The Great Canadian Song Cycle

A coast-to-coast musical ride

Hi folks! I’m Aengus Finnan, an an Irish-born Canadian musician who loves a good song, a small town, community, and cycling.

When I was 16 (see older photo below) I cycled around Lake Ontario with a friend and dreamed of one day crossing the country. This summer I’m making good on that dream as part of a self-gifted pause, trading in the blue screen for the blue sky, and an arts admin desk for a saddle and open roads.

Meandering where the songs take me, the journey from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Victoria, British Columbia is about 8,000 km (5,000 miles). Along the way I’ll be mapping songs about the places folks call home with an interactive map that I hope you’ll add your favourite place-based songs to.

Follow my journey on Instagram and check the space below for more in-depth updates

Trip Updates

Coming soon! This journey kicks off June 15. I’ll have regular photos and videos on Instagram, and a more detailed recap here. Stay tuned for updates.

Itinerary

While I’ll be following where the songs take me, this is a cross-country trip. Below is the tentative list of places I’ll be visiting. If I’m passing near you and you’d like share a song for my video journal, or ride along for a bit, feel free to reach out!

June

  • Cape Spear, St John's, Newfoundland

  • Cape St Marys, Newfoundland

  • Come by Chance, Newfoundland

  • Gander, Newfoundland

  • Twillingate, Newfoundland

  • Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland

  • Deer Lake, Newfoundland

  • Corner Brook, Newfoundland

  • Stephenville, Newfoundland

  • Channel-Port aux Basquesa, Newfoundland

  • Sydney, Nova Scotia

  • Neils Harbour, Nova Scotia

  • Chéticamp, Nova Scotia

  • Mabou, Nova Scotia

  • Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia

July

  • Guysborough, Canso, Nova Scotia

  • Sheet Harbour, Ship Harbour, Nova Scotia

  • Halifax, Nova Scotia

  • Peggy's Cover, Oak Island, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

  • Liverpool, Nova Scotia

  • The Hawk, Nova Scotia

  • Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

  • Digby, Nova Scotia

  • Margaretsville, Nova Scotia

  • Truro, Nova Scotia

  • Pictou, Nova Scotia

  • Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

  • Cavendish, Prince Edward Island

  • Summerside, Prince Edward Island

  • Shediac, New Brunswick

  • Miramichi, New Brunswick

  • Campbellton, New Brunswick

  • Gaspé, Québec

  • Rimouski, Québec

  • Trois-Pistoles, Les Escoumins, Québec

  • Baie-Saint-Paul, Québec

August