Sunday, June 26, 2022
Please Support Local Charities
Saturday, June 25, 2022
Happy World Beatles Day! Covers by Jacob Moon, Christopher Clause, Freedom Train, Hailee Rose w Dave Rave
Links: Christopher Clause, More Christopher Clause Stories, Video above courtesy of Shotgun Jilly
Links: Freedom Train, More Freedom Train Stories, Video above courtesy of Freedom Train
Links: Dave Rave, More Dave Rave Stories, Hailee Rose, More Hailee Rose Stories, Video above courtesy of WillerMusicVideo
Links: Beatles, More Beatles Covers/Stories
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
CONGRATS! Local 2022 Maple Blues Award Winners
The 2022 Maple Blues Awards were handed out on June 20, 2022 at a wonderful ceremony at the Koerner Hall in Toronto,
Here's a complete list of winners:
Local artists are bolded.
- Acoustic Act: David Gogo & Steve Marriner (signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
- Electric Act: Colin James (signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
- Entertainer: Sue Foley (signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
- Guitarist: Sue Foley (signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
- Harmonica Player: Steve Marinner (signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
- Male Vocalist: Colin James (signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
- New Artist: Lowdown Dirty Mojos (Hamilton)
Links: The Lowdown Dirty Mojos, More Mojos Stories, Video above courtesy of THE LOWDOWN DIRTY MOJOS - Recording/Producer: Steve Marriner - Hope Dies Last (from Waterdown's Stony Plain Records) (Steve Marriner, Producer)
- Songwriter: Steve Marinner (signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
- Blues Booster: Claude Cloutier & Terry Parsons (tie)
- Blues with a Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award): Shakura S’Aida
- Piano/Keyboard : David Vest
- Horn Player: Alison Young
- Bassist: Keith Picot
- Drummer: Lindsay Beaver
- Female Vocalist : Miss Emily
- International Artist: Bonnie Raitt
Monday, June 20, 2022
Happy Indigenous Peoples Day & First Day of Summer! Videos by Lee Harvey Osmond, Shane Yellowbird, Pura Fé
Previous (Father's Day Videos) - - - Next (2022 Maple Blues Award Winners)
Sunday, June 19, 2022
Please Support Local Charities

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.
Happy Father's Day! Caretakers, Ludgates, Craig Cardiff, Donald McGeoch
Links: Caretakers, More Caretakers Stories, Video above courtesy of TheCaretakers Project
Links: John and Sheila Ludgate, More John and Sheila Stories, Video above courtesy of saxondale2
Links: Craig Cardiff, More Craig Cardiff Stories, Video above courtesy of Latent Image Studios
More Father's Day Videos
Previous (Big Rude Jake Passes) - - - Next (Indigenous Peoples Day/Summer Songs)
Friday, June 17, 2022
Big Rude Jake Had a Heart of Gold and a Sharp Wit - R.I.P.
I was lucky enough to see Jake quite a number of times and he was constantly full of life and had a smile on his face. You could see Jake loved what he did and was go great it. His lyrics were sharp and witty and his guitar skills were always world-class. I will miss him terribly.
He was very kind to me and invited me into his home when he first moved to Hamilton. I was very lucky and honored to play with such an amazing talent. He was in a league of players of their own. My heart goes out to the family and the family of musicians and fans he affected. Rest well my friend.
Dear Big Rude Jake: I'd say I have no words but there are plenty. Until I can muster a sentence up without crying i can peep out that I love you, respect you and will always remember you. Maybe that'll do for now. Every lightning strike and thunder crash I'll know that its you and your pals gettin' the band warmed up in heaven - taunting us earthly folks of the party that awaits. I'll be on my best behavior (mostly) so I can meet you up there one day . the good Lord raised His hand and has taken you home. We can find comfort in knowing you are at rest. Ladies and Gentleman Big Rude Jake. Whatta guy!
Jake dreamed big and rode a wave that inspired many of us who loved swing, jump, early jazz and blues to make Toronto a home for our music.
JakeFest in his honour last week was filled with love for the man and his tunes that uplifted us all.
One of the best nights of music I’ve experienced in Toronto. A fitting evening to honour an important member of our musical family.
