CONGRATS! Canada's Best Celebrated at Maple Blues Awards

The Best of Canadian Blues was on display for all to hear at  the Koerner Hall in Toronto on Monday, January 18, 2016. The 19th Annual Maple Blues Awards gala celebrated the immense talent this country has to offer.

Tom Bona of Kitchener band Soulstack and Toronto's Raoul and the Big Time  won the Drummer of the Year award.  Cambridge Bluesman Conor Gains received the coveted  $1000 Cobalt Prize for his song Leave it on the Line.

Links: Raoul and the Big Time, More R&TBT Stories,  Video above courtesy of RapChop2



Links: Conor Gains, More Conor Gains Stories, Video above courtesy of mYears100

The big winner of the night was Montreal's Steve Hill who took home 3 awards (Entertainer, Electric Act, Guitarist).  Blackie and the Rodeo Kings member Colin Linden earned two (Producer, Songwriter) as well.

Links: Steve Hill, More Steve Hill Stories, Video above courtesy of T-Bar

CONGRATS EVERYONE!

Here's a complete list of winners:

• Drummer: Tom Bona (Soulstack, Raoul and the Big Time)
• Cobalt Prize ($1000): Conor Gains (runners up Cecile Doo-Kingue and Tim Bastmeyer)
• Entertainer: Steve Hill
• Acoustic Act: Big Dave McLean
• Male Vocalist: Matt Andersen
• Female Vocalist: Angel Forrest
• Piano or Keyboard Player: David Vest
• Horn Player: Jon Wong (The 24th Street Wailers)
• Bassist: Leigh-Anne Stanton (Wicked Grin)
• Songwriter: Colin Linden
• Recording/Producer: Colin Linden: Rich In Love/Producers: Colin Linden, John Dymond and Gary Craig
• Electric Act: Steve Hill
• New Artist or Group: Kirby Sewell Band
• International Artist: Buddy Guy
• Guitarist: Steve Hill
• Harmonica Player: Harpdog Brown
• Blues With A Feeling (Lifetime Achievement): Theresa Malenfant
• Blues Booster: Larry Kurtz

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Maple Blues Awards, More Maple Blues Awards Stories

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