Merry Christmas: Videos by Trickbag, Ian Thomas, Steve Strongman, Suzie Vinnick

Links: Trickbag, More Trickbag Stories, More Chuck Berry Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Hamilton Blues Lovers

Links: Ian Thomas, More Ian Thomas Stories, Video above courtesy of Hamilton Blues Lovers

Links: Steve Strongman, More Steve Strongman Stories, More Freddie King Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Hamilton Blues Lovers

Links: Suzie Vinnick, More Suzie Vinnick Stories, Video above courtesy of Hamilton Blues Lovers

Click here for more Christmas stuff

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GOOD LUCK! Local Independent Blues Award Nominees! VOTE! Deadline is Aug 1!

Nominations are out for the 2017 Independent Blues Awards and a few incredible local artists (as well as a number of other fabulous Canadian acts) are up for some of the honours.

Hamilton's Smoke Wagon Blues Band has a whopping 5 nominations (Best Contemporary CD, Best Modern Roots CD, Best New Artist, Best New Artists CD and Best RnB/Soul Song).



Links: Smoke Wagon Blues Band, More Smoke Wagon Blues Band Stories, Video above courtesy of SoundofBlues (Alessandra)

There's a also Hammertown connection to the Colin James covers album, Blue Highways, which was nominated for Best Blues Rock CD. Hamilton's Steve Pelletier and Jesse O'Brien perform on this kickin' recording.



Links: Colin James, More Colin James Stories, Steve Pelletier, More Steve Peletier Stories, Jesse O'Brien, More Jesse O'Brien Stories, Video above courtesy of Blues Rock

Other Canadians nominated include BC's James Buddy Rodgers (3 nods) and The Paul Delauriers Band from Montreal (1 nod). God Don’t Never Change: the Songs of Blind Willie Johnson, nominated for Best Acoustic CD, includes a song from Toronto's Cowboy Junkies.

You can do your part by voting for our talented performers in the contest. Deadline to do so is on August 1, 2017. Winners will be announced August 13, 2017. Click here to vote.

Here's a complete list of nominees (Canadians are bolded)

Contemporary CD

• The Smoke Wagon Blues Band: Cigar Store
• James Buddy Rodgers: By My Side
• Marky Blue: The Blues are Knockin
• Jeremiah Johnson: Blues Heart Attack
• Jack Mack and the Heart Attack Horns: Back to the Shack
• Matty T Wall: Blues Skies
• Mick Kolassa: Taylor Made Blues

Modern Roots CD

• The Smoke Wagon Blues Band: Cigar Store
• Diana Rein: Long Road
• Markus King Band: The Markus King Band
• Webb Wilder: Mississippi Moderne
• Randall Bramblett: Devil Music
• Tweed Funk: Come Together
• The Broadcast: From the Horizon

New Artists CD

• The Smoke Wagon Blues Band: Cigar Store
• Diana Rein: Long Road
• Sari Schorr: A Force of Nature
• Ally Venable: No Glass Shoes
• In Layman Terms: Tangled
• The Marcus King Band: The Marcus King Band
• The Broadcast: From the Horizon

New Artist

• The Smoke Wagon Blues Band
• Sari Schorr
• Matty T Wall
• Ally Venable
• The Broadcast
• Jo Harmon
• The Marcus King Band
• Chase Walker Band

RnB/Soul Song

• The Smoke Wagon Blues Band: Set Me Free
• Markey Blue: Me Missing You
• JJ Thames: The Only Fool is Me
• William Bell: More Rooms
• The Lucky Losers: It Ain’t Enough
• Vaneese Thomas: The More Things Change
• Thornetta Davis: I’d Rather be Alone

Blues Rock CD

• Colin James: Blue Highways (ft Steve Pelletier + Jesse O'Brien)
• Nick Moss: From the Roots to the Fruits
• Sari Schorr: A Force of Nature
• Tinsley Ellis: Red Clay Soul
• Mike Zito: Make Blues Not War
• Albert Castiglia: Big Dog
• Kaleo: A/B

Blues Rock Song

• The Paul Delauriers Band: Still Under My Skin
  
  
  
