East Coast DNA

06/11/2026

The Polaris Music Prize has revealed its 2026 Album Long List, naming 40 Canadian records in contention for the country’s most prestigious album award.

Selected by a jury of 205 music critics from across Canada, the Long List is drawn from 202 eligible releases and recognizes artistic merit regardless of genre, sales, or popularity.

Among this year’s nominees are Nova Scotia artists Aquakultre (1783) and Baby Nova (Shhugar), along with Toronto’s Holy F**k (Event Beat) — whose Brian Borcherdt has deep roots and ongoing ties to the East Coast music community — alongside a wide range of acclaimed Canadian artists.

🎶 2026 Polaris Music Prize Album Long List

• Angine de Poitrine — Vol. II
• Aquakultre — 1783
• Baby Nova — Shhugar
• The Beaches — No Hard Feelings
• Begonia — Fantasy Life
• Bibi Club — Amaro
• Boy Golden — Best of Our Possible Lives
• Mariel Buckley — Strange Trip Ahead
• Lou-Adriane Cassidy — Triste animal
• Ora Cogan — Hard Hearted Woman
• cootie catcher — Something We All Got
• Charlotte Cornfield — Hurts Like Hell
• Daphni — Butterfly
• Nadah El Shazly — Laini Tani
• Dominique Fils-Aimé — My World Is The Sun
• Foxwarren — 2
• Beverly Glenn-Copeland & Elizabeth Copeland — Laughter In Summer
• Holy F**k — Event Beat
• Home Front — Watch It Die
• JayWood — LEO NEGRO
• Rochelle Jordan — Through The Wall
• Kaytranada — AIN’T NO DAMN WAY!
• Catherine Leduc — Les jours où il neige à tous les postes
• Les Louanges — Alouette!
• Men I Trust — Equus Caballus
• Tami Neilson — Neon Cowgirl
• No Joy — Bugland
• Ouri — Daisy Cutter
• Peaches — No L**e So Rude
• PONY — Clearly Cursed
• Propagandhi — At Peace
• PUP — Who Will Look After the Dogs?
• Julianna Riolino — Echo in the Dust
• Shad — Start Anew
• Slash Need — SIT & GRIN
• Arielle Soucy — Passages
• Tanya Tagaq — Saputjiji
• TOBi — For Good Measure (at Dreamhouse Studios)
• Katie Tupper — Greyhound
• Charlotte Day Wilson — Patchwork

The 10-album Short List will be announced on July 9, with the winner revealed at the Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony at Massey Hall on September 22.

Which albums are you hoping advance? 👇

06/10/2026

Josh Janes was the first guest of the East Coast DNA podcast in 2026, and one of the first people to great us in Sydney at the ECMAs this year. A promising new country artist, we expect to hear a lot more from Josh over the coming years.

As the Export Showcase wrapped up, I was heading out of the hotel when a familiar, catchy tune caught my ear. I managed to sneak into the Moose & Crown just in time to snap a photo of Josh Janes performing his hit single, Hometown Pride.

The quick jump from a dark room to a bright one left my camera settings a little out of sync, but the result was this pretty cool silhouette shot.

Looking forward to catching Josh live again soon. If you haven’t checked out his music yet, you can find it on all streaming platforms. 🤠🎶

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06/10/2026

I cannot say enough good things about this band or the people that make it up. Stoked to see them coming to Pictou County for Giantstock: Three Days Of Music, Camping and Pettipasitivity on Labour Day weekend September 2026 🤘 We are overdue featuring them on the East Coast DNA podcast. Let’s change that soon!

06/10/2026

Former guests of the East Coast DNA podcast, The Irish Descendants, as captured by Melinda Butler Photography at the East Coast Music Association (ECMA)’s 2026 showcases

06/08/2026

Elyse Aeryn rocking out for Melinda Butler Photography at East Coast Music Association (ECMA) 2026! Plenty more coverage still to come…

06/08/2026

06/08/2026

More great shots from Melinda Butler Photography