Eh Material: The New Wave of Standup Turns Seven

New Wave of Standup Season 7

The New Wave of Standup debuted its seventh season on CBC Gem on August 7, 2026. Filmed in early 2026 at Guilt & Co in Gastown, Vancouver, as part of the Just for Laughs Vancouver Festival, the New Wave of Standup features 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 3rd annual What The Festival will host two performances each of Hansal and Geetal by Two2Mango, Bubkus by Jesse Buck, and Drag Me To The Opera with Aida Cupcake taking place September 24-27, 2026 in Youngplace at Sweet Action Theatre, and Small World Music Centre in Toronto.

Misko Way Productions has revealed the 2026 Rising Stars Comedy Lab cohort, a six-month comedy television screenwriting program designed to build foundational skills in scriptwriting, writers’ room collaboration, and pitch development. The eight participants are Joyce Delaronde, Isabel Zaw-Tun, John Luke, Kaitlynn Brightness, Jamie Whitecrow, Mary Wisden, Kaitlin Bitternose, and CJ Monias.

After nearly 25 years of service Gilda's Club Greater Toronto has announced it will cease operations effective August 21, 2026. This announcement was made via an instagram post, and no further updates are currently available on the website.

The Canadian Country Music Association announced a second wave of performers for the 2026 CCMA Awards, taking place at Sasktel Centre in Saskatoon, SK on September 19, including 3x 2026 CCMA Award nominee Nate Haller, 2026 Group or Duo of the Year nominees High Valley, 5x 2026 CCMA Award nominees Thelma & James, 5x 2026 CCMA Award nominee and this year’s top nominated female artist Tenille Townes, and The Strumbellas. The Canadian Country Music Association has also announced Ron Kitchener as the 2026 Stan Klees Builder inductee, and Trenton, Ontario’s country trio The Wilkinsons as the 2026 Artist inductee, for the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees. Country Music Week 2026 is scheduled for September 16–19 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

The Americana Music Association announced that Dolly Parton will receive its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the 25th annual Americana Honors & Awards. The 2026 Americana Honors & Awards will be held at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on September 16 during AMERICANAFEST.

Dolly's, a new country music themed bar, has opened in downtown Toronto. Dolly's features live music every Thursday from house band Northern Drawl and line dancing on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Australian country-pop singer Tyla Rodrigues will appear September 1, with Dazy Duke on September 3.

Three-time BCCMA Roots Artist of the Year Antonio Larosa returns this fall with a brand new album and a Western Canadian tour. His album Tried & True arrives November 6, while the 11-date tour will travel throughout British Columbia and Alberta before closing at Vancouver’s Wise Hall on November 7 for a hometown celebration of the album release.

Humber College’s Comedy Writing and Performance program ended after 26 years with a showcase at Comedy Bar Danforth in Toronto on August 20, 2026. Glenn Sumi wrote a wonderful farewell article about the program.

Mama’s Broke, the Nova Scotian duo of Amy Lou Keeler and Lisa Maria released their new single, “Old-Fashioned Love Song” in anticipation of their upcoming album Reunion, out August 28 via Free Dirt Records and Forward Music Group. Their tour kicked off auGUST 6 in France and they will continue touring North America until December.

One Liners

Edmonton comedian Leif Oleson-Cormack will release his debut comedy album Alone Ranger on September 4, 2026 through Counterfeit Sounds.

Just For Laughs Toronto is back September 24-October with David Lynch's Seinfeld, Pat Burtscher, and DJ Demers.

The lineups for 2026 New Faces of Comedy Showcases at Just For Laughs in July featured Andrew Packer, Hassan Phills, Clare McConnell, Jon Blair, and Tiyawnda.

Bren D'Souza released their sophomore standup comedy album “The Second Coming” on August 14.

Kaïa Kater released the song Sidney featuring Rose Cousins on July 31.

Hamilton, ON folk duo Michael Antelope released their debut album Calls Out The Window on July 20.

London, ON-based folk artist Willem James Cowan shares “Not For You, Not For Us,” ahead of the album What Should Happen Next? due September 18.

Prince Edward Island singer-songwriter Shane Pendergast has released “She Could Be Waiting for You,” the first single from his upcoming fifth album, Jack Pine, set for release on October 23, 2026.

Toronto-based, Hong Kong-born songwriter Tennyson King released “Safe Travels,” the latest single from his forthcoming album 100 Cities 百城 out November 6, 2026.

The Ratskin Family Band released the music video for Trucker on August 12, 2026.

Allison de Groot and Rich Ruth will release a self titled album on October 2 with Western Vinyl.

75-year-old Cape Breton-born, Halifax-based singer-songwriter Linda MacLeod has released her new single "I Tried to Get Through".

On August 7 Brock Phillips and Dallas Smith released the country-rock song “Leave Me Like A Backroad” via Big Loud Records and Local Hay Records.

Canadian country artist Mitch Zorn released the single “Nowhere Town” via 604 Records ahead of his Boots and Heart performance.

Brandi Caroline and Jade Turner released the song "Prairie Queen" on August 14.

Orville Peck will tour North American under the Man Turned Mule banner with three Canadian dates in November; Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

Alberta's Chevy Beaulieu released his self-titled debut album on July 10 via 604 Records.

Canadian country trio The Washboard Union released their new single, “Whisky Wings” via Arts & Crafts Country on August 5.

Jessica Sevier will release her debut EP Wild Wild Woman on September 4, 2026 on The Orchard.

Québec country artist Justin Legacy returns with the first release from his forthcoming EP "Blame It On You," out now via Balistique Musique / The Orchard.

Toronto country-pop artist Hayden Ryann released “Walk Through Fire” on July 27.

Quebec's Matt Lang returns with "Stoned on You," the fourth single from his upcoming concept album Ain't That Bad.

Ryan Langdon released his sophomore EP The Good, The Bad & The Ugly on July 31 via MCMXVI / Slaight Music.

Montreal's The Wild Palominos released Spin Me Like a Record, the fourth single off their third album, Dancehall Revival, coming this fall.

Toronto-based indie-folk artists John Muirhead released the new album The Nomad & The Never Ending Road, with the lead single “Made It Out”.

Hamilton's Ariana Fig has released her debut album So Long, Sinnerstate!

Quebec's Sébastien De Francesco has released the new song “Love on the Way Down”.

London, Ontario's Patrick James Clark has released his new single, "Cigarettes Were Cool" the first digital release from his sophomore album The Drive Home.

Toronto-based singer-songwriter Julian Taylor shares the new song “Drive,” a track that "reflects on the uncertainty of the current moment while offering a reminder to keep moving forward".

On July 31 Alli Walker released the single and video for Dog At The Door.

Vancouver-based country and bluegrass storyteller Mary Garnett Edwards released her song Boneyard on June 15, 2026.

Award-winning Canadian country artist Kelsi Mayne released her sophomore album Out Of The Blue on July 3.

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