CONGRATS! 2020 Hamilton Spectator Readers' Choice Award Winners

The 2020 Hamilton Spectator Readers' Choice Awards were recently unveiled. The special supplemental section featured the best that Hammertown has to offer, including our wonderful music community. 

Here's a list of all the music-related winners.

D = Diamond (1st place)

P = Platinum (2nd place)

G = Gold

Everything else is in the top ten.

Local Musician or Band

• D: Arkells
  
  
  
  Links: More Arkells Stories, Video above courtesy of Arkells Music
  
  
• P: Laura Cole
  
  
  
  Links: More Laura Cole Stories, Video above courtesy of The Basement Sessions
  
  
• G: John Atlee
  
  
  
  Links: More John Atlee Stories, Video above courtesy of John Atlee

Concert Venue

• D: FirstOntario Centre 
• P: The Casbah
• G: Burlington Performing Arts Centre

Festival

• D: Supercrawl
• P: Winona Peach Festival
• G: Festival of Friends

Live Entertainment Facility

• D: FirstOntario Concert Hall
• P: Hamilton Theatre Inc./FirstOntario Centre
• G: Tracie's Place/This Ain't Hollywood

Live Jazz Club

• D:  Mattson & Co
• P: Doors Pub
• G: Winking Judge

Live Music Bar/Lounge

• D: Corktown 
• P: Tracie's Place
• G: Casbah

Music Instructor

• D: Adam Scott
• P: Emily Kemp
• G: Michael Cuthbert

Musical Instrument Store

• D: Long and McQuade 
• P: Picks N Sticks
• G: Mountain Music

Music School

• D: Paula French Entertainment
• P: Hamilton School of Music
• G: Picks N Sticks

Radio Station

• D: K-Lite FM 102.9
• P: KX94.7 New Country
• G: 92.1 Jewel

Recording Studio

• D: Grant Avenue Studio/Downtown Sound Recording Studios
• P: Catherine North Studios
• G: Halo

A special congrats to our sponsors

• Judy Marsales Real Estate, Gold for Best Real Estate Office
• Picks N Sticks, Platinum for Best Musical Instrument Store and Gold for Best Music School.

Our blogger's workplace, St. Charles Adult and Continuing Education Centres, won gold for Best Adult Education

CONGRATS EVERYONE!

Links: Readers' Choice Awards, More Spec Readers' Choice Awards Stories

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Winners of Maple Blues Awards, Final Day, Including Hamilton's Smoke Wagon Blues Band

This year, the Maple Blues Awards are online and divided between four Mondays in February.

The last day - day four (February 22) was streamed from Vancouver.

Below is a video of the final ceremony:

Video above courtesy of the Toronto Blues Society

• New Artist: Smoke Wagon Blues Band (Hamilton)
  
  
  
  Links: More Smoke Wagon Blues Band Stories, More Fats Domino Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Corey Lueck
  
  
• Male Vocalist: Matt Andersen
  
  
  
  Links: More Matt Andersen Stories, Video above courtesy of Folk Roots and Blues
  
  
• Horn Player: Mark Leclerc (Fuel Junkie) / Mat “Moose” Mousseau (Ben Racine Band) TIE!
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Fuel Junkie - Topic
  
  
  
  Links: More Ben Racine Stories, Video above courtesy of Blues Rock This Time
  
  
• John Valenteyn Blues Booster of the Year: Cindy McLeod
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Cindy Mcleod Music

Blast from the Past: Last Years' Winners

Links: Maple Blues Awards, More Maple Blues Awards Stories, Day 1 of 2021, Day 2 of 2021, Day 3 of 2021

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Crowbar's Bad Manors Turns 50!

In 2021, Bad Manors, the classic album from the legendary Crowbar, turns 50 years old! This was the unforgettable Hamilton band's second offering and the first just under just its own name (their debut was technically King Biscuit Boy with Crowbar). This was, of course, the album that would feature their biggest hit, the ever-eternal Oh, What a Feeling.