  Links: Paul DesLauriers, More Paul DesLauriers Stories, Video above courtesy of Richard Ouellette
  
  
• Diana Rein: Come Back Home
• Sari Schorr: Demolition Man
• Jeremiah Johnson: Mind Reader
• Eliza Neals: You Ain’t My Dog No More
• Mike Zito: Redbird
• Albert Castiglia: Get Your Ass in the Van

Contemporary Blues Band

• James Buddy Rodgers
• Geoff Achison
• Robert Randolf
• Bernard Allison
• Eric Gales
• Ben Harper
• Willie J Laws

Best Contemporary Blues Song

• James Buddy Rogers: Change
  
  
  
  Links: James Buddy Rogers, Video above courtesy of James Buddy Rogers
  
  
• Zac Harmon: Stand Your Ground
• Webb Wilder: Lucy Mae Blues
• Eddie Cotton: Race to the Dollar
• Jeremiah Johnson: Flatline
• Tommy Castro: All About the Cash
• Joe Bonamassa: Livin Easy

Acoustic CD

• Various: God Don’t Never Change: the Songs of Blind Willie Johnson w song by Cowboy Junkies 
• Little G Weevil: 3 Chords Too Many 
• Rory Block: Keeping out of Trouble
• Fiona Boyes: Professin the Blues
• Keb Mo: LIVE-That Hot Pink Blues
• Doug Macleod: LIVE in Europe

Tradtional CD

• Johnny Rawls: Tiger in a Cage
• Toronzo Cannon: The Chicago Way
• Bobby Rush: Porcupine Meat
• Lurrie Bell: Can’t Shake This Feeling
• Corey Dennison: Cory Dennison
• Mac Arnold and Plate Full of Blues: Give it Away
• Trudy Lynn: I’ll Sing the Blues For You

RnB/Soul CD

• Johnny Rawls: Tiger in a Cage
• Janiva Magness: Love Wins Again
• The Lucky Losers: In Any Town
• Vaneese Thomas: The Long Journey Home
• JJ Thames: Raw Sugar
• Annika Chambers: Wild and Free
• Stevie J Blues: Back 2 Blues

Live CD

• Joe Bonamassa: Live at the Greek Theater
• Doug Macleod: LIVE in Europe
• Terry Hanck: From the Roadhouse to Your House
• Keb Mo: That Hot Pink Blues Album
• Jeff Jensen: The River City Sessions
• The Jimmys: Live from Transylvania
• Walter Trout: Alive in Amsterdam

Male Blues Artist

• Bernard Allison
• John Mayall
• Randall Bramblett
• Geoff Achison
• Tinsley Ellis
• Toronzo Cannon
• Bobby Rush

Female Blues Artist

• Trudy Lynn
• Sari Schorr
• Marky Blue
• Eliza Neals
• Annika Chambers
• Samantha Fish
• Janiva Magness

Traditional Blues Band

• Johnny Rawls
• Toronzo Cannon
• Bobby Rush
• Lurrie Bell
• Mac Arnold and Plate Full of Blues
• Trudy Lynn
• Benny Turner

Blues Rock Band

• Sari Schorr
• Too Slim and the Tail Draggers
• Nick Moss Band
• Ted Drozdowski
• Tinsley Ellis
• Joe Bonamassa
• Jeff Jensen

Modern Roots Band

• Webb Wilder
• Randall Bramblett
• Tweed Funk
• Bruce Katz
• The Broadcast
• North Mississippi Allstars
• Moreland and Arbuckle

Gateway Award

• Sari Schorr
• Joe Bonamassa
• The Record Company
• Mike Zito
• Samantha Fish
• The Broadcast
• Kaleo

Stage Performance

• Sari Schorr
• Samantha Fish
• Geoff Achison
• Tinsley Ellis
• Bernard Allison
• Walter Trout
• Joe Bonamassa

Road Warrior Award

• Albert Castiglia
• Tommy Castro
• Nick Moss
• Mike Zito
• Damon Fowler
• Walter Trout
• Samantha Fish

