31 March 2026 - Ariane Roy, Thierry Larose, & Lou-Adriane Cassidy - Le Roy, la Rose et le Lou[p] (chanson thème)

This is probably the weirdest song I've ever posted.  

"But it doesn't sound weird".... well, actually, the entire concept of the album was strange.  You see, Ariane Roy, Thierry Larose and Lou-Adriane Cassidy are all popular musicians in the francophone music scene in Quebec.  They are also tremendous friends and have regularly appeared on each other's albums.  

I already told you one of them wrote and performed a song about and with another.   And live, too. 

In 2024, the three of them did a few shows together where they were all the headliners - Le (Ariane) Roy, (Thierry) la Rose, and Lou[p](-Adriane Cassidy) (this structure was a throwback to similar groups like this from the 1970s).... and then they released a live album - called Le Roy, la Rose et le Lou[p] - where each of them had 1/3 of the songs, and then they all got together and performed a theme song with all of them together.... the title song named after the three performers, written by the performers and Alexandre Martel (songwriting and romantic partner of le Lou[p] (and songwriting partner of la Rose, to be fair)).

I think the concept of a theme song for youself is so strange.

I almost didn't include a live version of this, but I couldn't not. They all bring so much energy!

And here they are performing the song on Quebec morning television, all wearing their jammies... they are very charming, to be fair.

Feel free to rewind and check out the interview with le Roy et le Lou[p] (et la Rose, but for some reason, he didn't get credited in the video)

ok, that's probably all the Lou-Adriane Cassidy for this March. 

31 March 2026 - Felix Cartal & Fionn - The Way

I have rarely done what I did today.

But when I tell you that Fionn is by far my most listened to artist so far in 2026, this cover of the Fastball classic is a big reason for this. 

OK, sure, it's really Felix Cartal's song - he's providing the music while the Finn-Morris twins are giving you the great harmonies - but c'mon.  He's not why you're here. 

This video was filmed in five hours in Mission, British Columbia. And yes, they did turn a motor vehicle into a ball pit. 

31 March 2026 - Fionn - I Might Start Smoking

I have traditionally saved the last day of March for the last few years for a newer artist I have recently discovered that has been on heavy rotation for me. 

In 2021, that was Cœur de Pirate. In 2022, that was Lights.  In 2023, that was Lennon and Maisy Stella. In 2024, that was The Beaches. 

Let's not talk about last year. 

For this last day of March, I'm going to talk about a band I only just discovered a few months ago. 

In fact, I first heard them and their latest album, scum., on December 10th of last year.  It was so good, I rated it my 16th favorite album of 2025.  Let's read what some critic said about them:

"Fionn’s scum. is pure femme‑rage pop‑rock, a tight, snarling little record where every chorus feels like finally saying the thing you swallowed at work, at the bar, on stage. Songs like “Blow” and the title track turn mansplaining, bad exes and low‑level everyday misogyny into sugar‑rush guitar anthems, all Veruca Salt/Elastica‑coded hooks and twin‑sister harmonies that made this one of my go‑to “I'm pissed, but I need to be pissed safely” albums of 2025." - literally me. 

Since then, I've had a chance to live with Fionn's catalog and music.  Not only would I rate scum. higher now than I did in December - and spoiler alert, I'm going to revisit that list - it's likely a top 10 album and woefully underappreciated. They are my most listened to artist so far in 2025 - and I have branched out further than their latest album.  

Today's song is the title song from their 2023 set that featured the same femme-rage pop rock and same twin sister harmonies - and may have been been a little angrier. 

I kind of like the Vancouver-based harmonies even more live.  And, here, you can tell that - although they do have a drummer - the signature sound is all Alanna and Brianne Finn-Morris's work. 

Yes, the band's name is a play on their last name.  

I think this video probably shows best why Fionn's music resonates with me.

Literally anyone can dance to this. 

30 March 2026 - Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now

I was looking through my drafts after hearing last night's tribute to her on the JUNOS as she received the Lifetime Achievement Award... and it was given to her by the literal Prime Minister, Mark Carney.  I've never been a huge Joni Mitchell fan - but she was a fantastic songwriter and performer. 

