The sixth CBC Music Festival will take place on Saturday, May 26, at Toronto's RBC Echo Beach. (Get your tickets through Ticketmaster.)
The all-Canadian lineup of acts will perform on six different stages. Here's your guide to the bands playing the CBC Festival Stage. Start times are approximate.
2 p.m.: Zaki Ibrahim
The proceedings start with a soulful set from Canadian–South African singer-songwriter Zaki Ibrahim. The focus will be on her latest album, The Secret Life of Planets.
In addition to Ibrahim's trademark "sci-fi soul," expect a smartly dressed band with some well-choreographed moves.
3 p.m.: Caveboy
What a year it has been for Montreal pop trio Caveboy. The band was one of three selected as winners of the 2018 Allan Slaight Juno Master Class, and the bandmates performed their song "Something Like Summer" at the 2018 Juno Gala Dinner and Awards in Vancouver, culminating a tour of Northern Ontario and the Prairie provinces.
They're on fire and we're predicting they'll burn up the CBC Festival Stage with their distinctive new wave/synth pop sound.
4:10 p.m.: Midnight Shine
Midnight Shine's latest album, High Road, is a collection of roots-rock originals (plus one Neil Young cover) that pays homage to the bandmates' cultural backgrounds — they hail from Attawapiskat and Moose Factory, Ont. — and celebrate resilience. "Through my music, I hope this message will resonate with people from the James Bay coast, and other isolated places," lead singer Adrian Sutherland told CBC. "This album is for them."
We're looking forward to hearing songs from High Road (including Young's "Heart of Gold," with a verse sung in Mushkegowuk Cree) when Midnight Shine hits the CBC Festival Stage.
5:10 p.m.: Johnny Balik
If, like us, you've been totally blissing out to Johnny Balik's latest single "Honey," you'll already know he's got a beautiful voice (that falsetto!) and an easy way with an R&B tune.
Settle in for an intimate set from Balik — you'll hear the influence of artists like Jason Mraz and Jack Johnson, but updated with a unique, contemporary and more soulful sound.
6:25 p.m.: Kacy & Clayton
Winners of the 2017 Juno Award for contemporary roots album of the year, Kacy & Clayton make a timeless, often surprising brand of folk music. Its elements are familiar, but updated with production values and lyrics that make it almost futuristic-sounding, as the title track (below) from The Siren's Song shows.
This performance by the Saskatchewan duo promises to be one of the festival's highlights.
7:25 p.m.: Logan Staats
You may have caught Logan Staats on episode 1 of CTV's The Launch back in January. He was mentored by Shania Twain and selected to record and release the new hit "The Lucky Ones." He told CBC, "It's been, honestly, one of the best things that I've done thus far in my musical career."
A Mohawk resident of the Six Nations of the Grand River, Staats knows how to rock, often accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica. Expect an energetic and authentic performance from Staats to wrap things up on the CBC Festival Stage.
As in past editions, the CBC Music Festival will offer a CBC Kids' Zone that includes crafts, activities and entertainment throughout the day. There will also be a selection of food trucks on-site.
Visit cbcmusic.ca/festival on Saturday, May 26, to stream the 2018 CBC Music Festival performances.
More to explore:
Your guide to the CBC q stage lineup at the 2018 CBC Music Festival
Your guide to the CBC Main Stage lineup at the 2018 CBC Music Festival
Your guide to the River Bar stage lineup at the 2018 CBC Music Festival
Everything you need to know about the 2018 CBC Music Festival