CONGRATS! 2015 Hamilton Music Award Winners

The 2015 Hamilton Music Awards ceremony on May 24, 2015 at Theatre Aquarius was amazing! Host Ian Thomas did a wonderful job and had everybody laughing.  There were heartfelt tributes to Tava Tunes, Brian Griffith and Cpl. Nathan Cirrilo, a visit from mayor Fred Eisenberger and a ton of amazing area music.

As always, the local scene was in the spotlight the whole show and the award winners were announced. Rockers the The Arkells and songstress Laura Cole took home three trophies each that night.  Blues veteran Harrison Kennedy also won a pair well-deserved awards.



Links: Laura Cole, More Laura Cole Stories, Video above courtesy of Richard Crawford



Links:  Arkells: More Arkells Stories, Video above courtesy of Oskar Covers



Links: Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories, Video above courtesy of RandallStaffordCook

Click here for the Spectator story.

Congrats everyone.

• Female Artist: Laura Cole
• Male Artist: Harrison Kennedy
• Songwriter: The Arkells
• Record: The Arkells: High Noon
• Local Group (People's Choice): Live How You Live
• New Artist: Laura Cole
• Blues Recording: Harrison Kennedy: This Is From Here
• Folk/Traditional Recording: The Vaudevillian: Salty Dog
• Roots Recording (Group) : Harlan Pepper: Take Out A Twenty And Live Life To The Fullest
• Roots Recording (Solo): Katie Bulley: Sun Wolf
• Alt/Country Recording: The Dinner Belles: The River And The Willow
• New Country Recording: Billy J White: Damn Fool Thing
• Jazz Recording: Diana Panton: Red 
• Alternative/Indie Rock Recording: The Dirty Nil: Smite
• Rock Recording: The Arkells: High Noon
• Adult Alternative Recording: Laura Cole: Dirty Cheat
• Pop Recording: Kojo "Easy" Damptey: Daylight Robbery
• Loud/Metal Recording: Sumo Cyco: Lost in Cyco City
• Punk Recording: Simply Saucer: Baby Nova
• Rap/Hip Hop Recording: Canadian Winter: The Snowball Effect
• Lifetime Achievement Awards: Brian Griffith, Graham Rockingham, Bob Doidge

Click here for our pictures of the event

Click here for pictures of Trebleclef, our mascot, hanging out at the ceremony

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Hamilton Music Awards, More HMA Stories

---

Previous (Hamilton Music Industry Award Winners) - - - Next (Country Music Association of Ontario Award Winners)

Hamilton's Dinner Belles Create a Lush Americana Sound with Latest CD

Hamilton's Dinner Belles are purveyors of the finest Americana around.  With their sophomore album, The River and the Willow (their first through Sonic Unyon) they continue to hammer out some incredible rootsy twang.

The band features some of the best local musician's around, such as Scott Bell, Brandon Bliss, Terra Lightfoot, Brad Germain, Jonathan Ely Cass, Melanie Pothier and Greg Brisco.  They team up to create an organic sounding, spirited country folk of the highest order. Sweet harmonies and a myriad of instruments (xylophone, trombone, bells and more) create a beautiful lush sound that just sinks rights in to your soul.

You can get an LP, CD or download at the Sonic Unyon online store.  This superb album can also be downloaded through iTunes.



Video above courtesy of the Dinner Belles





Above two videos courtesy of StellaBlu447

Blast from the Past: The Dinner Belles' Debut CD

Links: Dinner Belles, More Dinner Belles stories More Releases

---

Previous (Checkerboard Floors Debut CD) - - - Next (News Roundup w Curley Bridges, Barbershop Podcast Anniversary, Rebecca Miller, Cartoons)

News Roundup (Philip Bast, Dinner Belles, Darcy Feaver, Aaron Goldstein)

Kitchener Music Scene Booster Philip Bast Passes

Obituary

Waterloo Record Story
Check out his amazing YouTube page filled with great local music

Our condolences to his family and friends.  The Kitchener music scene has lost an important figure.

Here are a few social media comments:

Amber McLean: "I am so deeply saddened. I have just learned of the loss of our wonderful and so genuine and kind Philip Bast. He was a friend and a fan but most important of all, he was a gentle, thoughtful and beautiful human being. Philip was a devoted supporter of the local KW music scene but his passion for the arts reached so many communities. I feel so much gratitude when I think of all he did for me, so generously, throughout my career. Rest well Philip. My heart is with you and your family."

