Two talented Hamilton players have a great chance at bringing some award hardware home. Local soul/blues legend Harrison Kennedyand bluesman Steve Strongman have been nominated for the 16th annualMaple Blues Awards .
Strongman has the distinction of having the most (six) nominations for this year. Kennedy will be up for two awards.
The Maple Blues Awards are taking place at Koerner Hall (Toronto) on January 21, 2013. Voting runs October 27-December 8, 2012. Click here to register to vote. Entertainer Of The Year
Colin James
Matt Andersen
MonkeyJunk
Shakura S'Aida
Steve Strongman
Electric Act Of The Year
Anthony Gomes
JW-Jones
MonkeyJunk
Paul Reddick
Steve Strongman
Acoustic Act Of The Year
Harrison Kennedy
Michael Jerome Browne
Ray Bonneville
Steve Strongman
Suzie Vinnick
Male Vocalist Of The Year
Chuck Jackson
Harrison Kennedy
Matt Andersen
Paul Reddick
Steve Marriner
Female Vocalist Of The Year
Dawn Tyler Watson
Nanette Workman
Shakura S'Aida
Suzie Vinnick
Treasa Levasseur
New Artist Or Group Of The Year
Ben Racine
Boogie Patrol
Conor Gains Band
Steve Kozak
The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer
BB King International Artist Of The Year
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Michael Burks
Dr. John
Curtis Salgado
Joe Louis Walker
Recording Of The Year
Steve Strongman: A Natural Fact
The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer: Checkered Past (Independent)
Shakura S'Aida: Time
Treasa Levasseur: Broad
Paul Reddick: Wishbone
Blues With A Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award)
His life is an intriguing, incredible story filled with pain, happiness, love, music and cherished memories.
In the book, Ellison remembers his rough early life in West Virginia, where he confronted racism, poverty and violence.
Later on, he also struggled with a blossoming music career. That path led him to write and record (with the Soul Brothers Six) one of the most covered songs in history: Some Kind of Wonderful.
This interesting look at the life of a local (and international) superstar is definitely worth reading.
The bio is mainly available for purchase at his website.
Below is a video interview (with a live song at the end) with the performer. Video courtesy of Cable14 Replay.
If the latest CD from local guitar master Andre Bisson, Till the Real Thing Comes Along, doesn't get you movin', you better check your pulse. This is the kinda music that's perfect for groovin' and havin' a good time.
To top everything off, we have some great covers, including Otis Redding's Don't Mess With Cupid and a unique, slow, bluesy take on Bon Jovi's You Give Love A Bad Name.
The disc is available at his live shows and through cdbaby, iTunes, and eMusic.
The incredible new EP from Hamilton's own Ginger St. James is called Tease. That's quite an apt title 'cause it'll leave you wantin' more.
The CD features 4 cool tracks that are chock full of rockabilly, blues, rock, country and anything else Ginger can throw in. It'll definitely get yer toes tappin'.
Ginger's sultry, dynamic voice is in full swing here. Her talented band takes things into high gear as well.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of his great classic CD, Landing, local singer/songwriter Jacob Moon has released Landing 2: The 10th Anniversary Concert.
Recorded at Catherine North Studios in front of a live audience, it showcases all but two tracks from the first Landing CD and a few others extras thrown in.
Rather than just perform straightforward live versions of the tunes, Jacob has offered his fans something extra special. The songs are wonderfully reinterpreted and re-imagined. Lucky listeners get new arrangements, tempo changes, and sometimes just little tweaks.
Along with the live show, Landing 2 boasts five new tracks: one original and four covers, including Bruce Hornsby's The Way It Is). Whether they're old are new, the songs all contain Jacob's trademark amazing guitarwork and emotional, inspiring voice.
It is pretty much a solo affair for most of the CD but the singer/songwriter is joined by Ali Matthews (vocals) and Rick Francis (steel guitar).