Traditional Blues Song

• Benny Turner: Have You Ever Been so Lonesome
• Toronzo Cannon: Walk it Off
• Albert Castiglia: Let’s Make Love in the Morning
• Lew Jetton: It’s Raining
• Nick Moss: From the Roots to the Fruits
• Deb Ryder: Grit, Grease and Tears
• Mick Kolassa: Taylor Made Blues

Best Modern Roots Song

• Kaleo: Way Down We Go
• The Broadcast: Eyes of a Woman
• The Record Company: Off the Ground
• Randall Bramblett: Devil Music
• Ben Harper: Call it What It Is
• Marcus King Band: Virginia
• Mike Eldred Trio: Baptist Town

Funk Song

• Jeremiah Johnson: Sun Shine Through
• Eric Gales: Good for Sumthin
• Deb Ryder: Get a Little Steam Up
• Benny Turner: Pity on This Lovesick Fool
• JJ Thames: Don’t Stop My Shine
• Stevie J Blues: I Ain’t Getting That
• Tweed Funk: Come Together

Song for the Common Good

• Vaneese Thomas: The More Things Change
• Marky Blue: Nobody’s Fool
• Zac Harmon: Stand Your Ground
• John Mayall: The Devil Must Be Laughing
• Stevie J Blues: Lil Mo Love
• Mick Kolassa: In the Day
• Teresa James: Too Big to Fail

Music Video

• Jackie Venson: Always Free
• Geoff Achison: High Wire
• The Broadcast: Steamroller
• Moreland and Arbuckle: Mean and Evil
• Bobby Rush: Porcupine Meat
• Jeremiah Johnson: Southern Drawl
• John Pagano Band: Ain’t Gonna Lose You

Blast from the Past: Our Review of Smoke Wagon's Nominated Album

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CONGRATS! Hamilton's Frank Cosentino Recognized as a Master Blues Artist

Hammertown Bluesman extraordinaire, Frank Cosentino recently joined fellow Hamiltonian, Jack de Keyzer in being recognized as a Master Blues Artist from Canada by the Blues Hall of Fame website. 

CONGRATS FRANK!

Two videos above courtesy of daragent2



More Freddie King Covers/Stories



More BB King Covers/Stories

Blast from the Past: Frank Cosentino Video and More

Links: Frank Cosentino, More Frank Cosentino Stories, Two videos above courtesy of randallstaffordcook

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Videos: Jack de Keyzer, Jerome Godboo and Spencer Mackenzie

Poster courtesy of Seneca Queen Theatre

More Freddie King Covers/Stories

Links: Jack de Keyzer, More Jack de Keyzer Stories, Videos above courtesy of randallstaffordcook



Links: Jerome Godboo, More Jerome Godboo Stories, Video above courtesy of Toronto Live Music Scene



Links: Spencer MacKenzie, More Spencer Mackenzie Stories, Video above courtesy of daragent2

Blast from the Past: Jack de Keyzer and Jerome Godboo @ Stonewalls

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News Roundup (Martin Verall, Jeff Healey, Jim Marshall)

Local

• Hamilton Musician's Guild Website
• Cool local Music Biz Bits blog
• Review of Guitar Mikey's CD Release show

Canada

• Neil Young May Be Building a better MP3
• April Edition of Maple Blues Magazine

World

• Freddie King & Don Kirchner to be Inducted into Rock Hall of Fame
• Nothing But the Blues Podcast #186
• Jim Marshall Passes
• Dylan's Blood on the Tracks album to become movie

Weird/Funny Stuff

• Rodeo Kings of Oz

Blasts from the Past

• 2009: Jerry Johnson: Performer of the Week
• 2010: Jesse O'Brien & Friends@Corktown
• 2011: Danny & Jimmy of the Overplayers@Artword Artbar

Featured Videos

Links: Jeff Healey, More Jeff Healy Stories, Video courtesy of Gitar Carl



Links: Martin Verall, More Martin Verall Stories, Video courtesy of Steinberg321

The Stingrays with Lance Kiernan@Coach and Lantern (January 14, 2012)

The Stingrays singer/harp player Willie Leigh was under the weather that night so Lance Kiernan ably filled in (guitar, left)





More Bob Dylan Covers/Stories





Links: Stingrays, More Stingrays Stories
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