Big in Canada

May 10th! Live Show! Tickets here!⁠John Batt, the man behind the Instagram account @canada.gov.ca, has lived in Quebec for years, but the Atlantic Ocean is never far from his Maritimer heart. This week, John gets alllllllllll fired up with Mac and Laura to talk about The Rankin Family, what they mean to the Maritimes, family bands, regional differences and much more.

As the 00s drew to a close and all meaning was lost to an endless sea of vibe and aesthetics, one final Avril-lite managed to break through to tween Bluenotes shoppers around the country.We look at Shiloh's ska-infused "Operator", which made her one of the final almost-stars of the MuchMusic-era, only for the rug to be pulled out from under her ascendant Canadian fame. Also discussed: phones, post-iPhone anxiety, Maestro lately, stickers, campus-core, Toronto suburb hierarchy update, our own personal JUNOs controversy, Bryan Adams' Canadian tour, Angine de Poitrine and more.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR FULL EPISODEFor this month's bonus episode we are diving into the Canadian songs on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart for the week of February 28th, 2026. Find out what's changed since 2004 (not much), what's good (not much), what's bad (most!) and what it all means.Also discussed: our impending live show in Toronto, the difference between Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock and (very briefly) politics (yuck!).Listen to this episode's playlist via Spotify here and via Apple Music here.Tickets to our out live show at Departure Festival.

LIVE SHOW SHOW TICKETS! MAY 10 AT BURDOCK MUSIC HALL!On a cold February day in 1985, some of Canada's biggest music stars answered the vehement pleas of manager Bruce Allen and gathered in a Toronto studio to record the charity single, "Tears Are Not Enough". As the fate of Ethiopia rests on the shoulders of producer David Foster, the studio's air is thick with cigarette smoke and the uncomfortable energy of a workplace Christmas party. But egos are being checked at the door. In this special episode of Big in Canada, we rank the performances of all of the soloists heard on Northern Lights' "Tears are Not Enough". Who comes out on top? Who's a little flat? And who shows up in a white limo?Also discussed: The Tears Are Not Enough documentary, kissing fans on the lips, Waiting for Guffman, Neil Young's steez, and much more.

As the first Canadian rapper to break into the mainstream, Maestro Fresh Wes broke down barriers and changed the Canadian music industry. From his platinum selling debut smash Symphony in Effect to a more recent release that can only be described as the most CanCon album of all-time, Maestro stuck to his vision to become the Godfather of Canadian Rap. Also discussed: Trate McRae, the ukification of Canada, Halifax potholes, Big Milk, Drake, rap in Canada, and more. 

SIGN UP FOR OUR PATREON, THAT'S WHAT I KNOWPopular music in the 1980s was defined by the Video Star: Madonna, Michael Jackson, Peter Gabriel, Prince. But in Canada, it was Lawrence "Larry" Gowan, whose music videos, hair and musical prowess captured the imagination of a nation who needed their own version of these icons. Gowan is now known as one of the key members of Styx, but his story also finds him crossing paths with the Beatles, Yes, Ronnie Hawkins, Kim Mitchell and a man named Tickle. Also discussed: Scarborough, prog pasts, The Weeknd, Queen Street West, drama, keyboard rigs, criminal minds, music videos and much more.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON!Born unto a family of musicians, it was predestined that Halifax singer-songwriter, actor, and educator Melanie Doane would join the family business. Fitting in perfectly with the folk-rock sound of "women's music", Melanie released two good records, one really great song, played Lilith Fair, and was crowned the Best New Solo Artist at the 1999 JUNOs. But was her heart ever really in it? Also discussed: Tate ‘The Traitor’ McRae and other CanCon betrayals, other Frosh-Week Core bands, The October Game and Sarah McLachlan, MuchMoreMusic, the ukification of Canada, the Doane Music School, and more.

HEY! EVERYBODY! SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON!We're going to Mac's memory palace to discuss the brief but potent popularity of Mississauga reggae-rock-ska-punk band illScarlett. Hit the bong and find out how Canada's Sublime became a brief major label success story.Also discussed: big to you bands, street signs, theft, Warped Tour afterparties, Supernova, Brad Rubens: Philadelphia lawyer, the One-A video shoot, rerecording your songs over and over, being let down by bands, becoming an influencer and more.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR THE FULL EPSIODE We breakdown the various performances from 2010 Vancouver Olympics closing ceremony and then give our instant reactions to the 2026 JUNO nominations. Who are these awards for? What are sales? Is it still 2005? Things are strange out there. NOTE: This episode was recorded before Tate McRae defected to Team USA...more to come on that.

I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON!During the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Canada was in the palm of Nikki Yanofsky’s hand. At just 16 years old, this child star captured the heart of a nation by singing the official Olympic anthem, “I Believe.” But this undeniable power ballad is an anomaly in Nikki’s career which is otherwise filled with all that jazz.Also discussed: Dad Rap, 2010 Olympic memories, scatting, “child prodigies”, Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, being rizz-less, and much more.