There is a lot of new music coming out in 2017 — including highly-anticipated albums from some big-name artists and bands. Canada, of course, will continue to be represented.
Here are five Canadian acts with new music coming our way this year:
ARCADE FIRE
There could be a new album from this Montreal-based band within a few months. Or not.
During a Reddit AMA last summer, Will Butler suggested a spring release but also said the group’s fifth studio album will “be done when it’s done.”
Band member Tim Kingsbury told the CBC the new album — the first since 2013’s Reflektor — should be ready “sometime” in 2017.
Arcade Fire has scheduled a number of overseas festival appearances in June and July, leading many fans to assume the band will be playing some freshly-released music.
AVRIL LAVIGNE
The Ontario-born singer hasn’t put out an album since 2013 so fans were understandably thrilled when Lavigne announced on Christmas Day that she’s hard at work on new music.
“I will be releasing a new album in 2017,” she wrote in a message posted on social media.
“I can’t wait to open up and share my heart with you! I’m excited for you guys to hear the new songs.”
No doubt some of the songs will be inspired by Lavigne’s short-lived marriage to Chad Kroeger and her battle with Lyme Disease.
BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE
Last July, this Toronto-based collective confirmed on Twitter that they were working on a new album.
Then, Kevin Drew told George Stroumboulopoulos the band hopes to release the album this summer.
“We have to finish it, obviously, just a small thing called finishing,” he said of Broken Social Scene’s first collection of new music since 2010.
DRAKE
The Toronto-born rap superstar had a phenomenal 2016 thanks to his album Views — and he apparently wants to keep the momentum.
In October, Drake promised his new release will be titled More Life and it won’t be an album so much as a playlist.
“I want to give you a collection of songs that become the soundtrack to your life,” he explained on his OVO Sound Radio.
NELLY FURTADO
Fans have waited five years for a new album from Nelly Furtado.
The Ride, her sixth studio album, is scheduled to be released on March 31. She has said she collaborated on the collection’s 12 tracks with Grammy-winning producer John Congleton.
Furtado has already debuted a video for the single “Pipe Dreams.”