INDIGENOUS ARTISTS MARK DECADE OF GORD DOWNIE’S SECRET PATH
Along with being the 10th anniversary of The Tragically Hip’s final tour, this year also marks a decade since the release of Gord Downie’s album, graphic novel and animated film, Secret Path. The milestone will be celebrated on October 23 with a show at Toronto’s Concert Hall featuring a host of Indigenous artists who will play songs from the album in honour of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF). Those participating include William Prince, Amanda Rheaume, Mimi O’Bonsawin, Julian Taylor, Aysanabee, Thea May, Wolf Saga, and Tom and Thompson Wilson.
Secret Path tells the story of Chanie Wenjack, an Anishinaabe boy who in 1966 died after running away from an Indian residential school in an attempt to get back to his home in northern Ontario 600 kilometres away. The album was co-produced by Kevin Drew and Dave Hamelin, and was the last music Downie released prior to his death in 2017.
Tickets for the Secret Path 10th Anniversary Concert are available from Eventbrite.
JIM CUDDY BAND SETS ONTARIO TOUR IN NOVEMBER
The always busy Jim Cuddy will be taking his solo band back on the road in November for a mini-tour of Ontario that will find him playing some intimate venues. The band line-up includes Blue Rodeo members Bazil Donovan and Colin Cripps, along with fiddler Anne Lindsay, drummer Joel Anderson, and keyboardist Steve O’Connor.
Tickets for all shows are on sale now at jimcuddy.com. Cuddy’s most recent solo album is 2024’s All The World Fades Away.
Jim Cuddy Band 2026 Tour Dates:
Nov 12 – Keswick ON – Stephen Leacock Theatre of Performing Arts
Nov 14 – Morrisburg ON – St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage (w/ Sam Polley)
Nov 19 – Orillia ON – Orillia Opera House (w/ Billianne)
Nov 21 – Brantford ON – Sanderson Centre (w/ Billianne)
Nov 24 – Peterborough ON – Showplace Theatre (w/ Billianne)
Nov 25 – Meaford ON – Meaford Hall
Nov 26 – Meaford ON – Meaford Hall
Nov 27 – Blyth ON – Blyth Memorial Hal (w/ Billianne)
NEIL YOUNG RETURNS TO THE STAGE WITH WILLIE NELSON
On the heels of the release of his latest album Second Song, Neil Young and his current band The Chrome Hearts performed their first official concert of 2026 on Sept. 22 in Bridgeport, Connecticut as part of a handful of co-headlining dates with Willie Nelson leading up to this year’s edition of Farm Aid on Sept. 26 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Nelson opened the night, and Young joined him for a rendition of “Are There Any More Real Cowboys,” the song that the pair recorded together for Young’s 1985 album Old Ways. The Chrome Hearts then performed a 12-song set comprised of a mix of classics, along with the live debuts of “Casting Me Away From You” and “Earth Girl” from Second Song.
At the start of this year, Young cancelled an extensive world tour, stating that he needed to “take a break.” Hopefully, this means he’s getting back in shape for next year.
MICHAEL KIWANUKA SUFFERED STROKE AFTER COMPLETING NEW ALBUM
Acclaimed British singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka has confirmed the release of his fifth album, the self-produced FUDGE, but he’s also shared some disturbing news that he suffered a stroke earlier this year. In a Sept. 23 Instagram post, Kiwanuka wrote, “I’m very happy to be announcing to you my new album FUDGE. I’m especially happy because the last few months I’ve been battling some health problems which would heavily hinder and get in the way of me making music for the foreseeable future.”
Kiwanuka went on to say that the “quite severe” stroke occurred a few months ago after a bleed on his brain that was caused by high blood pressure. He added that he’s facing a long period of recovery, and that all touring plans are on hold. “It’s a long, tough journey ahead but I’m fighting to get better.”
FUDGE was completed long before the stroke and will be released on Oct. 23. In his post, Kiwanuka remained excited about sharing the album, saying that he made it without any outside pressure or expectations. Regarding the title, he said, “When I think of fudge it’s playful and childlike, which is good for creativity… But also it’s a polite way to say I’m just going to do it.” FUDGE can be pre-ordered HERE.
PYE DUBOIS 1948 – 2026
Paul Woods, better known as Pye Dubois, beloved lyricist for the band Max Webster and longtime Kim Mitchell collaborator, has died at the age of 77. His family announced that he passed away at his home in London, Ontario on Sept. 15.
Dubois was a rare example of a lyricist being considered a full band member when it came to Max Webster, with his words capturing a surreal perspective on Canadiana long before others such as Gord Downie embraced the concept. Those words perfectly complemented Max Webster’s distinctive prog-pop sound that produced many Canadian radio staples such as “High Class In Borrowed Shoes,” “A Million Vacations” and “Paradise Skies.”
Max Webster’s close relationship with Rush also led Dubois to collaborate with Neil Peart on the lyrics to their signature song “Tom Sawyer,” as well as “Battle Scar,” which appeared on Max Webster’s Universal Juveniles album and featured both bands playing together.
In a 2021 interview, Kim Mitchell told the story of how he and Dubois began working together after establishing a friendship in their hometown of Sarnia, Ontario. “It wasn’t until I was 20 years old in the Isle of Rhodes in Greece, Pye came over for a visit because he was going to travel to Turkey. I was living on a Greek island playing in a show band. He started pulling out material, lyrics and stuff, and I was like, ‘What’s this?’ He goes, ‘I kind of write.’ I remember the first song we wrote. I read the lyric, pulled out the guitar, and we wrote our first song in Greece. After that, my Greek trip, I came back to Toronto to take guitar lessons and start Max Webster. That’s when Pye and I started writing the first record.”
Dubois remained an enigmatic figure throughout his life, largely avoiding the media, which prompted some to question whether his name was a pseudonym for another artist. However, Vancouver journalist Steve Newton managed to interview Dubois and Mitchell together in 1994, during which Pye stated, “I’ve never really had the balls in an interview to say that I’m my biggest influence, but I think because I’m a bit of a neurotic and I’m the kind of a guy who wears my emotions on my sleeve, I’m a good resource. How I’m feeling, how I move through my feelings, and how I resolve or don’t resolve them is always intriguing, and I’ve never been afraid to put that down on paper or to share that with Kim.”
Incredibly, Dubois died on the same day as Max Webster drummer Gary McCracken, and we at Roots Music Canada send our deepest condolences to both of their families and to Max Webster fans everywhere.
