09/16/2025
Top Canadian Music Acts to Celebrate Neil Young’s 80th Birthday at Massey Hall
All Proceeds from the Event to be Donated to MusiCounts
Riverfest Elora is so so happy to collaborate on this and our creative director, Spencer Shewen, is one of the producers on this too!
Tickets go on sale this Friday, Sept. 19 at 10am at
https://masseyhall.mhrth.com/tickets/ny80/
Website for full details: https://ny80.ca/
An impressive lineup of some of Canada’s most popular singers and songwriters is coming together to celebrate Canadian music icon Neil Young’s 80th birthday on November 12th at Massey Hall. Hosted by CBC’s Tom Power, “NY80: A Celebration of and His Music” will feature performances by artists including Dallas Green (City and Colour), Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo), Kathleen Edwards, Donovan Woods, Serena Ryder, Joel Plaskett, Julian Taylor, Matt Mays, and many more.
All proceeds from the event will be donated to MusiCounts, Canada's music education charity associated with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and The JUNO Awards.
The show will be anchored by a multi-layered house band under the direction of musician and producer Aaron Goldstein - covering material from Buffalo Springfield to the Stray Gators, to Crazy Horse and all points between. The 11-piece group will feature a selection of Toronto’s most in-demand musicians and vocalists, including Blue Rodeo’s Glenn Milchem, the Sheepdogs’ Shamus Currie, and indie guitar great Ian Blurton. Spencer Shewen, of Riverfest Elora and Mariposa Folk Festival, will produce the event.
"I've wanted to stage this event for a number of years, so am excited it’s finally happening," said Howl Entertainment’s Dale Gago, the event’s organizer. “Neil Young is one of our greatest artists, and I’m grateful all of these amazing musicians are going to take the stage together to celebrate him on his 80th birthday. And what better setting than Massey Hall. We’re looking forward to raising money for such a great charity like MusiCounts.”
"Neil Young is nothing short of a legend in Canada and beyond,” adds Kristy Fletcher, President of MusCounts. “MusiCounts is honoured to recognize his legacy through NY80, and will be investing the proceeds in school music programs across the country."
Born in Toronto on November 12, 1945, Neil Young is one of modern music's most influential and prolific artists. Known for his personal lyrics, distinctive guitar sound, and high-tenor singing voice, Young came to prominence in the 1960's as a member of Buffalo Springfield, then as a solo artist and member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and often backed by the band Crazy Horse. His critically acclaimed albums include Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, After the Gold Rush, Harvest, and Rust Never Sleeps, with popular songs including "Heart of Gold", "Cinnamon Girl", "Helpless", "Old Man", "Hey Hey, My My", and "Harvest Moon". Young has received multiple Grammy and Juno Awards, is a two-time inductee of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2009.
The lineup (in alphabetical order):
Luke Bentham (The Dirty Nil)
Charlotte Cornfield
Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo)
Kathleen Edwards
Dallas Green (City and Colour)
Sarah Harmer
Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar)
Matt Mays
The OBGMs
Peter and Leah (JULY TALK)
Joel Plaskett
Serena Ryder
SATE
Julian Taylor
Skye Wallace
Ruby Waters
Tom and Thompson Wilson
Donovan Woods
The house band:
Aaron Goldstein - guitar, pedal steel, musical director/bandleader
Carleigh Aikins (Dwayne Gretzky, Bahamas) - vocals
Ian Blurton (Change Of Heart) – guitar
Shamus Currie (the Sheepdogs) - Hammond organ
Thom Hammerton (Kathleen Edwards, Cuff The Duke) – piano
Brian Kobayakawa (Serena Ryder) - bass
Doug McBrien (Bent Neck & The Joints) - guitar, pedal steel, banjo
Glenn Milchem (Blue Rodeo) - drums
Dani Nash (July Talk, Sarah Harmer) – drums
Nick Rose (Dwayne Gretzky) - vocals
Anna Ruddick (Chantal Kreviazuk, Fefe Dobson) - bass
Supporting partners for the event include National Music Centre, Mariposa Folk Festival, Riverfest Elora, Gold Standard Recorders, The Flyer Vault , Pantages Hotel, and Exclaim!
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