Hello, fellow music fans!

The Toronto International Film Festival is celebrating its 50th anniversary right now, bringing a whole new slate of films to movie lovers. For cinephiles who are also music fans, there's an array of movies to dive into, ranging from an Elvis documentary, to a look back at the Lilith Fair music festival, to a musical comedy featuring a slew of Green Day hits.

The CBC Music digital team has singled out 10 films for music lovers to watch this year.

And good news for people not living in Toronto: many of these films are playing at film festivals across the country this fall, so keep an eye out for your local schedule!
 

How to watch and listen to the 2025 Polaris Music Prize

The 2025 Polaris concert and awards ceremony will take place at Massey Hall for the third year in a row, on Sept. 16, with nine of the artists and bands shortlisted for the album prize performing. And this year, you’ll be able to live stream the event, hosted by past winner Haviah Mighty, via CBC Music's YouTube page and CBC Gem, starting at 8 p.m. ET. 

Remember this incredible Ring of Fire cover?

While sisters Lennon and Maisy Stella may have separate careers as actors and musicians now, 10 years ago they were together as onscreen sisters in the hit TV show Nashville — and often performed as a duo. We caught up with them in Nashville at the time, and their cover of Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire blew us away.

Justin Bieber is back to form on new album Swag II

Justin Bieber is in his surprise release era. Back in July, his first album in four years, Swag, came with little fanfare or promotion, and yesterday he released its companion, Swag II, in the same way. Bieber is still grappling with his marriage, parenthood and the public's perception of his personal life, but where Swag was a sonic departure from his accessible pop and R&B sensibilities, this companion album is closer to what listeners have come to expect from the star. 
 

Dua Lipa shows love to her favourite Canadian artists

The pop star covered Nelly Furtado’s I’m Like a Bird and brought Mustafa onstage to perform his song Name of God during the Toronto shows of her Radical Optimism tour.

That time Feist taught us to count on Sesame Street

Eighteen years ago this week, Feist released the hit single 1234 from her Grammy-nominated album, The Reminder. It’s hard to believe that Feist almost forgot to show her daughter a clip of her singing the song from her visit to Sesame Street many years ago.

Listen to the National Youth Orchestra of Canada on In Concert with Paolo Pietropaolo

Each year, Paolo Pietropaolo launches the new season of In Concert with a performance by the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, a hotbed of talent representing the future of classical music in this country. This year's orchestra was exceptionally good, and you can hear for yourself by tuning in on Sunday, Sept. 7, at 11 a.m. (11:30 a.m. NT). Naomi Woo conducts works by Gustav Mahler, Sergei Prokofiev and Nicholas Denton Protsack, recorded live at Toronto's Koerner Hall.

The Beaches will receive 2025 Billboard Canada Women of the Year honour

Montreal pop singer Charlotte Cardin won Billboard Canada's inaugural Woman of the Year Award in 2024, and this week she announced Toronto rock band the Beaches as the 2025 winner. Beaches members Jordan and Kylie Miller, Eliza Enman-McDaniel and Leandra Earl will accept the honour on Oct. 1 in Toronto.

Chasing honesty with Lou-Adriane Cassidy on her Polaris-shortlisted album

The eighth episode of The Ten, CBC Music’s weekly Polaris shortlist deep dive, explores Journal d’un Loup-Garou, Lou-Adriane Cassidy’s early 2025 release. Listen in for insight and expertise from CBC Music’s C’est Formidable host, Florence K, and digital producer Holly Gordon.

Have you heard this Scarborough construction worker’s viral remix yet?

In this episode of Marvin's Room you'll hear music from Lauryn Hill, Selena, Jon Vinyl — and Tamir, the construction worker and talented rapper from Scarborough whose freestyle just went viral.

Kathleen Edwards is choosing not to be self-deprecating anymore

It's been five years since Q's Tom Power last caught up with Canadian singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards, and in that time, a lot has changed. Now, Edwards is back with a new album, as well as a brand new attitude and approach to her life and music. 

Justin Bieber locked at No. 1 on the Top 20 for the 2nd week in a row

The latest global hit from Canadian pop superstar Justin Bieber — before he dropped an entirely new album this week — is dominating at home, too. Daisies has taken root at No. 1 on the CBC Music Top 20 for its second week, holding off U.K. singer Olivia Dean at No. 2, and Canadian rapper Tobi at No. 3. New entries into our chart this week include a love song from Toronto balladeer Billy Raffoul, a comeback track from American hip-hop duo Clipse, and a tour de force collab from Shantel May and Haviah Mighty.

Thanks so much for joining us for this issue of Listen Up! If you loved it, feel free to let us know at listenup@cbc.ca — and use the same email if you have questions or suggestions. Please share it with your friends, family and even enemies via cbc.ca/listenup.