Details: 

• Released early 1971
• On Daffodil label
• Crowbar members: Kelly Jay (piano, percussion), John Gibbard (guitar), Rheal Lanthier (guitar), Roly Greenway (bass), Sonnie Bernardi (drums), Josef Chirowski (organ)
• Guests: King Biscuit Boy (yodels), Steve Kennedy (Lighthouse, Dr. Music) on horns, Bob Bryden (vocals), Ritchie York (tambourine).

We asked a few local musicians to give their thoughts on this incredible album.

Paul Panchezak (Trickbag, King Biscuit Boy and touring member of Crowbar)

In Melody Maker, Paul McCartney called "Oh What A Feeling" the "party record of the year". I read it with my own eyes as a young high school student. It made me very proud of my home town.

Corey Lueck (Smoke Wagon Blues Band) 

When I first dove into the world of classic rock and album hunting  my aunt told me stories of this glorious  band that lived and partied together in this old mansion. That sounded like the life to me! I ran out and picked up a used copy at Cactus Records in Oakville which I still own and play today!

I got such a kick out of how fun this band sounded with the cool train imitations on Train Keep Rolling to the hoots, hollering and yodeling on Baby Let's Play House and of course, the iconic shouts on Oh What What a Feeling.

The album was just jammed packed with Blues, Rocking boogies, boogie woogie piano, whaling harp, and screaming guitar! I'd stare at the picture on the center fold of these wild and crazy Canuck hippies out in the snow! This album was a masterpiece that makes you proud to be a Canadian musician

Frank Cosentino

For me it was one of the heaviest sounds I had heard up to that time! It proved that Canadian musicians could hold they're own with the best in the world! And in most cases surpassing!

Links: Crowbar, More Crowbar Stories, Videos above courtesy of UnidiscMusic, More 50th Anniversary Albums

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Winners of Maple Blues Awards, Day Three including Hamilton's Jesse O'Brien

This year, the Maple Blues Awards are online and divided between four Mondays in February.

Day three (February 15) was streamed from Montreal.

Below is a video of the third ceremony:

Video above courtesy of the Toronto Blues Society

Here's a complete list of winners

• Piano/Keyboard: Jesse O'Brien (Hamilton)
  
  
  
  Links:  More Jesse O'Brien Stories, Steve Marriner, More Steve Marriner Stories, Video above courtesy of The Basement Sessions
  
  
• Harmonica Player: Steve Marriner
  
  
• Songwriter: Colin Linden
  
  
  
  Links: Colin Linden, More Colin Linden Stories, Gary Craig, More Gary Craig Stories, Video above courtesy of bluesinbronte
  
  
• Drummer: Gary Craig (Colin Linden, Steve Dawson)

Blast from the Past: Last Years' Winners

Links: Maple Blues Awards, More Maple Blues Awards Stories, Day 1 of 2021, Day 2 of 2021, Day 4 of 2021

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Happy Mardi Gras! Videos by Troy Dowding & Jay Burr, Waterstreet Blues Band, Pardi Gras

Links: Troy Dowding, More Troy Dowding Stories, Jay Burr, More Jay Burr Stories, Video above courtesy of tdblows

Links: Waterstreet Blues Band, More WSBB Stories, Video above courtesy of waterstreetbluesband

Links: Pardis Gras, Video above courtesy of Cory Mercer

More Mardi Gras Videos

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Previous (Family Day Videos)

Happy Family Day! Videos by Wayne Krawchuk & Carol Greene, Ariana and David Gillis, Dunlop Brothers

Links: Wayne Krawchuk, More Wayne Krawchuk Stories, Carol Greene, More Carol Greene Stories, Video above courtesy of Carol Greene

Links: Ariana Gillis, More Ariana Gillis Stories, David Gillis, More David Gillis Stories, More Warren Zevon Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Richard Sugarman

Links: Dunlop Brothers, More Dunlop Brothers Stories, Video above courtesy of The Unicorn Project GTA

Click here for more Family Day videos.

