Cockburn Celebrates His 80th with New Songs and Touring Dates

June 1, 2025

IM  -  

Ottawa-born Bruce Cockburn, one of Canada’s most revered singer-songwriters, celebrated his 80th birthday May 27.

Cockburn of Local 180 (Ottawa-Gatineau, ON) has released 38 albums over five decades and has been honored with 12 JUNO Awards. In 2001, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. He’s received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award and has been made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Though considered a folk artist, Cockburn’s musical styles embody blues, rock, jazz, and world music. Cockburn, who is bilingual, endeared himself to Québécois listeners when he insisted that lyrics be printed in English and French in his album inserts and on covers. That led to his breaking into the Quebec market, including the 1978 French-language hit “Prenoms la mer.”

After spending time in Paris performing as a street musician, Cockburn went to Berklee College of Music, but left after a few semesters to begin his career. He had already been working since the late 1960s, when his commercial breakthrough outside Canada came in 1979 with “Wondering Where the Lions Are.”

Cockburn, who is renowned for his guitar skills, is also deeply respected for his activism. He became involved in Native and Indigenous rights, banning land mines, environmental causes, and the debt of developing countries. He’s worked with organizations such as Oxfam, Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, and Friends of the Earth.

Political themes factored prominently in 1984’s Stealing Fire, which produced the hits “If I Had a Rocket Launcher” and “Lovers in a Dangerous Time.” Cockburn has given benefit concerts to raise awareness about issues close to his heart, including the Haida people of British Columbia and their struggles around land claims.

O Sun O Moon, his latest studio album, shows that he hasn’t stopped writing songs that challenge the status quo.

---