Richard Underhill (Shuffle Demons)
A loving farewell to Big Rude Jake Hiebert, an erudite and dapper man with a heart of gold and a wit sharper than a Bowery barber's razor. Thank for the impossibly witty lyrics, the soulful singing and the meaningful music that touched everyone in the bar and let them dream that they too were living the bohemian life of a crooning troubadour. I'm so lucky to have played and chatted, noshed and laughed with such a beautiful man. Sincere and deep condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and fans. We've lost a great one and somehow we'll have to soldier on without him. He'd want you to Live Large and follow your dreams. And damn the barricades!
Video above courtesy of Big Rude Jake
Video above courtesy of Big Rude Jake
Links: Big Rude Jake, More Big Rude Jake Stories, Video above courtesy of Big Rude Jake
Previous (50th Anniversary of Ziggy Stardust) - - - Next (Father's Day Videos)
Thursday, June 16, 2022
Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Bowie's Ziggy Stardust with Amazing Local Covers & More!
- Release date: June 16, 1972 on RCA Records
- Produced by David Bowie & Ken Scott
- Guests: Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder, Mick Woodmansey, Rick Wakeman, Dana Gillespie
Sure Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was in my opinion and probably in all of our opinions one of the greatest albums ever.
It didn’t leave my tape deck for a year. It’s mesmerizing from start to finish: the production is beautiful and warm, it’s lyrically amazing, it’s one of the best album I’ve ever heard to this day.
Personally it inspired me the way I write music the limitless boundaries of creativity: no fences, no genre - phenomenal.
Monday, June 13, 2022
June 2022 Episode of 'Sold on Hamilton with Judy Marsales' featuring Theatre Ancaster
On June 4, 2022 CHML 900AM in Hamilton aired another fabulous episode of the 'Sold On Hamilton with Judy Marsales' radio show.
This wonderful show is generally broadcast on the first Saturday on the month between 11am and 12pm. It is hosted by Judy Marsales, owner of Judy Marsales Real Estate Ltd (a proud HBL sponsor) and an amazing local music supporter. The program showcases the best and brightest citizens of the Hammer, including many musicians. Judy also discusses the Hamilton housing market.
The June 4, 2022 show featured Gord Conroy of Theatre Ancaster, Cindy Hawryluk (Westdale BIA & Ancaster BIA) and real estate broker, Catherine Palmer from Judy Marsales Real Estate Ltd.
Links: Show above courtesy of Global News, Sold on Hamilton, More 'Sold on Hamilton' Stories
Video above courtesy of Erin Bree Pierce
Previous (Judy Garland's 100th Birthday) - - - Next (50th Anniversary of Ziggy Stardust)
Sunday, June 12, 2022
Support Local Charities
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.
Friday, June 10, 2022
Celebrate Judy Garland's 100th Birthday with Local Covers and More!
- Born Frances Ethel Gumm (June 10, 1922)
- Made film debut in the short The Big Revue (1929)
- Signed with MGM (1935)
- Signed recording contact with Decca Records at 13
- Starred as Dorothy in the movie classic Wizard of Oz (1939)
- Gave birth to daughter Liza Minnelli (March 29, 1946)
- Recorded Miss Show Business, her first solo album.
- Starred in The Judy Garland Show on TV (1961)
- Passed away of an overdose (June 22, 1969)
As I watched the Wizard of Oz as an 8 year old child, and heard Judy Garland singing Over the Rainbow for the first time, I knew right then and there, I wanted to be a singer when I grew up. It was a defining moment in my life - she inspired me to become a singer and performer.
Previous (Portugal Day Videos) - - - Next (Sold on Hamilton June 2022 Show)
Happy Portugal Day! Videos by Paulo Filipe, Brian Melo, Luis Ferraz, Madredeus
Please join us in celebrating our founder/blogger Lou's ethnic background!
Viva música ao vivo (Viva live music)
Here's some live Fado (a Portuguese musical genre) performed in Hamilton.
Links: Paulo Filipe, Video above courtesy of CesarPedro
Brian Melo is a Hamilton singer/songwriter of Portuguese heritage
Links: Brian Melo, Video above courtesy of BrianMeloVEVO
One of our blogger, Lou's favourite bands from Portugal
Links: Madredeus, Video above courtesy of Madredeus
Previous (Black Music Month Videos) - - - Next (Judy Garland's 100th Birthday)