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.Philippe Renaud, "La Montréalaise Backxwash remporte le prix Polaris". Le Devoir, October 19, 2020. November 1 – 42nd Felix Awards
Albums released
# 2Frères, À tous les vents 88Glam, New Mania – June 26
A Aerialists, Dear SiennaScott Roos, "Aerialists, Dear Sienna". Exclaim!, February 19, 2020. 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 20Brock Thiessen, "Arkells Strip Down for New Album 'Campfire Chords'". Exclaim!, July 30, 2020. Tenille Arts, Love, Heartbreak, & Everything in Between – January 10 Aquakultre, Legacy – May 8Oliver Crook, "Aquakultre Cement Their 'Legacy' as Canadian Neo-Soul Breakouts". Exclaim!, May 5, 2020. Aquakultre and Uncle Fester, Bleeding Gums Murphy – October 9Matt Bobkin, "Aquakultre and Uncle Fester Announce New Album 'Bleeding Gums Murphy'". Exclaim!, August 12, 2020. Ardn, ALIEN Art of Time Ensemble, Ain't Got Long Rich Aucoin, United States – September 18 Austra, Hirudin – May 1Allie Gregory, "Hear Austra Join Forces with a Toronto Children's Choir on 'Mountain Baby'". Exclaim!, April 16, 2020.
B Backxwash, God Has Nothing to Do With This Leave Him Out of ItScott 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. Badge Époque Ensemble, Self-HelpStuart Berman, "Badge Époque Ensemble, Self Help". Pitchfork, November 21, 2020. Bahamas, Sad Hunk – October 9Angela Morrison, "Bahamas' 'Sad Hunk' Lives Up to Its Name". Exclaim!, October 8, 2020. Jason Bajada, Elizabeth Tim Baker, Survivors – July 10 Jill Barber, Entre nous Quinton Barnes, AARUPA Gary Beals, Bleed My Truth – October 23 Daniel Bélanger, Travelling – October 2André Péloquin, "Daniel Bélanger fait son cinéma". Le Journal de Montréal, October 3, 2020. Belinda (Lisa LeBlanc), It's Not a Game, It's a LifestyleJosée Lapointe, "Lisa LeBlanc et son alter ego disco-bingo". La Presse, June 14, 2020. Beòlach, All Hands Beyries, EncounterKaelen Bell, "'Encounter' Shows Beyries' Hunger for Discovery". Exclaim!, November 13, 2020. 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 John Borra, Blue WineJason Schneider, "John Borra set to return with new album Blue Wine; shares first single ‘Trace in the Wind’". Roots Music Canada, December 13, 2019. Braids, Shadow Offering – June 19 Dean Brody, Boys – November 18 Bruce Peninsula, No Earthly Sound – April 17Vish Khanna, "Bruce Peninsula's 'No Earthly Sound' Marks a Stunning Return from the Toronto Art-Folk Collective". Exclaim!, April 20, 2020. Roxane Bruneau, Acrophobie"Après la Dysphorie, l’Acrophobie de Roxane Bruneau". Ici Radio-Canada, October 30, 2020. Basia Bulat, Are You in Love? – March 27"25 Canadian albums to look forward to in 2020". CBC Music, December 30, 2019.
C Shawna Cain, The Way Lou Canon, Audomatic Body Caribou, Suddenly – February 28 Carys, To Anyone Like Me Casey MQ, babycaseyRachel Evangeline Chong, "Casey MQ Celebrates and Interrogates the Glamour of '90s Boy Band Pop on 'babycasey'". Exclaim!, August 17, 2020. Jennifer Castle, Monarch Season – October 16Alex Robert Ross, "Jennifer Castle shares “Justice” and announces new album Monarch Season". The Fader, September 16, 2020. Ramon Chicharron, Pescador de sueños 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 Ora Cogan, Bells in the RuinsFrancesca Rose, "Ora Cogan's Haunted 'Bells in the Ruins' Hints at a Darkness Beneath the Surface". Exclaim!, July 14, 2020. Louis-Jean Cormier, Quand la nuit tombe Rose Cousins, Bravado – February 21Sarah Murphy, "Rose Cousins Reveals New Album 'Bravado'". Exclaim!, November 7, 2019. CRi, Juvenile"CRi lance Juvenile, un premier album 100 % québécois". Ici Radio-Canada, October 17, 2020. 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 16Stuart Derdeyn, "5 things to know about Someone New by Helena Deland". Vancouver Sun, October 13, 2020. Destroyer, Have We Met – January 31 Dizzy, The Sun and Her Scorch Dog Day, Present Gord Downie, Away Is Mine – October 16Jesse Kinos-Goodin, "Listen to 2 songs from Gord Downie's final solo recording, Away is Mine". CBC Music, September 21, 2020. 