Shane Guse (Western Swing Authority): Shocked and sad to hear about Philip Bast's passing. He was a real supporter of the arts in our community, a great guy and always eager to help. And that voice....you could never mistake that voice that started countless videos promoting the work of endless artists. Condolences to all his family and friends.

Brenda Lewis: This is such a shock and so heartbreaking. Deep gratitude to Philip for his unending support to those of us in the arts in the Waterloo region. I'll miss running into you with your trusty video cam at so many music events, too, since you retired.

---

News 

Local

• Barbershop Podcast w the Dinner Belles
  
  
  
  Links: Dinner Belles, More Dinner Belles stories, Video above courtesy of Barber Shop Podcast
  
  
• Kitchener Music Scene Booster Philip Bast Passes
• Cashbox Canada story on Ian Thomas

World

• Blues Blast Music Award Winners

---

Blasts From the Past 

• 2009: John M Crawford CD: Got Soul
• 2010: Videos of Busted Flat Anniversary Show
• 2011: Andy Griffiths CD: Looking at a Life
• 2012: Derek Miller Wins Aboriginal People's Choice Award
• 2013: Videos of Festival of Friends Workshop w Steve Sinnicks, Darrelle London, David Knopler, D'Arcy Wickham, Ken Whiteley

---

Recently Added

Our Performer List

• Shane Bowley
• Darcy Feaver
  
  
  
  Links: More Darcy Feaver Stories, Video above courtesy of Darcy Feaver
  

Our Venue List

• David's (Port Dover)

---

Thursday, November 6

• Ariana Gillis
• Tim McDonald (Barn Katz)
• Rick Prinsthal (Paperboys, Deacons, Krickets, 3Ds)
• Rob Reed

Friday, November 7

• Jon Daly (City and the Sea)
• Mimi Shaw
• JoJo Worthington

Sunday, November 9

• Scotty Campbell
• Yitka Karlik

Wednesday, November 12

• Jackie Washington (RIP)

Thursday, November 13

• Steve Sinnicks

---

Featured Video

Links: Aaron Goldstein, More Aaron Goldstein Stories,  More Gordon Lightfoot Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Lightfootfan

---

Previous (Local Musicians Up for Maple Blues Awards) - - - Next (New Alysha Brilla CD)

A Mighty Tribe Kids CD Features Local Talent

Both children and adults alike will find a lot to enjoy on  A Mighty Tribe, a local kids music compilation featuring some incredible songs.  Best of all, proceeds go to help childhood promote literacy.

It features both previous and unreleased material from some of the most talented Hamilton-area performers. It's simple enough for youngsters to enjoy but catchy enough for the grown ups to get into the groove! Even the packaging is fabulous.  Adorned with beautiful Tom Wilson artwork, the CD case is a sight to see.

You can pick this great disc up at Picks N Sticks and Bryan Prince Bookseller or through the Bookbus website.  You'll be glad you did!





Links: Matthew de Zoete, More Matthew de Zoete Stories

Videos above courtesy of Hamilton Blues Lovers

Here's the complete track listing.

This Old Man - Lee Harvey Osmond w Harlan Pepper
Luca's Song - Michelle Titian w Mary Simon and Andrew Aldridge
Run - The Killin' Time Band w Darren "Mista D" Dumas
June Bug - Peg and Willy
Great Lakes - Harlan Pepper
Glow Like Gold - Scott Hunter w Brian Siegel
Like I Love It - Mimi Shaw w Dan Medakovic and Jeff Griffiths (co written by Tom Wilson)
Stuff Rocks - Pailface Brad w Ken Corke, Paul Dickenson, Ron Eliott and Jamie and Magnolia Hails
The Shark Song - Dawn and Marra
The Mighty Moon King - Lynne Kittredge-Fox/Brian Siegel
Itsy Bitsy Spider - Raina Krange w Brian Siegel
Wallace is My Duck - Matthew de Zoete and his daughter Margot
Bowser - Bernie Hudecki
Spiders and Snails - Kim Koren w Frank Koren and Mark McIntyre
Will the Circle Be Unbroken - Killin' Time Band/Gordie Tapp (Hee Haw)/Dinner Belles/Gord Lewis (Teenage Head)
The Sloth Goes Slow - Dylan Hudecki (Cowlick) with DVMS's Casa North

---

Previous (Ron Sexsmith and Constantines on CBC's Top Canadian Songs List) - - - Next (Local Artists on CBC's Top Canadian Songs List)

New Episodes of Ensemble on YouTube, Part 1

These are the first batch of videos from Season 2



Links: Lynn Jackson, Jesse Parent, Meghan Webber, Matthew de Zoete



Links: Jacob Moon, Brad Germain (Dinner Belles, Marble Index), Rae Billing, Tim Gibbons



Links: John DiBattista, Wayne Janus, Corey Lueck, Dan Walsh

More videos to come . . .