Sarah McLachlan and Alison Russell did a brilliant job performing this song in tribute... and then Joni walked out on stage and tried to perform as well... but her mic wasn't working for some reason.  I feel like someone else up there could have given her a working microphone... but anyway.  Because she got cut off from singing more, I wanted to make sure *I* paid tribute to her here.

This performance is from 1970 and the Isle of Wight festival.

Now, what is maybe not so well-remembered is that she also won a lot of Grammy Awards... and her last win came in 2024, with her live album from the Newport Festival.  She performed this song live in the ceremony that year, and it was very different sounding.... not just her voice, which was huskier, sure, but also a woman who had lived a life and a GREAT one at that. 

It is a chillingly good performance. 

30 March 2026 - Lou-Adriane Cassidy - Valse frustrée

A year ago, I had no idea who Lou-Adriane Cassidy was. 

Well, I will admit that I have a draft from 2024 of one of her songs for this blog.  I literally didn't realize that until I was writing this post. 

Three months ago, I declared her FIRST 2025 album, Journal d'un Loup-Garou, my favorite album of 2025.  I would reconsider a number of my 2025 list choices.  THAT is not one of them.  CLEAR best album of 2025.  If that album had not won the Francophone album of the year at the JUNOS this weekend (which, of course it did), I would have been shocked!

One of the choices I would reconsider is on my honourable mentions list - and it is Triste Animal, Lou-Adriane Cassidy's SECOND 2025 album.  Whereas the former tells a huge, sweeping story, the latter is more intimate - a quieter, different-sounding album.  Both albums deserved top 10 spots, and I really hope Triste Animal is a Polaris consideration this year. 

So, what better way to show you a frustrated waltz than a huge crowd?

I think it's telling that there aren't really videos for the songs on Triste Animal.  There's just her, her huge voice, and the strong emotion from the songs she wrote with Alexandre Martel.

YES, that is Thierry Larose on guitar.  Let's just dispense with that right now. 

But if you REALLY want to hear the studio version, here ya go.  It's still pretty great!

Lou-Adriane Cassidy and Thierry Larose will return.

28 March 2026 - cootie catcher - ontario

cootie catcher are a band from Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

I'm kidding.  They're from Toronto.

For those unfamiliar with Canada, three guesses as to what province Toronto is in.  For those familiar with Canada, THEY LITERALLY WROTE A SONG ABOUT THEIR HOME PROVINCE.

I mean, they didn't write a POSITIVE song about their home province, but they DID write it. 

From their 2023 EP 5678, this is a great representation of the lo-fi pop music cootie catcher has been making for years. 

Even small bands perform live. 

In people's living rooms.

Specifically, the drummer's living room.  

Which is, presumably, in Ontario. 

27 March 2026 - Nelly Furtado - Maneater

Did you realize that we've never posted Nelly Furtado during March?

We didn't.  

Which is a shame, because on Sunday, Nelly Furtado - who announced her retirement from live performances that she better be breaking tonight - is inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.  And, really, we should have given her more due before today. 

So, we chose this song, co-written by Furtado, Jim Beanz, and producers Timbaland (who appears on a different Nelly Furtado song that was an even bigger hit than this one, and who also provides background vocals to this) and Danja (who ALSO contributes background vocals), that is Nelly's 2nd biggest hit in Canada (to date, I presume), making it to #2 in 2006.  

Of COURSE she went on Letterman and performed the hell out of the song. 

26 March 2026 - Triples - Happy April

 This is the last regular post I'm writing for this year's Maple Leaf March. I think.  I may write more stuff.  We'll see. 

Triples is the Toronto-based musical project of Eva Link - singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor.  It wasn't always that way - it started off as a joint venture between Eva and her sister, Madeline.  This song, from their 2019 album Big Time, is from the days it was a duo - and you can see they both appear and sing here.

26 March 2026 - PACKS - Honey

I lied. THIS is the last regular post I'm writing for this year's Maple Leaf March. I think.  I may write more stuff.  We'll see. 

PACKS is the Toronto-based musical project of Madeline Link - singer, songwriter, guitarist and onetime actor.  It wasn't always that way - she started off with a joint venture with her sister, Eva, called Triples - but Madeline left when PACKS became too much of a demand.

There's no acrimony between the sisters, by the way.  They're still very close. 

PACKS's 2024 album Melt The Honey gives the same Liz Phair/Juliana Hatfield vibes, and it is really good.  This is the title song from that set.

