge roots musician Ryland Moranz's sophomore record mixes the personal, political and universal". Calgary Herald, February 5, 2021.
- Laura Stanley, "Former Mauno Member Eliza Niemi Is Subtly Unpredictable on 'Glass' EP". Exclaim!, April 21, 2020.
- Sarah Chodos, "Toronto's NYSSA Subverts Traditions on 'Girls Like Me'". Exclaim!, August 20, 2020.
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- Ian Gormely, "Partner 'Never Give Up' on Their Quest to Share the Power of Rock Music". Exclaim!, November 18, 2020.
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- Matt Bobkin, "Daniel Romano Enters Self-Quarantine, Surprise-Releases New Album". Exclaim!, March 17, 2020.
- Eric Volmers, "Calgary duo Sargeant and Comrade 'dig into the crates' to pay homage to those who came before". SaltWire Network, June 17, 2020.
- Logan White, "Seaway announce new album, 'Big Vibe' + release title-track". Substream, August 12, 2020.
- Stuart Berman, "Shabason, Krgovich & Harris: Philadelphia". Pitchfork, November 11, 2020.
- Allie Gregory, "Andy Shauf Announces New Album 'The Neon Skyline,' Hits Canada on World Tour". Exclaim!, October 23, 2019.
- David Friend, "Former Tragically Hip bassist Gord Sinclair announces debut solo album Taxi Dancers". The Globe and Mail, January 10, 2020.
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- Sarah Chodos, "summersets' 'Small Town Saturday' Is Easy to Fall in Love With". Exclaim!, August 24, 2020.
- Emma Tranter, "'I'm super Inuk': Nunavut singer Terry Uyarak releases songs in Inuktitut". CBC North, November 15, 2020.
- "Colter Wall Announces New Album 'Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs' & Shares Single".
- David Renshaw, "Wolf Parade announce Thin Mind, share new song “Forest Green”". The Fader, November 11, 2019.
- Jon Freeman, "Donovan Woods Details New Album ‘Without People’". Rolling Stone, August 19, 2020.
- Josiah Nelson, "Zoon Transcends His Shoegaze Origins on Remarkable Debut 'Bleached Wavves'". Exclaim!, June 16, 2020.
- Jessica Wong, "Neil Peart, drummer and primary lyricist for Rush, dead at 67". CBC News, January 10, 2020.
- Cam Tait, "Remembering the brilliant talent of George Blondheim". Edmonton Sun, February 5, 2020.
- "Laura Smith and her songs to be celebrated by East Coast artists at tribute concert". CTV News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
- Calum Slingerland, "R.I.P. Graeme Williamson of Toronto's Pukka Orchestra". Exclaim!, June 26, 2020.
- "Singer Salome Bey, known as Canada's first lady of the blues, dies at age 86". CTV News, August 10, 2020.