Sunday, June 22, 2025

Music Listings, Part 1: June 23-26, 2025

June 23-26, 2025

We try our best to make sure these listings are as accurate as possible. If you spot any errors or omissions, please email us at blueshamilton@gmail.com.


2025: Jun 23-26 / Jun 27-29


Monday, June 23


Niagara Jazz Festival (Jun 14-23, 27, 29)

1pm: Alfie Smith @ 13th Street Winery (St. Catharines)


4-7pm: Evan Rotella @ Getaways Bar & Grill (Sherkston) (Weekly)



6-9pm: Paul Mallard @ Pub Fiction (Ancaster)(Weekly)

7-10pm: Open Mic with Feverish Lemons @ Doc Magilligan's (Niagara Falls) (Weekly)

7-9pm: Brant Harmonica Guild @ Knights (Brantford) (2nd & Fourth Mondays)

7:30-10:30pm: Grass Mud Horse @ Irish Harp (Niagara-on-the-Lake)

8pm: Jam with Pop Machine @ Uptown Social House (Burlington)(Weekly)



Tuesday, June 24







7-10pm: Open Mic with Brennagh Burns @ Lukaya Cafe (Hamilton) (Weekly)

7pm: Open Mic @ Vertagogo (Hamilton)(Weekly) 


7pm: Music Trivia @ Doc Magilligan's (Niagara Falls) (Weekly)

7-10pm: Open Mic @ Trackside Tavern (Cambridge) (Weekly)

7-10pm: The John McKinley Jam @ The Huether Hotel Jazz Room (Waterloo) (Bi-weekly) NOT THIS WEEK BUT NEXT



8-10pm: Music Trivia @ Irish Harp (Niagara-on-the-Lake) (Weekly)

8-11pm: Open Jam with the Boom Babiez @ Ale House (Hamilton) (Weekly)

8pm: Christopher Clause @ Thirsty Cactus (Dundas) (Weekly)


8-11:30pm: Open Mic @ Which Craft (Guelph) (Weekly)

8:30-11:30pm: Open Mic/Jam @  Barton Touchdown Pub (Hamilton) (Weekly)

Wednesday, June 25 (Global Beatles Day)

---- Before 7:00pm ----




12pm: Online Voice Lessons w Piper Hayes (Weekly) $15 sliding scale



6-8pm: Brad Hailz @ Burning Kiln Winery (St. Williams)



6:30-9:30pm: The Black Sheep @ Irish Harp (Niagara-on-the-Lake) 

---- After 7:00pm ----

7-9pm: Music Bingo @ Collective Arts Brewery (Hamilton) (Weekly)


7-10pm: Open Mic/Jam with Brant Parker @ Donnelly's (Thorold) (Last Wed of Month)

7pm: Perry and Mark @ Royal Electric (Guelph) (Weekly) 

7-10pm: Open Mic @ The Bullring (Guelph) (Weekly)



7:30-10:30pm: Open Mic with John Restas @ AB Sports Bar (Burlington) (Weekly)

7:45pm: Jazz Night (Open Stage) @ Corktown Pub (Hamilton) (Weekly)


8-12pm: Open Jam @ Frankie's (Brantford) (Weekly)

8pm: Felicia McMinn @ 211Main (Port Dover) (Weekly)

9pm: Open Mic @ The Dickens (Burlington) (Weekly)


10pm-2am: Open Stage @ NV (Guelph) (Weekly)

Thursday, June 26

---- Before 7:00pm ----









3-9pm: Backyard BBQ fi Pulse X @ Fallsview Casino Resort (Niagara Falls) (Thursdays, May 15-28)

5:30pm: Jamie Petrie @ Pub Fiction (Ancaster) (Weekly)

6pm: Chris Chambers @ Slye Fox Pub (Burlington)


6-9pm: Open Mic @ Crystal Chandelier (Crystal Beach) (Weekly)

6-9pm: Lucas Stagg @ Aging Oak (Cambridge) (Weekly)




6:30-9:30pm: James Ferris with Fried Balogna @ The Corktown Pub (Hamilton)(Weekly)


---- 7:00pm - 7:59pm ----




7-10pm: Sounds Gay! Open Mic @ Mosaic (Hamilton)



7-10pm: Josh Coulter @ Judge & Jester (Grimsby) (Weekly)

7-9pm: Neil Carson @ Doc Magilligan's (Niagara Falls)


7-10pm: Stu Peterson @ Manhattans (Guelph)


7-10pm: Open Mic @ DeBar (Guelph)(Weekly)

7-11pm: Open Mic @ Offside Sports Bar & Grill (Fergus) (Weekly)






7:30-10:30pm: The O’Deadlys @ Irish Harp (Niagara-on-the-Lake)



---- After 8:00pm  ----


8-11pm: Open Mic Night + Jam @ Temple Bar (Oakville) (Weekly)



8-10:30pm: Anke Helfrich from Germany @ Jazz Room (Waterloo) $?

8:30pm: Open Mic @ Coach & Lantern (Ancaster) (Weekly)




10pm: Bo @ McCabes (Guelph) (Weekly)

2025: Jun 23-26 / Jun 27-29



Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Throwback Thursday: Andre Bisson: Rhythm and Blues Experience

Original Post: April 21, 2009
Updated Post: June 19, 2025


Andre Bisson released Rhythm and Blues Experience at a great release party on April 19, 2009 at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club.
 
The disc is a great gumbo of blues, jazz, soul and more.

Along with 9 great original compositions, Andre and his large band performed an interesting soul-filled version of Neil Young's Heart of Gold. He really made it his own.

