Some of the best, most innovative musical acts ever started out when they were merely teens — The Runaways, Strokes and Arctic Monkeys, to name just a few — and Canada’s Teen Jam, a first-of-its-kind performance showcase, is well aware of the immense talent and creativity that can be developed during that wonderful time of life.
This year’s edition will be held in Sudbury Grace Hartman Amphitheater on July 21 and Toronto’s TD Music Hall on Oct. 10. The first event is free, while tickets for the Toronto showcase cost $20 for adults and $15 for students, and are available HERE.
Canada’s Teen Jam’s Discovery Program has proven hugely successful in uniting undiscovered musical teens and providing high-level opportunities such as performing on the same concert stages used by iconic Canadian music stars, and absorbing the professional world that surrounds them.
Back in July, Canada’s Teen Jam hosted its inaugural event at the Wayback Festival in Kitchener, receiving a whopping 300 submissions. This year’s event will be sponsored by United Van Lines Canada. Last year’s finalist, 15-year-old rock guitar hero Brandon Ahmet, will be flown to Miami Beach to perform at the company’s convention.
Teen Jam was created by Mark Higgins, producer, and founder of Big Music Fests, which has featured A-listers including Aerosmith, Bryan Adams, Soundgarden, The Tragically Hip, Slash, ZZ Top and many more legendary acts.
“When musical teens experience this level of excellence, they develop a great sense of worth, and a clearer path to fulfilling their dreams,” says Higgins. “Teen musical growth is essential for the future of our music industry! Canada’s Teen Jam will help in creating the next wall of sound.”
Teens ages 13 to 19 can submit video performances here, along with a $10 submission fee. Cash prizes will be awarded for the best performances — $1,000 in the band category, and $500 for the solo-artist category. All sounds and musical styles are encouraged, as well as both original songs and covers. More information can also be found on Canada’s Teen Jam’s website, Instagram and TikTok.
