Monday, May 11, 2026

Spencer Mackenzie Grows by Leaps and Bounds on Empty Chairs


Mini review: Empty Chairs, the latest album from Juno-nominated Niagara Blues superstar Spencer Mackenzie is getting a lot of international attention and for good reason. He grows with each release and Empty Chairs sees him painting with a lot more colours. Lyrically, the album delves into more personal and sometimes darker themes proving his songwriting is expanding by leap and bounds. You can also hear a touch of gospel and rootsier elements to his work.

Available on: CD/Vinyl Through His WebsiteYouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music

Released on: Gypsy Soul Records

Personnel:

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Winners of the 2026 Blues Music Awards + Canadian Nominees


The winners of the 2026 Blues Music Awards were announced on May 7.

Below is complete list of winners & nominees. Canadian artists are bolded.

International Blues Album

Instrumentalist – Harmonica

Acoustic Blues Album

  • WINNER: Doug MacLeod, “Between Somewhere and Goodbye”
  • Catfish Keith, “Sugar for Sugar – Vol. 1 2025 Summer Sessions”
  • Erin Harpe, “Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me: A Tribute to Mississippi John Hurt”
  • Hudspeth & Taylor, “Kimuziki Live in Des Moines”
  • Johnny Iguana, “At Delmark”

Acoustic Blues Artist

  • WINNER: Kevin Burt
  • Catfish Keith
  • Doug MacLeod
  • Eric Bibb
  • Rhiannon Giddens

Album of the Year

  • WINNER: D.K. Harrell, “Talkin’ Heavy”
  • Blood Brothers Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia, “Help Yourself”
  • Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, “Young Fashioned Ways”
  • Larry McCray, “Heartbreak City”
  • Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, “Closer To The Bone”

B.B. King Entertainer of the Year

Band of the Year

  • WINNER: Tedeschi Trucks Band
  • Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra
  • John Nemeth and the Blue Dreamers
  • Southern Avenue
  • Vanessa Collier Band

Best Emerging Artist Album

  • WINNER: Sean McDonald, “Have Mercy!”
  • Brody Buster, “Redemption”
  • Allison August, “August Moon”
  • Robbin Kapsalis, “THE BLUES IS IN THE HOUSE”
  • Kyle Rowland, “NOT HOLDING BACK!”

Blues Rock Album

Blues Rock Artist

  • WINNER: Tommy Castro
  • Kenny Wayne Shepherd
  • Kirk Fletcher
  • Walter Trout

Contemporary Blues Album

  • WINNER: D.K. Harrell, “Talkin’ Heavy”
  • Brandon Santini, “Which Way Do We Go?”
  • Carolyn Wonderland, “Truth Is”
  • Monster Mike Welch, “Keep Living Til I Die”
  • Southern Avenue, “Family”

Contemporary Blues Female Artist

  • WINNER: Danielle Nicole
  • Carolyn Wonderland
  • Ruthie Foster
  • Samantha Fish
  • Vanessa Collier

Contemporary Blues Male Artist

Instrumentalist – Bass

  • WINNER: Scot Sutherland
  • Benny Turner
  • Larry Fulcher
  • Michael ”Mudcat” Ward
  • Rodrigo Mantovani

Instrumentalist – Drums

Instrumentalist – Guitar

  • Derek Trucks
  • Chris Cain
  • Christoffer ”Kid” Andersen
  • Joanna Connor
  • Ronnie Baker Brooks

Instrumentalist – Horn

  • WINNER: Trombone Shorty
  • Greg Piccolo
  • Jimmy Carpenter
  • Mark Kaz Kazanoff
  • Regi Oliver

Instrumentalist – Piano 

  • WINNER: Marcia Ball
  • Anthony Geraci
  • Bruce Katz
  • Dave Keyes
  • Jon Cleary

Instrumentalist – Vocals

  • WINNER: Danielle Nicole
  • Candice Ivory
  • John Nemeth
  • Shemekia Copeland
  • Susan Tedeschi

Song of the Year

Soul Blues Album

  • WINNER: Johnny Rawls, “Make Them Dance”
  • Dave Keller, “La Brea”
  • Jimmy Burns & Soul Message Band, “Full Circle”
  • Tad Robinson Band, “Soul In Blue”
  • The Soul of John Black, “Soul Salvation”

Soul Blues Female Artist

  • WINNER: Thornetta Davis
  • Annika Chambers
  • Candice Ivory
  • Kat Riggins
  • Vaneese Thomas

Soul Blues Male Artist

Traditional Blues Album

  • WINNER: Buddy Guy, “Ain’t Done With The Blues”
  • Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, “Young Fashioned Ways”
  • Charlie Musselwhite, “Look Out Highway”
  • Maria Muldaur, “One Hour Mama: The Blues of Victoria Spivey”
  • Roomful Of Blues, “Steppin’ Out”

Traditional Blues Female Artist 

  • WINNER: Eden Brent
  • Diunna Greenleaf
  • Maria Muldaur
  • Rhiannon Giddens
  • Teeny Tucker

Traditional Blues Male Artist

  • WINNER: John Primer
  • Billy Branch
  • Jimmie Vaughan
  • Jontavious Willis
  • Rick Estrin


Previous (Mothers Day Videos)

Music Listings: May 11-14, 2026

May 11-14, 2026

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.