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, AliveSteve Horowitz, "‘Alive’ Showcases the Two Sides of Fred Eaglesmith and Tif Ginn". PopMatters, November 12, 2020. Jade Eagleson, Jade Eagleson – July 24 Kathleen Edwards, Total Freedom – August 14Jonathan Bernstein, "Kathleen Edwards Left Behind Roots-Music Stardom to Sell Coffee. Now She’s Back". Rolling Stone, May 19, 2020. Elephant Stone, Hollow – February 14Alex Hudson, "Exclaim!'s 31 Most Anticipated Canadian Albums of 2020". Exclaim!, January 6, 2020. Lindsay Ell, Heart Theory – August 14 Elliott Brood, Keeper – September 18Calum Slingerland, "Elliott Brood Return with New Album 'Keeper'". Exclaim!, July 8, 2020. Emanuel, Alt Therapy Session 1: Disillusion (June); Alt Therapy Session 2: Transformation (December) Micah Erenberg, Art Week (the album); HBD Michael Toronto 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 Fredz, Personne ne touche le ciel
G The Garrys, Haxan Hannah Georgas, All That Emotion Matthew Good, Moving Walls – February 21 Grandson, Death of an Optimist – December 4 Gordon Grdina, Prior Street 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 21Brock Thiessen, "Sarah Harmer Returns with Her First New Album in a Decade". Exclaim!, November 14, 2019. 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 19Matt Bobkin, "Japandroids Announce New Live Album 'Massey Fucking Hall'". Exclaim!, May 27, 2020. Yves Jarvis, Sundry Rock Song Stock – September 25 Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated Side B – May 21 The Jerry Cans, Echoes – May 15Allie Gregory, "Jerry Cans Unveil New Album 'Echoes,' Plot North American Tour". Exclaim!, January 22, 2020. Berk Jodoin, Berk Jodoin July Talk, Pray for It – July 10Allie Gregory, "July Talk Announce New Record 'Pray for It'". Exclaim!, April 2, 2020. Junia-T, Studio Monk Juurini, Saimanrimut
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 20Alex Hudson, "Dan Mangan Releases Covers Album 'Thief'". Exclaim!, November 20, 2020. Cory Marks, Who I Am – August 7 Matthew Tavares & Leland Whitty, Visions – March 20 Matt Mays, Dog City – August 28Oliver Crook, "Matt Mays' 'Dog City' Turns a Corny Concept into a Heartwarming Experiment". Exclaim!, May 22, 2020. Jon McKiel, Bobby Joe HopeVijai Kumar Singh, "Jon McKiel Communes with Ghosts on Postmodern Masterpiece 'Bobby Joe Hope'". Exclaim!, April 27, 2020. Shawn Mendes, Wonder – December 4 Tyler Joe Miller, Sometimes I Don't, But Sometimes I Do – November 6 Ryland Moranz, XO, 1945Eric Volmers, "Lethbridge roots musician Ryland Moranz's sophomore record mixes the personal, political and universal". Calgary Herald, February 5, 2021. 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, GlassLaura Stanley, "Former Mauno Member Eliza Niemi Is Subtly Unpredictable on 'Glass' EP". Exclaim!, April 21, 2020. Nyssa, Girls Like MeSarah Chodos, "Toronto's NYSSA Subverts Traditions on 'Girls Like Me'". Exclaim!, August 20, 2020.
O The OBGMs, The Ends – October 30Calum Slingerland, "The OBGMs Detail New Album 'The Ends'". Exclaim!, August 12, 2020. Ocie Elliott, In That Room;Mike Devlin, "Local duo finds momentum during the pandemic" . Victoria Times-Colonist, November 5, 2021. TracksMatt Wallock, "Ocie Elliott Return to Their Acoustic Roots on ‘Tracks’" . American Songwriter, July 16, 2020. Odario, Good Morning Hunter – October 23
P The Pack A.D., It Was Fun While It Lasted Partner, Never Give Up – November 20Ian Gormely, "Partner 'Never Give Up' on Their Quest to Share the Power of Rock Music". Exclaim!, November 18, 2020. PartyNextDoor, Partymobile – March 27 PartyNextDoor, Partypack – October 16 Nico Paulo, Wave Call Orville Peck, Show Pony EP Klô Pelgag, Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs Jonathan Personne, Disparitions 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 18Vish Khanna, "Regina Gently Channels the Joy of 'Electric Circus' on 'Don't Wait to Love Me'". Exclaim!, September 23, 2020. 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 17Matt Bobkin, "Daniel Romano Enters Self-Quarantine, Surprise-Releases New Album". Exclaim!, March 17, 2020. 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