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Happy 6th Birthday Trebleclef!

Today (Feb 15, 2021) our little monkey turns 6 years old! 

Click here for more of Trebleclef's adventures.

These past few months, since he couldn't attend a lot of music events, he's been giving mini-reviews of Canadian/local books and  teaching cool local music trivia.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDY!

Links: ZZ Top, More ZZ Top Stories, Video above courtesy of ZZTopOfficial1

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Happy Valentine's Day! Videos by Sharon Washington, Danielle Todd, Jordan Patterson, Tebey

Links: Sharon Washington, More Sharon Washington Stories, Video above courtesy of Scotty Bakalar

Links: Danielle Todd, Video above courtesy of Danielle Todd 

Links: Jordan Patterson, More Jordan Patterson Music, Video above courtesy of Jordan Patterson

Links: Tebey, More Tebey Stories, Video above courtesy of Tebey

Click here for more Valentine's videos

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Happy Year of the Ox/Cow! Videos by Harrison Kennedy, Big Sugar, Arrogant Worms, Corb Lund

Links: Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories, Video above courtesy of Harrison Kennedy - Topic

Links: Big Sugar, More Big Sugar Stories, Video above courtesy of BigSugarBand

Links: Arrogant Worms, More Arrogant Worms Stories, Video above courtesy of MissPa77y

Links: Corb Lund, More Corb Lund Stories, Video above courtesy of Corb Lund

More Chinese New Year Songs

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Happy Get Out Your Guitar Day ft Blake Halladay

Links: Blake Halladay, More Blake Halladay Stories, Videos above courtesy of Blake Halladay More 'Get Out Your Guitar Day' Videos

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Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Carole King's Tapestry w Burlington's Suzanne O

Today (February 10, 2021), Carole King's classic album, Tapestry turns 50 years old.

To celebrate, here are a few videos of Burlington's Suzanne O, who has performed a tribute to Carole on many occasions.

Links: Suzanne O, More Suzanne O Stories, Videos above courtesy of Suzanne O

We asked Suzanne to give her thought about the classic album. Here is what she had to say: 

For me, every song on Tapestry is a brilliant display of great song writing that is delivered with simplicity, heart, and the perfect mix of musicians. It is an album that universally touched people’s souls the instant the needle hit the vinyl.  

The title track, ‘Tapestry’ is one that can make me cry, so I must be careful in approaching it during live performances.  The message of life’s journey is instilled here so aptly, and hits home - more so during these times.  

Lou Adler intuitively produced these songs in such a natural surrounding with all musicians together in Studio B at A&M; and that was part of the secret.  This album holds the magic that was created not only by the outstanding songs written by Carole King (w/ G Goffin and T Stern), but the ambience of the studio space, and the sign of the times in 1971 when it was recorded. 

Each song seems to carry its own vibe and meaning for me, especially playing it live, so I embrace every track on the album with open arms and full heart.  I think this recording affects people on such an emotional level that it cannot really be described by most.  

My feeling is that it transports them to a place of peace and a feeling of pure joy in hearing musical excellence.  I love performing the entire album during our shows, because of the effect it has on the listener.  We take a little trip together that seems to make time and space evaporate. That’s the magic!

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Here are a few videos from the lady herself.

Links: Carole King, More Carole King Stories/Covers, Videos above courtesy of Carole King, More 50th Anniversary Albums

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Winners of Maple Blues Awards, Day Two

This year, the Maple Blues Awards are online and divided between four Mondays in February.

Day two (February 8) was streamed from Ottawa.