May 11-14 / May 15-17


Monday, May 11


6-8pm: Youth Jam @ Moonshine Cafe (Oakville) $5 (Weekly)

6-10pm: Open Mic @ Kin Club of Ridgeway (Crystal Beach) (Weekly)


6:30pm: Thomas Nelson Band @ Spirit in Niagara (Niagara-on-the-Lake)(Bi-Weekly

6:30-10pm: Open Mic @ Duke of Wellington (Waterloo)(Weekly)


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

7:30-10:30pm: Open Mic Night @ Irish Harp (Niagara-on-the-Lake)


`

8pm: Open Jam with Martin Rouleau @ Moonshine Cafe (Oakville) $5 (Weekly

Tuesday, May 12

---- Before 2:00pm ----




5-8:30pm: Kick N' Strings Duo @ Bardo (Hamilton)(Weekly)



Wednesday, May 13





6:30-8:30pm: Open Mic Jazz @ Corktown Pub, Downstairs (Hamilton) (Weekly)

7-10pm: Dan Thomas & Greg Brisco @ East End Social (Hamilton) (Weekly)

7pm: One Night Choir @ Gasworks (Hamilton) $?


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

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


7:30pm: Adam Ostrosser @ Thirsty Cactus (Dundas) (Bi-Weekly



8-11pm: Open Mic @ The Block Co (Burlington) (Weekly)


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


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

Thursday, May 14

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







12:30pm: Open Ukulele Session @ Moonshine Cafe (Oakville) $5 (Weekly)



5:30pm: Jamie Petrie @ Forge BBQ (Ancaster) (Weekly)


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

6-8pm: Ed Pizzo on the Baby Grand Piano @ Spirit in Niagara (Niagara-on-the-Lake) (Weekly)

6-8pm: Music @ 2 Rivers (Paris) 


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






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

7-10pm: Alex Hobson @ Teddy's (Grimsby) 

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


7-10pm: Stan Chang @ Manhattans (Guelph)

7pm: Open Mic @ The Falls Road on Victoria (Kitchener) (Weekly)


7:30pm: Music @ The Block Co, Edison Room (Burlington) 


7:30-10:30pm: Open Mic with Victor Morgado @ Your Neighbourhood Pizza Co (Beamsville)  (Weekly

7:30-10:30pm: Josh Edwards @ Irish Harp (Niagara-on-the-Lake)


---- After 8:00pm ----




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

8-10pm: Dragan on the Sax @ Spirit in Niagara (Niagara-on-the-Lake) (Weekly)



8-10:30pm: Robert Ball @ The Jazz Room (Waterloo) $? 



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

8:30pm: Frankie Moreno @ Fallsview Casino Resort, Avalon Theare (Niagara Falls) (May 12-15) $?

9pm: Ryan Thomas Smelle @ Fallsview Casino Resort, Lucky's Restaurant (Niagara Falls)

COMING SOON!

May



May 7-12: ArtsEverywhere Festival (Guelph)


May 8-31: Nice Work If You Can Get It @ Drury Lane Theatre (Burlington) $? # 

May 11, 7-9pm: Brant Harmonica Guild @ Knights (Brantford) (2nd & Fourth Mondays)


May 12, 7pm: Song Circle @ ANAF Club (Guelph) (2nd & 4th Wed) PWYC

May 12, 7:30pm: Ian Thomas... Not Gone Yet @ Sanderson Centre (Brantford) $83




May 13, 7:30pm: Ian Thomas... Not Gone Yet! @ River Run Centre (Guelph) $86 #



May 14, 7-10pm: Greg Brisco & Ian Andrews @ The Boiler & Whistle (Hamilton) (2nd Thu)


May 14, 7:30pm: Live Jam & Open Mic Hosted by Sessionista @ The Barber Towne Pub (Georgetown) (2nd & 4th Thu) 

May 16-18: Binbrook Ribfest @ Binbrook Fairgrounds $2/Kids Free


May 17, 2-6pm: Trickbag @ Boiler & Whistle (Hamilton)

May 17, 2-5pm: Brantford Open Stage @ Best Western (Bi-Weekly) $5


May 20, 7-11pm: Dundas Music Club @ Oddfellows Hall (Dundas) (3rd Wed) 