Unlike Triples, we have some live material we can share from PACKS.... like this show from 2023, prior to the album release.  You can see that Madeline is an excellent, if not a little shy, frontwoman... and that the rich sounds from Packs is not just one person, but a whole band. 

26 March 2026 - Triples - Be Around

This is the last regular post I'm writing for this year's Maple Leaf March. I think.  I may write more stuff.  We'll see. 

Triples is the Toronto-based musical project of Eva Link - singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor.  It wasn't always that way - it started off as a joint venture between Eva and her sister, Madeline - but Madeline left when the success of her project, PACKS, became too much of a demand.... so it became Eva's project.

It's pretty good, too - her 2026 EP Every Good Story gives solid Liz Phair/Juliana Hatfield vibes. "Be Around" closes the set, and it is a love song that was inspired by Eva's relationship with her boyfriend and the honeymoon period she experienced at the beginning of it. 

25 March 2026 - Laurence Nerbonne - On danse encore

Youtube has made it a lot harder to share videos from there to Blogger.   It makes me worry about the future of this platform.  

So, while I contemplate that, I hope you enjoy this Gatineau-based artist who is making some truly excellent dance music.  

I love it when artists really enjoy the music and the art, and you can tell that she's enjoying playing her song live for this mixed-age crowd.

She is also clearly enjoying herself performing duing the Enfant Soleil telethon on Quebec television.

24 March 2026 - Elisapie - Arnaq

By the way, Inuktitut was a great album, but it wasn't the first time Elisapie had sung in that language.

This song was the lead song and single from her 2018 album The Ballad of the Runaway Girl, a multilingual masterpiece, with songs in Inuktitut, English and French - years before Rosalía showed off being a polyglot. 

The album got Elisapie a Juno nomination and her first Polaris shortlist.  The song - the title translates to "Woman" in English and speaks to the strength of women - is absolutely masterpiece level work.

I debated which of the many excellent live performances of this song to share with you.

I chose this one, from CBC Music, which shows 1) it's a clearly guitar-driven song and 2) the song has a slow burn and slow build to an epic conclusion.

But also, I couldn't not share this performance from Seattle, WA, UNITED STATES radio station KEXP - from 2024, when she was touring in support of Inuktitut.  This 2018 song was epic and iconic enough to make the cut for the short setlist. 

24 March 2026 - Elisapie - The Love You Gave

Just because she released an album called Inuktitut does not mean that she doesn't speak English.

Or write her own songs.

Indeed, this song is both original and in English.  Her 2012 album Travelling Love was completely in English.  Of course, as a Quebec artist who also happens to identify as First Nations, she's at least trilingual, and a lot of her earlier music was in English. 

Fun story - she received a 2012 Juno Award nomination timed with this album, in the Breakthrough Artist category...... but she had previously won a Juno in 2005, so the nomination was rescinded.  

This song, co-written by the artist, is one of my favorites from her early career.  It's just a sweet pop song. It is here for you to enjoy. 

23 March 2026 - Thierry Larose - Cantalou

Do I understand every cultural reference in every song I post? Nope.  Especially I don't understand some from Quebec. 

Do you know who does? Quebecois indie singer-songwriter Thierry Larose. 

And I feel like I am missing a cultural reference here. Maybe one of you can tell me what it is.

At any rate, this was the title song from Larose's debut album, cowritten by the artist and a large team, including Charles-Antoine Olivier (who also plays drums on this song) and Alexandre Martel (no joke, he's banging the congas and tambourine here), with whom he won the 2021 SOCAN Songwriting Prize - for a different song, but just to show you that he's got a solid team with strong chops surrounding him. 

I don't care that this song is in French.  I care that it's a great song that would sound in place on any indie radio station. 

This single was from 2021, but he certainly still performs it live, as in this performance from Montreal in 2025. That is NOT Alexandre Martel on tambourine....

I promise you I didn't plan this. I didn't know this performance existed before about five minutes ago. 

Thierry Larose and Lou-Adriane Cassidy will return.

22 March 2026 - Mustafa - Gaza is Calling

We talk a lot about the Polaris Music Prize on here.  Mostly because it does honour really great Canadian music.  Hell, I could do a Polaris month at this point.   

