The 2026 AE West cohort is officially at Studio Bell. 🎶 Twelve artists from across Western Canada have kicked off the program’s 10th anniversary edition, presented by Canada’s Music Incubator (@CMincubator) and NMC. Over the next month, they’ll work with mentors and industry experts to build lasting careers in music. Mark your calendars for the free AE West Artist Extravaganza Showcase at the King Eddy (@KingEddyYYC) on Dec. 2, where each artist will perform two songs. Swipe through for a first look at this year’s artists. 📸: Jaxi Barton

Friendly reminder! 🔔 There’s still a chance to grab tickets for this Friday’s Six String Nation Guitar show. Built in 2006 as a public art project exploring Canadian identity, the instrument nicknamed the Voyageur comes to Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, on Nov. 6 for an intimate evening of music and storytelling with @jjshiplett, John Wort Hannam, @EmilyTriggs, and Jaiden Riley. Hear Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” performed on a guitar that contains a piece of Rocket Richard’s Stanley Cup ring. 🔗 Get tickets: bit.ly/3UbMEGf You can also watch Jowi Taylor, the founder of the project, share the story behind the guitar: bit.ly/4yVWXMI

Anishinaabe roots-rock singer-songwriter Graeme Jonez's new single, “Hey Coyote!” was inspired by the coyotes that wandered into his Toronto neighbourhood after being displaced from their natural habitat. The song serves as both a warning to the animals and a reflection on the impact of urban development on wildlife. Drawing on his Anishinaabe roots and storytelling traditions, Jonez uses his music to share messages about our relationship with the natural world. Captured during the OHSOTO’KINO Music Incubator at the National Music Centre (NMC) in Calgary, watch the full performance on NMC Amplify: bit.ly/4yR9tNv Special thanks to TD for its support of NMC’s OHSOTO’KINO Indigenous Programming Initiative.

Remember when campus radio was where underground music came to life? Dig into Toronto’s campus radio archives from the early 1990s with David and Sydney Dacks at Studio Bell on Nov. 21. In A Radio Active Community, an experimental audiovisual experience, David digs into his digitized cassette library for the sound, while Sydney’s multi-screen visuals act as title cards for those who weren’t there and spark memories for those who were. Afros In Tha City founder Dooshima Kimberley Jev will host a conversation after the performance with: 📻 Toronto promoter and campus radio legend Kwame Younge 📻 CJSW Sonic Cycle host Kaamil Kareemi 📻 CIUT-FM volunteer David Dacks and visual creator Sydney Dacks This program is included with general admission. Plan your visit: bit.ly/4A0Qm4x

Ready or not, the festive season is almost here, and tickets are going fast for our holiday shows. 🎄 A Holly Jolly Jill Barber Christmas is filling up for Dec. 13 at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre. If you’ve been waiting to book, now is the time. Settle in for an evening with Barber and her quartet, who bring a nostalgic mix of holiday classics, original songs, and plenty of stories to go with them. 🔗 Get your tickets: bit.ly/3UiNTmm

Spooky season needs a soundtrack. 🎃 We asked folks to name their favourite #Halloween songs. Which one makes your playlist every October? Tell us in the comments.

Pine Creek First Nation melodic rap artist @YT_Chills wrote “Lost Spirit Night” about the shock of losing his cousin. Years later it became a catharsis and a reflection on finding light after one of the darkest periods of his life. Captured during the OHSOTO’KINO Music Incubator at the National Music Centre (NMC) in Calgary, watch the full performance on NMC Amplify: bit.ly/4zdSTZ4 Special thanks to TD for its support of NMC’s OHSOTO’KINO Indigenous Programming Initiative.

#Spookyseason is better with sound effects. On Oct. 31, Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, has #Halloween-themed activities for the whole family. 🎃 Drop in to PlayLab: Halloween Foley Fun from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, where you can use everyday props and instruments to create your own sound effects for a classic Halloween movie like 1929’s Mickey Mouse: The Haunted House. 🎃 Catch our Halloween Kimball demos alongside silent films. PlayLab is free on the main floor. Admission is required on Studio Bell’s upper levels. Head to studiobell.ca/whats-on to plan your visit.

Presented with Canada Bridges, the 13th annual A Youth Explosion (AYE) comes to #StudioBell, home of the National Music Centre, on Nov. 20. 🎶 AYE is a collaborative gathering where #Indigenousyouth and young adults connect with community and share their stories with a large and diverse audience. About eight to 12 Indigenous storytellers, ages 16 to 30, will take the stage. This year’s evening also features vendors and the Alberta debut of recording artist #LOV. 🔗 Get tickets: bit.ly/4yy1xAN

PSA: #StudioBell will be closed tomorrow (Oct. 27) for a private event. Every other day this week, we're open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Come explore five floors of musical exhibitions, whichever day works best for you. 🎶 Thanks for your understanding!

