Canada Day Videos by Spencer Mackenzie, David Lum, Johnny Mac Slater

Update of 2019 Post

Links: Spencer Mackenzie, More Spencer Mackenzie Stories, Video above courtesy of Spencer Mackenzie



Links: David Lum, More David Lum Stories, Video above courtesy of David Lum - Official YouTube Channel



Links: Johnny Mac Slater, More Johnny Mac Slater Stories, Video above courtesy of Johnny Mac Slater

More Canada Day Videos!

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Global Beatles Day Videos by Evan Cameron, Burlington Concert Band

Update of 2019 Post 

Links: Evan Cameron, More Evan Cameron Stories, Video above courtesy of Evan Cameron



Links: Burlington Concert Band, Video above courtesy of NicoleJeanL

More Beatles Day Videos

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Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day! Video by Derek Miller, Logan Staats, Iskwe w Tanya Tagaq

Update of 2019 Post 

Links: Derek Miller, More Derek Miller Stories, Video above courtesy of ELMNT FM Toronto



Links: Logan Staats, More Logan Staats Stories, Video above courtesy of Glen Marshall



Links: Iskwé, More Iskwé Stories, Tanya Tagaq, More Tanya Tagaq Stories, Video above courtesy of Digital Lodge

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Summer Videos by Tebey & Una Healy, Teenage Head, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings

Links: Rodeo Kings, More BARK stories, More Gordon Lightfoot Stories/Covers, Video above courtesy of Aljoshaaa

Links: Tebey, More Tebey Stories, Video above courtesy of Tebey

Links: Teenage Head, More Teenage Head Stories, Video above courtesy of FranticRomantic88

More Summer Videos

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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: Spotify, YouTube 

You can stream the album below

Links: Andre Bisson, More Andre Bisson Stories, Album above courtesy of Andre Bisson - Topic, More Releases

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Previous  (Polaris Long List Winners)

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.

Links: Polaris Music Prize, More Polaris Stories, Video above courtesy of Polaris Music Prize

Below is the Long List. Local artists are bolded.

• Caribou (Dundas) - Honey
  
  
  
  Links: Caribou, More Caribou Stories, Video above courtesy of Caribou
  
  
• Nemahsis (Milton) - Verbathim
  
  
  
  Links: Nemahsis, More Nemahsis Stories, Video above courtesy of Nemahsis
  
  
• Richard Laviolette (Guelph) - All Wild Things Are Shy
  
  
  
  Links: Rich Laviolette, Video above courtesy of  Richard Laviolette and the Oil Spills - Topic
  
  
• Art d'Ecco-  Serene Demon
• Backxwash - Only Dust Remains
• Quinton Barnes - CODE NOIR
• Bibi Club - Feu de garde
• Basia Bulat - Basia's Palace
• Lou-Adriane Cassidy - Journal d'un Loup Garou
• Choses Sauvages - Choses Sauvages III
• Cold Specks - Light For The Midnight
• Antoine Corriveau - Oiseau de Nuit
• Marie Davidson - City Of Clowns
• Destroyer - Dan's Boogie
• Myriam Gendron - Mayday
• Gloin - All of your anger is actually shame (and I bet that makes you angry)
• Saya Gray - SAYA Hildegard - Jour 1596
• Yves Jarvis - All Cylinders
• Kaia Kater - Strange Medicine
• Bells Larsen - Blurring Time
• Wyatt C. Louis - Chandler
• Kelly McMichael - After The Sting Of It
• Men I Trust - Equus Asinus
• Mustafa - Dunya
• N NAO - Nouveau langage
• Eliza Niemi - Progress Bakery
• The OBGMs - SORRY, IT'S OVER
• Dorothea Paas - Think Of Mist
• Klô Pelgag - Abracadabra
• Population II - Maintenant Jamais
• Ribbon Skirt - Bite Down
• Ariane Roy - Dogue
• Mike Shabb - Sewaside III
• Sister Ray - Believer
• Snotty Nose Rez Kids - RED FUTURE
• The Weather Station - Humanhood
• Rick White and The Sadies - Rick White and The Sadies
• Donovan Woods - Things Were Never Good If They're Not Good Now
• Yoo Doo Right - From the Heights of Our Pastureland

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

Links: Alec Fraser Jr, More Alec Fraser Stories, Jimmy Bowskill, More Jimmy Bowskill Stories, Video above courtesy of Alec Fraser Jr

Links: Shae Dupuy, More Shae Dupuy Stories, Video above courtesy of Shae Dupuy

More Father's Day Videos

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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

• Luckystickz (musician)
  
  
  
  Links: Luckystickz, More Luckystickz Stories, Video above courtesy of Lucky Stickz
  
  
• Rollie Pemberton aka Cadence Weapon (musician, author)
  
  
  
  Links: Cadence Weapon, More Cadence Weapon Stories, Video above courtesy of Cadence Weapon
  
  
• Priyanka Tope (dancer, choreographer, vocalist, and educator)
• Adrien Crossman (artist, educator, and curator)
• Clarence A. Porter (artist)
• Hexe Noire (drag artist)
• Lester Coloma (artist)
• Sonali Menezes (artist, writer)
• Tanis Sydney Macarthur (costumer, dance artist, choreographer, aerialist, stilt walker, prop maker and creature designer)

Arts Champion Awards

• Lisa La Rocca (Chair of the Hamilton Music Advisory Team and Co-chair of the new Women in Music Hamilton/Halton chapter)+
• Rachel Conduit (runs art gallery, music venue, two bars, a restaurant, and two artist studio spaces)
• Smokestack (limited-edition prints)
• Steven Hilliard (curator and organizer)

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

Links: Hamilton Arts Awards, More Hamilton Arts Awards Stories

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Friday the 13th Videos by Joel Johnson, Lowdown Dirty Mojos, TV Freaks

Update of Nov 2020 Post

Links: Joel Johnson, More Joel Johnson Stories, Video above courtesy of Rob B.

