Eh Material: New album from Queen Esther

Queen Esther

Canada lost Catherine O'Hara on January 30, 2026. Canadian comedy, all comedy, owes her everything.

Queen Esther released her new album Blackbirding on February 6. Blackbirding is "a reclamation-driven Black country soul album that roams the Gettysburg battlefield to create songs that dismantle myths and assumptions about what happened there and how this unending war still affects us today." Created during an artist residency on the Gettysburg battlefield, this project reclaims the Civil War narrative through the lens of a Southern Black feminist, bridging past and present with unflinching honesty.

CBC announced The New Wave of Standup Season 7 will feature 14 comedians taping as part of Just For Laughs Vancouver on February 18, 2026. Season 7 will include Abbas Wahab, Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall, Andrew Packer, Anjelica Scannura, Bita Joudaki, Cass Furman, Dustin Searcy, Emmanuel Lomuro, Hannah Veldhoen, Mark Thomson, Niki Mohrdar, Sam Burns, Savannah Erasmus and Viza.

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television announced three of Canada’s top broadcasters will simulcast The 2026 Canadian Screen Awards, a first-of-its-kind award show that will extend this annual celebration of Canadian film and television to more Canadians. Hosted by Andrew Phung on May 31 at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto, The 2026 Canadian Screen Awards will broadcast and stream on CBC, CBC Gem, Crave, CTV, Global, and STACKTV.

Bad Dog Theatre has announced the guest storytellers for People of the City, February 18-28, 2026 at Factory Theatre in Toronto, will include Mayor Olivia Chow, Scarborough creator Catherine Hernandez, former MuchMusic VJ Hannah Sung, The Umbrella Academy actor Ken Hall, Toronto’s top mentalist Mysterion, The Urban Geographer Daniel Rotsztain, and DesignTO’s Michael Madjus. Each night, the guest storyteller will share real, personal stories that spark fast, funny, and wildly inventive scenes performed by the Bad Dog Featured Players.

Crave announced the acquisition of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE UK, the new British adaptation of the late‑night franchise. Premiering Saturday, March 21, the six-episode series will stream on Crave with new episodes available weekly. The SNL UK cast members are Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi and Paddy Young.

Cavendish Beach Music Festival announced the 2026 lineup for the Colliding Tides Kitchen Stage taking place July 9-11 on Prince Edward Island. The Colliding Tides Kitchen Stage will feature performances from viral country-EDM act VAVO, JUNO Award-winning group Jake Vaadeland & The Sturgeon River Boys, CCMA-nominated artist Paige Penney, a PEI Ceilidh with Tip Er Back, CMAOntario Award-winning Sully Burrow, RBCxMusic First Up artist Antonio Larosa, The Tragically Hip tribute band The Fabulously Rich, rising country star Emily Clair, Canada's Got Talent runners-up The Martin Boys, acclaimed East Coast icon Rik Reese, and PEI's own Down with Darby.

Porter Airlines will offer an all-new non-stop service from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to Nashville, Tennessee starting May 11 so get ready to spot Canadian country musicians chasing the American dream.

Festival Country Lotbinière taking place August 27-29 in St-Agapit, Quebec will include "nearly 10" artists from Quebec including Laurence St-Martin, Rick Duff, Joël Vogt, Sugar Crush, Gab Forest, Doug St-Louis, Ariane Simard, and Erika Rollin.

Country Music Alberta announced the official nominees for the 15th Annual Country Music Alberta Awards taking place March 22 at the Edmonton Convention Centre. Leading the nominations are Brayden King and Drew Gregory with five nominations each, followed by Mariya Stokes and Chevy Beaulieu with four nominations each. Featured performers at the Awards will include Aaron Goodvin, Alex Hughes, Brayden King, Brettyn Rose, Chevy Beaulieu, Drew Gregory, Foxx Worthee, Garrett Gregory, Hailey Benedict, Kalsey Kulyk, Kyle McKearney, Mallory Chipman, Mariya Stokes, Noeline Hofmann, Shawnee Kish, and The Prairie States.

Boots and Hearts West announced a new wave of artists set to perform at the inaugural festival in Edmonton including Tyler Joe Miller, Kalsey Kulyk, Dawson Gray, Thelma & James, Zach McPhee and Brock Phillips.

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences unveiled the nominees for the 55th Annual JUNO Awards including:

Comedy Album of the Year

• Adam Christie

• Charlie Demers

• Dave Merheje

• Faris Hytiaa

• Robby Hoffman

Traditional Roots Album of the Year

• Aerialists

• Cassie and Maggie

• Heather MacIsaac

• Morgan Toney

• The Southern Residents

Contemporary Roots Album of the Year

• Mariel Buckley

• Matt Andersen

• Noeline Hofmann

• The Young Novelists

• William Prince

Country Album of the Year

• Brett Kissel

• Cameron Whitcomb

• James Barker Band

• Josh Ross

• Meghan Patrick

One Liners

Tamara Shevon released her debut comedy special "Wild and Diagnosed" on CBMax Films on February 9.

Thelma & James (MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge) have released the single “If You Ain't In Love By Now” on the eve of Valentine's Day.

JUNO-nominated singer-songwriter Desiree Dorion announced her eighth studio album, Pieces of Me, with a brand new single that features Manitoban duo, Burnstick, titled “Daddy’s Tattoo”.

Bella White released the new track Dream Song on January 23.

The Toronto Indie Funny Film Festival announced the 2nd annual event will take place April 22 and 23 at Eyesore Cinema.

Zoe Brownstone released her new comedy special Pride & Premises on YouTube.

Canadian songwriter Julian Taylor released Anthology Vol. 2 featuring 21 songs recorded across a 25-year period.

Comedian Fiona O’Brien released her album Fiona 51 on January 21.

Tenille Townes has added Western Canada dates to The Living Room Tour including Regina, Calgary, Vernon, and Kamloops.

Tyler Shaw will release the single Run To You on March 20 with three Canadian tour dates in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver before running off to Europe.

Corb Lund will embark on an intimate seven-city “Bottom of the Deck” Canadian tour in May and June, performing some of his most celebrated albums.

Multi-award-winning alternative country artist Kyle McKearney released “Rearview”, the lead single from the upcoming album Wildflower, his first project recorded entirely in the home studio he built himself.

Vancouver's JUNO-nominated folk band The Fugitives will celebrate their 20th year by releasing their seventh album on April 10, 2026 through Rhea Records.

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