🗳️ Vote for NMC’s Jam Club in the 2026 @FieldLaw Community Fund Program. Jam Club is NMC’s free after-school program where youth build skills and confidence through music. Help Jam Club get a matching gift of $10,000. Voting closes Nov. 20: bit.ly/47ws2eT

Award-winning singer-songwriter @DonovanWoods is coming to Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, for two nights on Feb. 24 and 25. Since releasing his first album a decade ago, Woods has built a catalogue of rousing, acclaimed music that blends folk, country, and pop. An artist who isn’t afraid to bear his soul, his songs have resonated with audiences all over the world. Pro tip: Become an NMC Member today for a 15% discount and early access to tickets at nmc.ca/members. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10:00 am on Oct. 30 at studiobell.ca/whats-on.

Looking for something to do this weekend? #StudioBell, home of the #NationalMusicCentre, is full of ways to listen, explore, and make music together. 🎶 Whether you're bringing the family for some hands-on fun or settling in for a one-of-a-kind listening experience, there's something for everyone. This weekend at Studio Bell: 👇 🎛️ Saturday 11:30 am – PlayLab: Circuit Jam 🎛️ Sunday 11:00 am – Synth Soundbath: Buchla 200 Make it a full day by joining a Backstage Tour or a Greatest Hits Tour to discover the instruments and stories behind our collection. Head to studiobell.ca/whats-on to plan your visit.

“The majority of the music I write is just my own therapy. It’s my live journal.” For Tłı̨chǫ (Dene) singer-songwriter Stacie Arden Smith, songwriting starts with what she knows. In her song “60th Line,” the Yellowknife artist captures the freedom of setting off on an adventure and the comfort of knowing that home will always be waiting for her. Captured during the OHSOTO’KINO Music Incubator at the #NationalMusicCentre (NMC) in Calgary, watch the full performance on NMC Amplify: bit.ly/4idom6z Special thanks to TD for its support of NMC’s OHSOTO’KINO Indigenous Programming Initiative.

Honour Canada's veterans with a special day of music at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, on Remembrance Day. Admission will be free for everyone on Nov. 11. 🎺 The day will feature a performance by Marc Beaudin, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran and award-winning musician. A Warrant Officer with the Canadian Forces Music Branch, Beaudin has performed internationally and earned two Global Music Awards for his album Jazz Cafe de Cuba. #RemembranceDay at Studio Bell is supported by Veterans Affairs Canada. Learn more: bit.ly/4yDRtX1

We’re still feeling the energy from #Mudmen's Celtic-rock show at this past Sunday. The band brought their signature bagpipes, driving guitars, and East Coast kitchen party spirit to Calgary for a night full of good tunes and good times. Check out some photos from the night! 🎸🎶 📸: Aiden Latka

When school’s out on Thursdays, NMC Jam Club is in. ✨ #NationalMusicCentre’s free drop-in program gives youth ages 12 to 19 a variety of instruments to explore, a space for creativity, and a community of like-minded friends. Come anytime between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm, and see what you can create. Visit studiobell.ca/jam-club to find out more.

That’s a wrap on 100 years of Faust! 🎬 Thank you to everyone who joined us for three nights of F. W. Murnau’s silent cinema masterpiece, brought to life with a live score by multi-instrumentalist Chris Maric on NMC’s Allen Theatre Organ. Presented in partnership with @CalgaryCinema, this centennial celebration brought a century-old tale of demons, angels, and deals with the devil back to the big screen. Look back at Faust’s 100th anniversary! 📸: Jaxi Barton

Experience the vibrant rhythms of Latin percussion this Wednesday! 🎶 Join us on Oct. 21 at #StudioBell, home of the National Music Centre, for a special edition of Forever Young: Seniors’ Wednesdays in honour of Latin Heritage Month and presented with Jubilee Arts. Percussionist Luis Tovar will draw on his Venezuelan and Afro-Caribbean roots for an interactive musical experience celebrating the rich rhythms of Latin America. Admission is free for seniors 65+ and included with general admission for everyone else. Head to studiobell.ca/seniors to learn more.

What a ride it’s been since PlayLab opened to the public! 🥁 From hands-on activities and workshops to plenty of musical experimentation, we’ve packed a lot of play into this free, interactive space. Families, kids, and curious music lovers of all ages have been discovering how sound works the best way we know how – by making it. And we’re only getting started. ✨ Bring the family back on the weekend for new activities, workshops, and more opportunities to make some noise. Find out what’s on: bit.ly/4B3qRks 🎶 Song by Rattle & Strum.