Below is a video of the second ceremony:

Video above courtesy of the Toronto Blues Society

Below is a complete list of winners

• Female Vocalist: Angel Forrest
  
  
  
  Links: More Angel Forrest Stories, Video above courtesy of Angel Forrest - Topic
  
  
• Entertainer : Dawn Tyler Watson
  
  
  
  Links: More DTW Stories, Video above courtesy of Dawn Tyler Watson - Topic
  
  
• Blues with a Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award): Ken Whiteley/Joe Murphy
  
  
  
  Links: Video above courtesy of Ken Whiteley
  
  
• Bassist: John Dymond (Colin Linden)
  
  
  
  Links: Colin Linden, More Colin Linden Stories, More John Dymond Stories, Video above courtesy of randallstaffordcook

Blast from the Past: Last Years' Winners

Links: Maple Blues Awards, More Maple Blues Awards Stories, Day 1 of 2021, Day 2 of 2021, Day 3 of 2021, Day 4 of 2021

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Hamilton's Brandon P General Honours Buddy Holly with a Stunning Covers Album

Brandon P General has taken his considerable talents to honour the legendary Buddy Holly in his latest offering, The Apartment Tapes. The Hamilton singer/songwriter released the album on February 3rd 2021, the anniversary of Holly's death. This wonderful collection is a tribute to the early rocker's final recording, also titled The Apartment Tapes.

While keeping true to Holly's spirit, Brandon does an incredible job of maintaining his own unique style and sound. This is a stripped down affair which focuses on the emotional heft of these classic tunes.

You can stream or downlaod this fabulous album through Brandon's Soundcloud page. The recording is embedded below too.

Brandon P. General · The Apartment Tapes

Links: Brandon P General, More Brandon P General Stories, More Buddy Holly Covers/Stories, More Releases

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Previous (Honouring the Day the Music Died) - - - Next (Maple Blues Award Winners, Day 2)

Honouring the Day the Music Died w Videos by Hwy 24 Band, Sonny Boy Mick, The Big Bopper

Click pic to learn about 'The Day The Music Died"

 

Links: Hwy 24 Band, Video above courtesy of HWY 24 Band

Links: Sonny Boy Mick, More Buddy Holly Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Hamilton Blues Lovers

Links: Big Bopper,  More Big Bopper Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of JohnnyElvis1935

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Local Artists Win on Day 1 of 2021 Maple Blues Blues Awards

This year, the Maple Blues Awards are Online and divided between four Mondays in February.

Day one (February 1) was streamed from Toronto and a number of local artists won some of the first batch of awards.

Below is a video of the first ceremony:

Video above courtesy of the Toronto Blues Society

Below is a complete list of winners. Locals are bolded.

• Recording/Producer: Smoke Wagon Blues Band – Ballad Of Albert Johnson / Self (Steve Sherman)
  
  
  
  Links: More Smoke Wagon Blues Band Stories, Video above courtesy of Corey Lueck
  
  
• Electric Act: Jack de Keyzer
  
  
  
  Links: More Jack de Keyzer Stories, Video above courtesy of Jack de Keyzer
  
  
• Acoustic Act: Matt Andersen
  
  
  
  Links: More Matt Andersen Stories, Video above courtesy of Matt Andersen
  
  
• Guitarist: Garrett Mason
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Garrett Mason
  
  
• B.B. King International Artist: Ghost Town Blues Band
  
  
  
  Links: Video above courtesy of Ghost Town Blues Band

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Maple Blues Awards, More Maple Blues Awards Stories, Day 2 of 2021, Day 3 of 2021, Day 4 of 2021

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Happy Play Your Ukulele Day ft Carl Jennings and Friends

Links: Dave Rave, More Dave Rave Stories, Video above courtesy of Dave Rave, More Beatles Covers/Stories

Links: Freedom Train, More Freedom Train Stories, Video above courtesy of Freedom Train

Links: Headstones (Rickferd's band),  More Headstones Stories, Video above courtesy of Carl Jennings

Click here for more Ukulele Day videos

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