Until last year, it honored albums only.  Last year, they partnered with SOCAN and gave out a song award as well.   This was the winner, and given what was going on in the world last year that I hope as of the time this blog post is published (I'm literally writing it the day after the win) is resolved because it's awful, it makes an awful lot of sense.

This song was a big single from Mustafa (the Poet)'s album DUNYA, which was also shortlisted for last year's album prize.  It was good, and heartfelt, and a very pretty album, and this is a beautiful, emotional song. 

21 March 2026 - DAPHNI ft. CARIBOU - Waiting So Long

This is a single from DAPHNI, which is a project by Canadian electronic musician Dan Snaith.  On this single, he collaborated with CARIBOU, which is a project by Canadian electronic musician Dan Snaith.

Yep.  He collaborated with himself.

Which, well, is kind of fun.   

DAPHNI's new album Butterfly was released last month, and, well, it's a bright, happy electronic sound (unlike CARIBOU, which is darker). I enjoyed it, and I hope you do, too!

20 March 2026 - Debby Friday - Lipsync

Last year, Polaris Prize-winning artist Debby Friday released yet another great electronic album, The Starrr of The Queen of Life. 

Debby isn't necessarily a typical Canadian artist - she's signed to Seattle record label Sub Pop, she was born in Nigeria - but the Montreal-raised and Vancouver-based artist is certainly the embodiment of everything that is great about Canadian music and why I dedicate approximately 1/12 of the year and a solid 10-15% of the posts on this blog to Canadian music - because it's innovative and fun and exciting and unlike anything you hear anywhere else on earth.

Also, Canadian artists tend to put on a hell of a show no matter the genre, and you can see that Debby has the way-too-small early day crowd in the palm of her hand.... and brings ALL the energy to this very cool song. 

19 March 2026 - Beyries - Du temps

Part of me really feels terrible pulling out more francophone content when most of my audience is English-speaking.

Part of me knows that 2 of my top three posts of all time are by artists from Quebec (yes, doing anglophone songs, but stay with me).  Francophone content does very well here. 

And, since Beyries's latest album Reprises made my Wicked 25, and remains one of the few artists I have not otherwise discussed, let's talk about her. 

Amélie Beyries was a public relations professional until age 28... when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. During her treatment (she's twenty years past that, guys), she discovered songwriting and began making music as a career.  

This song, with music written by the artist, is from her 2024 album Du feu dans les lilas, which is an excellent francophone set from an artist who seamlessly glides back and forth between English and French.  It's absolutely beautiful - so I hope you enjoy it. 

18 March 2026 - Carly Rae Jepsen - Tug Of War

You thought you were getting away with no Carly Rae Jepsen this March?

Nope.  

But we went OLD.  We went to her debut album, from the pre-"Call Me Maybe" times. This was the title song and main single off that album - written by Jepsen and her producer, Ryan Stewart. It was her first Canadian hit - and second single overall - peaking at #36 on the Canadian Top 100 and doing better on adult contemporary radio.

This album and single were released in 2008, a year after her third place Canadian Idol finish.  Bonus points if you can name the top 2. 

It's a song about her begging a guy to stay in with her tonight.  

I love these "before they were really famous" performances, because you can see her excitement, even back then.

17 March 2026 - The Tragically Hip - At The Hundredth Meridian

 I find myself coming back to the Hip more the older I get.   

And why wouldn't I?  They're clear Canadian music royalty. And this song - from their 1993 album Fully Completely - is quintessentially Canadian - named for the line that separates the East from the prairies, running somewhere between Winnipeg and Regina, really close to the western shores of Lake Winnipeg. 

Yep.  I looked it up. 

But it was more than that.  It was a song about being at the edge - the brink - and pressing forward. 

Written by the band, it was a top 20 hit in Canada and a top 40 hit at US rock radio - further cementing their legendary status. 

I think my Canadian fans know and by now my worldwide fans know as well that lead vocalist Gord Downie passed away in 2017, and the 2016 tour was their farewell.  Their last shows, in their hometown of Kingston, Ontario, were nationally televised and watched by 1/3 of the Canadian population. 

Of course they played a spirited performance of this song. Note the faster tempo and extended jam break.

Also, we really miss Gord Downie and we're not afraid to say it.