Blues Blast Award Winners including Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne

Blues Blast Magazine recently annouced the winners of  their 2025 awards. Former Burlington resident Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne was the only Canadian to win.

Waterdown's Stony Plain Records was also represented by two wins: Kenny and Duke Robillard

• Keyboard Player Of The Year: Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne (formerly from Burlington) (signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
  
  
  
  Links: Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, More Kenny "Blues Boss" Stories, Video above courtesy of Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne - Topic
  
  
• Historical Or Vintage Recording: Duke Robillard – Roll With Me (Released on Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
• Acoustic Blues Album: Giles Robson & John Primer – Ten Chicago Blues Classics
• Acoustic Guitarist Of The Year: Keb’ Mo
• Bass Guitarist Of The Year: Danielle Nicole
• Blues Band Of The Year: Tab Benoit Band
• Blues Video Of The Year: Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd – Uncle Esau
• Contemporary Blues Album: Tommy Castro & The Painkillers – Closer To The Bone
• Electric Guitarist Of The Year: Tab Benoit
• Female Blues Artist: Shemekia Copeland
• Harmonica Player Of The Year: Charlie Musselwhite
• Horn Player Of The Year: Vanessa Collier
• Live Blues Album: Willie Buck – Live at Buddy Guy’s Legends
• Male Blues Artist: Tab Benoit
• New Artist Debut Album: Christopher Wyze & the Tellers – Stuck in the Mud
• Percussionist Of The Year: Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
• Producer Of The Year: Mike Zito
• Rising Star Award: Matt “The Rattlesnake” Lesch
• Rock Blues Album: Tab Benoit – I Hear Thunder
• Slide Guitarist Of The Year: Derek Trucks
• Soul Blues Album: Curtis Salgado – Fine By Me
• Traditional Blues Album: Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd – Young Fashioned Ways
• Vocalist Of The Year: Bobby Rush

Links: Blues Blast Magazine, More Blues Blast Awards Stories

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GOOD LUCK! Local Musicians Up For International Songwriting Competition

We all know there's world-class music in our own backyard but now the world is aware too thanks to the prestigious International Songwriting Competition.  After thousands of submissions, many deserving local musicians were chosen as semi-finalists.

Kitchener's Alysha Brilla has her song Immigrant in two categories: Unsigned and Lyrics. JD Yanik, also from Kitchener, is up for best Latin tune with Ganas De Tí

Brantford's Benjamin Rogers was listed for three tracks: Pendulum (Instrumental), Move Ben Move (Teen) and Wayfarer (Teen).



Links: Benjamin Dakota Rogers, More Benjamin Dakota Rogers Stories, Video above courtesy of Benjamin Rogers

Cambridge boy (who now resides in Kitchener) Robbie Hancock has his song, Into The Bright (co-written by Andy Gabrys) in the running for the folk category.



Links: More Robbie Hancock Stories, Video above courtesy of Robbie Hancock

Dundas songstress, Maggie Szabo has two songs in the Pop/Top 40 category: Tragedy (co-written by w Lee Miles) plus Tidal Waves And Hurricanes (co-written by Andrew Allen)



Links: More Maggie Szabo Stories, Video above courtesy of All About Maggie

Lastly, we have Oakville's Natalie TomYew, for the tune Take .e. (Dance category).

Other semi-finalists of note include Raoul and The Big Time, Al Lerman of Fathead, Ali Matthews and Brock Zeman.

Judges for the competition include Pat Metheny, Sarah McLachlan, John Hiatt, Robben Ford, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jon Secada, Bela Fleck, James Cotton and more.

Click here for the complete list of semi-finalists

Blast from the Past: Steve Strongman Becomes Finalist in 2013

Links: International Songwriting Competition, More ISC Stories

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Videos: Al Lukas and the James Anthony Band@Black Swan (March 22, 2014)

The Band: Al Lukas (vocals, guitar), James Anthony (guitar), James Rasmussen (bass), Bucky Berger (drums)

Click here if you can't see the videos





More Ray Charles Covers/Stories





Blast from the Past: Al Lukas, James Anthony, Barry Mac and Mary Simon on Ensemble

Links: Al Lukas, More Al Lukas Stories, James Anthony, More James Anthony Stories

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