The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is gearing up for non-stop entertainment this summer, with tons of big names hitting the stage.
Canada’s largest annual fair returns from Aug. 15 to Sept. 1 at Exhibition Place and has a big lineup of stars performing from rock to R&B artists. In preparation for the big fair, here are seven artists performing at the Bell CNE Bandshell Stage you need to check out this year!
Shawn Desman
Date: Aug. 15
Shawn Desman became a groundbreaking star in Canada for his signature sound in R&B, which led him to receive a Juno Award, three MMVAs, and multiple SOCAN Awards. His hit song “Maniac” became a comeback single, after taking a hiatus from music prior to the release, winning back the hearts of previous fans and new listeners to his music. His single “Love Me With The Lights On,” became a song which established his return to the musical scene, which later led him to a partnership with the brand Knix for a campaign on self-love and body positivity. The campaign made major headlines, after featuring the country’s most popular social media stars to participate in the movement.
Aqyila
Date: Aug. 19
Aqyila is a Toronto R&B singer and songwriter who gained the love from new school R&B fans through her hit songs “Bloom” and “Hello.” Her song “Vibe For Me (Bob for me)” hit over 10 million streams across the world and landed her a nomination for her first Juno Award. Ever since, Aqyila became an ambassador for TikTok’s #RnBMonth in 2022, opened concerts for large performers like Kimbra and Cat Burns, and was also a performer at Billboard Canada’s NXNE festival this year at Toronto’s Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge and Dundas Square) alongside charting artists like Khalid and Roy Woods.
Rêve
Date: Aug. 19
Rêve is a Canadian singer and songwriter from Montreal, who gained a massive fanbase for her pop and dance sound. She gained internet fame after a video of her singing the U.S. and Canadian national anthems went viral on social media. Ever since, Rêve used her musical skills to write and produce club music, which eventually led her to move to Toronto and get signed with Universal Music under Banx & Ranx, a production songwriting duo. Rêve’s major hit “CTRL + ALT + DEL” became a breakthrough song in her catalogue, which skyrocketed her career in the music industry.
Jay Douglas
Date: Aug. 21
Jay Douglas is one of Toronto’s highly acclaimed reggae artists and musical producers. After receiving three Juno Awards nominations, performing at various festivals worldwide, and collaborating with international reggae stars like Ziggy Marley and Ernest Ranglin, Douglas’ professional career extends beyond the North and into the rest of the world. His music career started when he was the frontman of the band “The Cougars” who dominated the Caribbean nightclub scene in Montreal and Toronto in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Douglas is currently still active within the Toronto community, while recently partnering with the city to create Reggae Lane in Toronto’s Little Jamaica.
Jully Black
Date: Aug. 24
Jully Black is a Jamaican-Canadian singer, songwriter, and actress from Toronto, who rose to international musical fame in the 1990s after being signed to Warner/Chappel music at the ripe age of 19. Her hit song “Rally’n” became the song which gained her national recognition, after becoming a top 40 hit song in Canada in 1998. Throughout the early 2000s Black continued her music career, and also pursued acting in a play called “The Kink in My Hair,” which later became a television series on CTV. Black continued to be a recognized face in Canadian media, after appearing on “Canadian Idol” as a celebrity reporter, performing at the 2010 Winter Olympics, and performing for Celine Dion at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival. She has also received multiple Juno Award nominations and won two awards, and sang the Canadian national anthem at the 2023 NBA All-Star game which she received honour from Indigenous groups for changing the lyrics to “our home on native land.”
Bishop Briggs
Date: Aug. 26
London-born artist Bishop Briggs was an international superstar before superdom, after growing up in Japan and Hong Kong as a child. Her career took off when she moved to Los Angeles after graduating high school, where she was later discovered after consistently performing at small venues in her early career. Her musical sound consists of folk, pop, and electronic music. She has been No. 1 on Spotify’s US Viral Chart and other highly listened charts on the music-listening platform, and has over 40 million streams in the alternative charts. She has also opened shows for Coldplay, Kaleo, and Alt-J, and became one of 2017’s biggest breakout artists.
Mariana’s Trench
Date: Aug. 29
Mariana’s Trench is a Canadian pop rock band from Vancouver, who popped out in the music scene in 2006, which was followed by their hit singles “Say Anything” and “Shake Tramp.” The band continued to release various gold and platinum singles, along with lead singer Josh Ramsay co-writing and producing music for artists such as Carly Rae Jepsen like her global hit “Call me Maybe.” Throughout the band’s career, they have won numerous awards, such as SOCAN, Junos, Canadian Radio Music Awards, and many more, making them a cultural phenomenon in Canadian musical history.
For a full list of the artists performing, visit the CNE’s website here.