More episodes of Ensemble

---

Previous (12 Videos of Christmas w Harrison Kennedy, Doug Feaver, Brenda Lewis and Gayle Ackroyd and Colin James) - - - Next (New Episodes of Ensemble Online, Part 2)

Locke Street Festival (September 8, 2012)

Links: Rae Billing - More Rae Billing Stories



More Muddy Waters cover/stories



Links: Wayne Janus, More Wayne Janus Stories



Links: Dinner Belles, More Dinner Belles stories

Click here for pictures

Blast from the Past: Harrison Kennedy@Locke Street Fest 2011

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Previous (News Roundup + Video) - - - Next (New Caretakers CD)

Canada Day Weekend 2012 (Part 1) (Dinner Belles, David Wilcox, Smoke Wagon, Chad Pilon)

Unless specified all videos courtesy of Hamilton Blues Lovers





Links: Dinner Belles, More Dinner Belles stories



More from this show coming soon . . .

Links: David Wilcox, More David Wilcox Covers/Stories



More from this show coming soon . . .

Links: Smoke Wagon Blues Band, More Smoke Wagon Blues Band Stories



Links: Chad Pilon - More Chad Pilon Stories , We Got Blues, Video courtesy of ChrisLabonville

Blast from the Past: Sonny Del Rio@It's Your Festival 2011

-------------------------------------------------

Previous (News Roundup + Videos) - - - Next (Canada Day Weekend, Part 2)

Hamilton Music Award Winners

The Hamilton Music Awards were handed out on Sunday, November 20, 2011. Big winners included the Dinner Belles (New Artist, Alt-Country, Piano - Greg Brisco), Rita Chiarelli (Female Artist, Blues), and Jeremy Fisher (Male Artist, Songwriter) Congratulations to everyone.

Female Artist of the Year: Rita Chiarelli

Male Artist of the Year: Jeremy Fisher

Local Group of the Year (People’s Choice): Live How You Live

New Artist of the Year: Dinner Belles

Roots Recording: Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Kings & Queens

Alternative Country Recording: Dinner Belles, West Simcoe County

Folk Recording: Scott Orr, Where I Live And What I Lived For

Blues: Rita Chiarelli, Music From The Big House

R&B/Soul: Chris Jackson, Action

Religious: Jamie Barnes, Wilderness

Songwriter: Jeremy Fisher, Flood

Female Vocalist: Rosanna Riverso

Male Vocalist: Jon Harvey, Monster Truck

Piano/Keyboard: Greg Brisco, Dinner Belles

Special Instrumentalist: Yiannis Kapoulas

Guitarist: Luke Doucet, Whitehorse

Drummer: Chris Sindrey, Aerith

Bassist: Sean McNab, Creepshow

Canadian Recording of the Year (People’s Choice): Finger Eleven, Life Turns Electric

Record of the Year: Jeremy Fisher, Flood

Lifetime Achievement: Ian Thomas

Lifetime Achievement (Industry): Kim Cooke

Alternative Indie Rock: Dark Mean, Dark Mean

Rock Recording: Monster Truck, The Brown EP

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Previous (Chris Cracknell/Steve Didemus/Dave Gould@Winking Judge) - - - Next (Trickbag@Buddy's Roadhouse) 

Dinner Belles CD Debut: West Simcoe County

Call it infectious country, folk rock, roots rock, or whatever you like; the Dinner Belles' debut CD, West Simcoe County, will defintely get you in a good mood.

The hooks are catchy, the harmonies are wonderful and there's a whole mess o' sounds for variety. Mandolin, banjo, piano, slide guitar, ukelele, harmonica and more add to the richness of the music.

The band is a supergroup of sorts, boasting such local vets as Terra Lightfoot (Secret Heights), Brad Germain (Marble Index), Greg Brisco (keyboards for several local players) and more.

Together they have created some incredible toe tapping, finger snapping numbers and a few beautiful, soft, slow ones as well.

The disc is available at their live shows, as a download on Bandcamp.

Below are a few live performances from the latest Supercrawl. They feature songs from the CD. Videos courtesy of Mama Loves Music.







More Supercrawl Videos

• Caretakers
• The Rest
• Photos

Links: Dinner Belles, More Dinner Belles stories

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Previous (Harrison Kennedy@Locke Street Fest) - - - Next (Barry Mac@Upper James Fest)