Links: Low Down Dirty Mojos, Video above courtesy of THE LOWDOWN DIRTY MOJOS

Links: TV Freaks, More TV Freak Stories, Video above courtesy of toomuchsumo

Click here for more Friday the 13th videos

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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

Links: Anthony Gomes, Video above courtesy of RatPakRecords

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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.

Links: Germano Rocha, Video above courtesy of Tiberiu Stanciu

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

Links: Herois do Mar, Video above courtesy of zefpinheiro

More Portugal Day Videos

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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 Ross, More Josh Ross Stories, Video above courtesy of JOSH ROSS

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR

• The Redhill Valleys (Hamilton)
  
  
  
  Links: Redhill Valleys, More Redhill Valleys Stories, Video above courtesy of The Redhill Valleys
  
  
• The Western Swing Authority (Waterloo)
• Amanda and James
• New Moon Junction
• River Town Saints
• Rosewood Ave

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR 

• Jeff Brown (Beamsville) plays with Kelsi Mayne, Washboard Union, Jason Blaine
• Adrian Juras (Niagara) plays with Karli June and Ryan Langdon (Niagara Falls)
• Joey DePaiva (Milton) plays with Mackenzie Leigh Meyer (Ancaster), Spencer Burns, Nicole Rayy (Oakville)
• Mackenzie Leigh Meyer (Ancaster) plays with Robyn Ottolini
• Jordan Honsinger plays with Tebey (Burlington)
• Ryan Cassar plays with Elyse Saunders, Kelsi Mayne, Paige Rutledge (Guelph)

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET) 

• KX94.7 (CHKX-FM, Hamilton)
• Country 106.7 (CIKZ-FM, Kitchener)
• Country 104 (CKDK-FM, London)
• KX96 (CJKX-FM, Ajax)
• Pure Country 93 (CJBX-FM, London)
• Pure Country 94 (CKKL-FM, Ottawa)

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 

• Bruce County: Owen Riegling
• Break Up Rules: Paige Rutledge (Guelph)
• Golden Child: Meghan Patrick
• Growing up to Do: Robyn Ottolini
• L Is For: Andrew Hyatt
• Pathways: Julian Taylor

ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

• Mackenzie Leigh Meyer  (Ancaster)
• The Redhill Valleys (Hamilton)
• The Western Swing Authority (Waterloo)
• Callie McCullough
• Emily Clair
• Julian Taylor

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Sully Burrows
• Olivia Mae Graham (Norfolk)
• Paige Rutledge (Guelph)
• Alexa Goldie
• Dayna Reid
• Spencer Burns

FANS’ CHOICE 

• Owen Riegling
• Tebey (Burlington)
• Josh Ross (Waterdown)
• The Reklaws Cambridge)
• Sacha
• Steven Lee Olsen

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Robyn Ottolini
• Jessie T (Kitchener)
• Dayna Reid
• Elyse Saunders
• Karli June
• Sacha

INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR

• Samantha Pickard, Strut Entertainment
• Elliott Deseure & Nick Marinac (Burlington), Adaptive Media
• AJ Astle, Roadhouse Productions
• Christine Wiley & Christine Stevens, C to C Music Insider
• Dave Woods, In the Country
• Sam Davs, Cosmic Alchemy Designs

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Owen Riegling
• Nate Haller (Waterloo)
• Ryan Langdon (Niagara Falls)
• Tim Hicks (St. Catharines)
• Andrew Hyatt
• Brian John Harwood

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

• Never Have I Ever: Elyse Saunders
  
  
  
  Links: Elyse Saunders, More Elyse Saunders Stories, Video above courtesy of ElyseSaunders
  
  
• Blinding Lights (Country Version): Tebey (Burlington)
• Guilty: Nicole Rayy (Oakville)
• Finding Firsts: Andrew Hyatt
• Moonshines: Owen Riegling
• Still Make Cowgirls: Karli June

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (SMALL MARKET)

• Pure Country 106 (CICX-FM, Orillia)
• Country 89 (CKYY-FM, Welland)
• Country 103 (CHAW-FM, Little Current)
• Country 93 (CKYC-FM, Owen Sound)
• K Country 93.7 (CKOU-FM, Georgina)
• The Ranch 100.1 (CHLP-FM, Listowel)

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

• Moonshines: Owen Riegling
• Blinding Lights (Country Version): Tebey (Burlington)
• Race To The Bottom: Nate Haller (Waterloo)
• Finding Firsts: Andrew Hyatt
• Hey Mom I Made It: Sacha
• Never Have I Ever: Elyse Saunders

SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR

• Owen Riegling, Daryl Scott, Jesse Slack: Moonshines
• Tebey (Burlington), G. Palmer, S. Walker, D. Dupelle: Hangover at My Place
• Tim Hicks (St. Catharines) , Deric Ruttan, Monty Criswell: Quits
• Chrystal Oudijk, Douglas Romanow, Nicole Rayy (Oakville): Guilty
• Elyse Saunders, Jason Blaine: Never Have I Ever
• Karli June, Deric Ruttan: Still Make Cowgirls

FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

• Kristine St-Pierre
• Les Rats D’Swompe
• Mitch Jean
• Reney Ray
• Sugar Crush
• Vincent Bishop

Links: Country Music Association of Ontario, More CMAO Stories

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