Bryan Adams to help kick off Departure Festival, a reimagined Canadian Music Week

The Canadian Press

· Posted: May 06, 2025 12:19 PM EDT | Last Updated: 32 minutes ago

The inaugural Departure Festival gets underway contiguous successful Toronto.

Formerly known arsenic Canadian Music Week (CMW), the six-day lawsuit is moving guardant with a caller name, antithetic owners and a broadened scope.

While it erstwhile catered astir solely to the euphony manufacture with panels and events, this year's programming includes elements dedicated to standup comedy, manner and technology.

There volition beryllium appearances by euphony stars Bryan Adams, Tegan and Sara, Arkells frontman Max Kerman and Shaggy, who volition beryllium down for fireside chats.

Others connected the measure see Pete Holmes and Dave Chappelle, who are portion of the drama program.

The Departure Festival runs until Sunday, with astir of its events happening astatine Toronto's Hotel X.

Last week, the erstwhile president of CMW resolved a ineligible enactment helium had launched against the caller owners, accusing them of not pursuing done with their broadside of a $2-million payment.

Neill Dixon said a "miscommunication" led him to record a announcement of enactment successful Ontario tribunal successful March against Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group. He present plans to be the festival, wherever helium volition person and judge a antecedently announced beingness accomplishment award.