May 20, 7:30-10pm: Open Mic with Corey @ The Staircase, Lounge (Hamilton) (3rd Wed

May 22, 7pm: Good Lovelies + Ian Bell @ Old Town Hall (Waterford) $52#




May 28, 9-11pm: Live Band Karaoke @ Tracie's Place (Hamilton) (last Thu)

May 28, June 18, July 9, September 17, October 8, November 3, December 3, 7:30pm: Canadiana: The Musical @ Greg Frewin Theatre (Niagara Falls) $? (dinner available: 6pm)


May 29, 7:30-8:30pm + 9:30-10:30pm: Fleetwood Mac Mania @ Chudleigh’s Entertainment Farm (Halton Hills) $? #

May 29, 8pm: The Hogtown Allstars @ Clifford Brewing (Hamilton) $25 adv/$30 door


May 30, 3-8pm: Hohner Avenue Porch Party (Kitchener)

June


June 1, 7:30pm: The Guess Who + Don Felder (Eagles) @ TD Coliseum (Hamilton) $? #







June 12: 6:30-8:30pm: Staff Showcase @ Tabone Academy of Music (Hamilton) $10#

June 18, July 9, September 17, October 8, November 3, December 3, 7:30pm: Canadiana: The Musical @ Greg Frewin Theatre (Niagara Falls) $? (dinner available: 6pm)


July



July 6, 8pm: Father John Misty @ FirstOntario Concert Hall (Hamilton) $? #

July 9, September 17, October 8, November 3, December 3, 7:30pm: Canadiana: The Musical @ Greg Frewin Theatre (Niagara Falls) $? (dinner available: 6pm)

July 23: Lou (Founder & Blogger) Birthday

September



September 17, October 8, November 3, December 3, 7:30pm: Canadiana: The Musical @ Greg Frewin Theatre (Niagara Falls) $? (dinner available: 6pm)

September 29: Linda (Our Marketing Maven) Birthday


October



October 8, November 3, December 3, 7:30pm: Canadiana: The Musical @ Greg Frewin Theatre (Niagara Falls) $? (dinner available: 6pm)

October 14-18: Folk Canada Conference @ Sheraton Hotel (Hamilton) $?

November



November 3, December 3, 7:30pm: Canadiana: The Musical @ Greg Frewin Theatre (Niagara Falls) $? (dinner available: 6pm)

November 29: Hamilton Blues Lovers Turns 18

December


December 2, 7:30pm: Mudmen @ Fergus Grand Theatre $?

December 3, 7:30pm: Canadiana: The Musical @ Greg Frewin Theatre (Niagara Falls) $? (dinner available: 6pm)

May 11-14 / May 15-17



Please Support Local Charities




Please Support Local Charities



CFMU is a the not-for-profit radio station for McMaster University. They play a lot of local and indie artists. 

The Hamilton Blues Lovers (HBL) want to showcase a deserving local charity every week.  HBL is not affiliated with these charities nor does it fund raise for them.



Thursday, May 7, 2026

2026 Canadian Tony Awards Nominees including Hamilton's Caissie Levy

The Hammer is proud that it's very own Caissie Levy is up for a 2026 Tony Award for her work in the musical Ragtime.

A number of other Canadians got the nod, including a few for the show Titaníque, which weaves Celine Dion songs into a parody of the Titanic movie. The production and cast feature a number of Canadians.

Hopefully a few Canucks will bring home the hardware at the awards show on Sunday June 7, 2026.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Below is a complete list of nominees. Canadians are bolded.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Best Book of a Musical

  • Titaníque
  • The Lost Boys
  • Schmigadoon!
  • Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Best Musical

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

  • Layton Williams (Titaníque)
  • Ali Louis Bourzgui (The Lost Boys)
  • André De Shields (Cats: The Jellicle Ball)
  • Bryce Pinkham (Chess)
  • Ben Levi Ross (Ragtime)

Best Revival of a Musical

  • Ragtime (ft Hamilton's Caissie Levy)
  • Cats: The Jellicle Ball
  • Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

Best Sound Design of a Play

  • Lee Kinney (The Fear of 13
  • Justin Ellington (August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone) 
  • Tom Gibbons (Oedipus) 
  • Josh Schmidt (Bug) 
  • Mikaal Sulaiman (Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman)

Best Choreography

  • Christopher Gattelli (Schmigadoon!) 
  • Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant (The Lost Boys) 
  • Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons (Cats: The Jellicle Ball) 
  • Ellenore Scott (Ragtime)
  • Ani Taj (Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show)

