FROM THE VAULTS is a breathtaking all-access journey into a Canadian treasure that few people have ever seen: The CBC Music Archives. Hosted by Amanda Parris and Tom Power, this series features musical performances and candid interviews, shining a bright light on a remarkable musical story – our own. The first episode airs 9pm on CBC Television.

Viewers are brought deep into the vault, plunging into rich and complex musical stories that explain the changing face of Canada over the past 60 years. Landmark CBC shows like Take 30 and Dance Parade are showcased, immersing viewers in remarkable performances by top artists including Sammy Davis Jr, Leonard Cohen, Buffy Ste Marie, Shania Twain, k.d. lang and many more.

Produced for the CBC by Banger Films, FROM THE VAULTS is a coast-to-coast-to-coast musical and cultural exploration, offering a cinematic and modern approach to storytelling, utilizing many of the breakthrough techniques that Banger has pioneered, including a unique 3D animated treatment to archival photos that will give viewers an unforgettable sense of actually being there. FROM THE VAULTS will unravel Canada’s musical tapestry – one story at a time.

Banger Films produced FROM THE VAULTS, sorting through 600 hours of content from the CBC archives over a five month period to gather the 200 minutes of footage that appear in the series. FROM THE VAULTS includes seldom-seen performances by Celine Dion, The Guess Who, k.d. lang, Leonard Cohen, Paul Anka, Sammy Davis Jr., Shania Twain and more. Over 60 candid interviews with musicians and industry insiders including Adrienne Clarkson, Carole Pope, Maestro Fresh Wes, Paul Anka, Paul Soles, Randy Bachman, Sarah McLachlan and Shad are also featured throughout to provide further insight into the groundbreaking music moments from the mid-1950s onwards.

ROM THE VAULTS showcases performances from:

World-renown entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., singer-songwriter Joan Baez, reggae legendJackie Mittoo and blues singer Muddy Waters seeking the freedom to explore their talents on Canadian soil.

Thursday, November 15 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT)

Halifax’s own Sarah McLachlan, Edmonton-bornk.d. lang, Montreal jazz pianistOscar Peterson, and Toronto 1970s-1980s drag performer Craig Russell leading the charge for social change and activism in Canada.

Thursday, November 22 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT)

London rockers The Who, folk musicianJames Taylor, 1950 Toronto quartet TheCrew Cuts, and new wave rock band Rough Trade, young artists on the scene working to shake up the status quo.

Thursday, November 29 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT)

Award-winning singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte Marie, Toronto-born rapper Maestro Fresh Wes, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Jeff Healey, and Jamaican-American singer Harry Belafonte bringing marginalized voices to the mainstream.

Thursday, December 6 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT)

Folk legend Gordon Lightfoot, Winnipeg rockersThe Guess Who, Montreal vocalistCeline Dion, and Hamilton rock band Crowbar, broke past the American music machine in novel ways to become homegrown stars.

Thursday, December 13 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT)

Iconic artist Bryan Adams, standout singer-songwriter Anne Murray, country legend Shania Twain, and Montreal’s acclaimed singer-songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen are captured in their first steps on the road to global stardom.

Thursday, December 13 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT)

Past CBC performances by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Jefferson Airplane, Duke Ellington, Pat Benatar and Paul Anka also appear throughout the series.

FROM THE VAULTS can be watched on CBC TV, the CBC TV streaming app, and cbc.ca/watch. 

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment, and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors, and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats. Reach out - bryen@thebuzzmag.ca