Guests: 
  • Mark Kelso
  • John Johnson
  • Jason Logue
  • Collin Barrett
  • Dave Murphy
  • Rob Somerville
  • Dan Rodrigues
  • Steve Bijakowski
Available: SpotifyYouTube 

You can stream the album below



Previous  (Polaris Long List Winners)

Saturday, June 14, 2025

2025 Polaris Long List Including Local Artists



On June 10, the Polaris Prize Long List was unveiled, including a few local artists. The Short List will be revealed on July 10. The Grand Prize winner (who gets $30,000) will be awarded on September 16 at a wonderful gala at Massey Hall in Toronto.

Below is a video of the Long List announcement.



Below is the Long List. Local artists are bolded.

Previous (Fathers Day Videos) - - - Next (Throwback Thursday: Andre Bisson - Rhythm & Blues Experience)

Father's Day Videos by Alec Fraser Jr and Jimmy Bowskill, Shae Dupuy






More Father's Day Videos

Previous (Hamilton Arts Award Winners) - - - Next (Polaris Long List Winners)

Friday, June 13, 2025

Winners of the 2025 Hamilton Arts Awards


Unfortunately, Hamilton Blues Lovers' marketing guru, Linda Fraser didn't win a 2025 Hamilton Arts Awards at the June 12th ceremony. her category was Arts Champion. We are very proud of her at HBL.

Below is a complete list of winners. Music-related winners are bolded.

Creator Awards

Arts Champion Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award: John Terpstra (Writer, poet, publisher)

Monday, June 9, 2025

Portugal Day Videos by Anthony Gomes, Germano Rocha, Herois do Mar


Please join us in celebrating our founder/blogger Lou's ethnic background!

Anthony Gomes is a Toronto Bluesman of Portuguese descent



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Germano Rocha is a Fado (Portuguese music style) singer who as born in Portugal but moved to Canada in the 70's.



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Herois do Mar is a Portuguese pop band from the 80's


Sunday, June 1, 2025

Winners of the 2025 Country Music Association of Ontario Awards

Hamilton hosted the Country Music Association of Ontario Awards ceremony on June 1, 2025. Quite a few local acts brough home the hardware.

Below is a complete list of winners and nominees. Winners are bolded and at top of the category. Local artists are italicized.

COMPASS AWARD: Josh Ross (Waterdown)

Links: Josh RossMore Josh Ross StoriesVideo above courtesy of JOSH ROSS

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR 

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET) 

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM MARKET) 

  • Hot Country 93.9 (CFWC-FM, Brantford)
  • Cool 100.1 (CHCQ-FM, Belleville)
  • Country 104.3 (CJQM-FM, Sault Ste. Marie)
  • Country 105 (CKTG-FM, Thunder Bay)
  • Country 92.9 (CFCO-FM, Chatham)
  • HOT COUNTRY 88.5 (CKDX-FM, Newmarket)

ALBUM/EP OF THE YEAR 

ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR

FANS’ CHOICE 

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (SMALL MARKET)

THE REAL McCOY  AWARD: Jason McCoy 

RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR

  • Adam Newcomb: Sacha, Elyse Saunders, Riley Taylor
  • Douglas Romanow: Nicole Rayy (Oakville)
  • Matthew Koebel (Waterloo): Jessie T (Kitchener), Paige Rutledge (Guelph), Jessica Sole
  • Shawn Moore (Waterloo): Spencer Burns, Bradley Hale (Elmira), Brothers Wilde, Tim Albertson
  • The Agenda: Angelica Appelman (Kitchener), David Madras, Kasey Nugent, Patrick James Clark, Peter Peres
  • Deric Ruttan: Karli June – Still Make Cowgirls

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR

FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Throwback Thursday: Melissa McClelland - Victoria Day

Original Post: April 14, 2009
Updated Post: May 29, 2025


Local Singer/Songwriter Melissa McClelland (now part of Whitehorse) released her newest album, Victoria Day on April 14, 2009.

According to her website: "The songs capture all of the beauty and charm of the girl next door while lacing the punch at the sock hop with home-made moonshine."

Information:
Personnel
You can stream the album below


Previous (Nominations for the 2025 Hamilton Arts Awards, Including Our Marketing Queen) - - - Next (Black Music Month Videos)

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Hamilton Arts Awards Short List, Including Our Very Own Marketing Queen


We here at the Hamilton Blues Lovers are proud to announce that our very own marketing queen,  Linda Fraser is on the 2025 Hamilton Arts Awards Short List. We'll be rooting for her to win at the June 12th ceremony.

Arts Champion Awards
Creator Award

Lifetime Achievement Award

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Throwback Thursday: Groove Corporation Debut Album - Record Prophets

Original Post: April 4, 2009
Updated: May 22, 2025



Update: The band is no longer active so it will be hard finding a CD version of this recording. This was the band's only album.

On April 4, 2009, Hamilton's Groove Corporation released their debut album, Record ProphetsThis is a recording to play and boogie. Their funk, soul, R&B sound is infectious and will have you dancing.

Consisting mainly of cover tunes (Jungle Boogie, James Brown's Cold Sweat, a swing version of KISS's Detroit Rock City, and more) - the collection also has three incredible originals by the band.

The album is available through You TubeSpotify, and Apple Music.

Band members: 
  • Bass – Steve Hilbert
  • Drums – Frank Vignanello
  • Guitar, Vocals, Producer, Mixer – Alex MacDougall
  • Keyboards, Vocals – Lily Sazz
  • Lead Vocals, Congas – Kim Campagnaro
  • Saxophone – Peter McFarland
  • Saxophone, Vocals – Cole G. Benjamin
  • Trumpet – Rich Sumstad, Rob Gellner
More information
Stream the album below.