Best Costume Design of a Play

  • Brenda Abbandandolo (Dog Day Afternoon) 
  • Qween Jean (Liberation)
  • Jeff Mahshie (Fallen Angels) 
  • Emilio Sosa (The Balusters) 
  • Paul Tazewell (August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone)

Best Direction of a Musical

  • Michael Arden (The Lost Boys) 
  • Lear deBessonet (Ragtime)
  • Christopher Gattelli (Schmigadoon!) 
  • Tim Jackson (Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York)
  • Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch (Cats: The Jellicle Ball)

Best Direction of a Play

  • Nicholas Hytner (Giant)
  • Robert Icke (Oedipus) 
  • Kenny Leon (The Balusters) 
  • Joe Mantello (Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman)
  • Whitney White (Liberation) 

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

  • Kevin Adams (Chess) 
  • Jen Schriever and Michael Arden (The Lost Boys) 
  • Jane Cox (Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show) 
  • Adam Honoré and Donald Holder (Ragtime) 
  • Donald Holder (Schmigadoon!) 
  • Adam Honoré (Cats: The Jellicle Ball) 

Best Lighting Design of a Play

  • Isabella Byrd (Dog Day Afternoon) 
  • Natasha Chivers (Oedipus) 
  • Stacey Derosier (August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone) 
  • Heather Gilbert (Bug) 
  • Heather Gilbert (The Fear of 13) 
  • Jack Knowles (Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman) 

Best Orchestrations

  • Doug Besterman and Mike Morris (Schmigadoon!)
  • Ethan Popp, Adrianne "AG" Gonzalez, Gabriel Mann, Kyler England (The Lost Boys) 
  • Lux Pyramid (Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York)
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Wilson, Trevor Holder and Doug Schadt (Cats: The Jellicle Ball)
  • Brian Usifer (Chess) 

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

  • Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
  • August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone
  • The Lost Boys
  • Schmigadoon!
  • Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

  • Christopher Abbott (Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman)
  • Danny Burstein (Marjorie Prime)
  • Brandon J. Dirden (Waiting for Godot)
  • Alden Ehrenreich (Becky Shaw)
  • Ruben Santiago-Hudson (August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone)
  • Richard Thomas (The Balusters)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

  • Nicholas Christopher (Chess)
  • Luke Evans (Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show)
  • Joshua Henry (Ragtime)
  • Sam Tutty (Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York)
  • Brandon Uranowitz (Ragtime)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

  • Will Harrison (Punch)
  • Nathan Lane (Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman)
  • John Lithgow (Giant)
  • Daniel Radcliffe (Every Brilliant Thing)
  • Mark Strong (Oedipus)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

  • Shoshana Bean (The Lost Boys)
  • Hannah Cruz (Chess)
  • Rachel Dratch (Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show)
  • Ana Gasteyer (Schmigadoon!)
  • Nichelle Lewis (Ragtime)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

  • Betsy Aidem (Liberation)
  • Marylouise Burke (The Balusters)
  • Aya Cash (Giant)
  • Laurie Metcalf (Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman)
  • June Squibb (Marjorie Prime)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

  • Rose Byrne (Fallen Angels)
  • Carrie Coon (Bug)
  • Susannah Flood (Liberation)
  • Lesley Manville (Oedipus)
  • Kelli O'Hara (Fallen Angels)

Best Play

  • The Balusters
  • Giant
  • Liberation
  • Little Bear Ridge Road

Best Revival of a Play

  • Becky Shaw
  • Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
  • Every Brilliant Thing
  • Fallen Angels
  • Oedipus

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

  • dots (Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show)
  • Soutra Gilmour (Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
  • Rachel Hauck (Cats: The Jellicle Ball)
  • Dane Laffrey (The Lost Boys)
  • Scott Pask (Schmigadoon!)

Best Scenic Design of a Play

  • Hildegard Bechtler (Oedipus)
  • Takeshi Kata (Bug)
  • David Korins (Dog Day Afternoon)
  • Chloe Lamford (Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman)
  • David Rockwell (Fallen Angels)

Best Sound Design of a Musical

  • Adam Fisher (The Lost Boys) 
  • Kai Harada (Cats: The Jellicle Ball) 
  • Kai Harada (Ragtime) 
  • Brian Ronan (Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show) 
  • Walter Trarbach (Schmigadoon!)  

Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award

  • Mary-Mitchell Campbell

Special Tony Award
  • League of Resident Theatres (LORT)

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre

  • André Bishop
  • James Lapine
  • Jules Fisher

Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre

  • 1/52 Project
  • Jake Bell
  • Kenn Lubin
  • Loren Plotkin


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Monday, May 4, 2026

National Cartoonist Day

Update of 2013 Post






Click here for more of our Cartoons

Local Cartoonists:
Please email us at blueshamilton@gmail.com if you know of any other cartoonists that should be on our list.

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