Retro – Popular Music in Canada From the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s

Popular music became an explosive cultural force in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. Featuring more than 100 artists, this new exhibition looks at how musicians and listeners experimented, challenged the status quo, and sparked new forms of creative expression.

Explore the work of iconic singer-songwriters such as Joni Mitchell and Gilles Vigneault, stadium-filling acts such as The Band, Céline Dion and Rush, and bold trendsetters such as Rough Trade, k.d. lang, Kashtin and Dream Warriors. Highlights include stage clothing, musical instruments, album covers, and handwritten lyrics, along with song clips, videos and photographs that bring their stories to life.

Retro – Popular Music in Canada From the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s reveals how music can be social, personal and political — often all at the same time. Transporting visitors to different places and times, Retro shines a new light on the era’s ongoing influence and enduring impact.

An exhibition developed by the Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau.

Presented by: