Today (November 29, 2025), the Hamilton Blues Lovers turns 17!
Links: Stevie Nicks, More Stevie Nicks Stories, Video above courtesy of Stevie Nicks
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A not-for-profit organization helping support the Hamilton, Halton, Niagara, Brant, Waterloo roots music scene
Today (November 29, 2025), the Hamilton Blues Lovers turns 17!
Links: Stevie Nicks, More Stevie Nicks Stories, Video above courtesy of Stevie Nicks
October 2025 edition of the Global Music Awards.
Gold Medal Winners
Artist: Mike Elliott (Kitchener)
Recording: Let You Go
Label: Busted Flat Records
Mini-Review:
Kitchener Bluesman Mike Elliott steps from out of the shadow of Daddy Long Legs and Elliott & the Audio Kings to craft his own stupendous solo offering. A musical gumbo of rockabilly, fuzzy garage rock and blues, Let You Go grabs you and takes you on a compelling trip.
Available on: Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Physical media on Busted Flat
Personnel:
Canadian made a great showing in the 2026 Grammy Award nomination list.
Below is a complete list of Canadian nominees.
Click here for the full list of all nominations.
Album of the Year:
Best Alternative Music Album:
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media:
Best Contemporary Country Album:
Best Country Solo Performance:
Best Dance/Electronic Recording:
Best Dance Pop Recording:
Best Historical Album:
Best Immersive Audio Album:
Best Melodic Rap Performance:
Best Metal Performance:
Best Opera Recording:
Best Orchestral Performance:
Best Pop Solo Performance:
Best Pop Vocal Album:
Best R&B Performance:
Best Remixed Recording:
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical:
Record of the Year:
Songwriter of the Year:
Nominees for the 2026 Canadian Folk Music Awards were recently announced and a few local acts were part of that prestigious list. The award ceremony will take place April 9-12, 2026 in Calgary.
You can see the nominee announcement below.
Links: CFMA, More CFMA Stories, Video above courtesy of prixfolkawards
Below is a complete list of nominees. Local artists are bolded
Contemporary Album of the Year
Contemporary Singer of the Year
Ensemble of the Year
Single of the Year
Stan Rogers Traditional Singer of the Year
Album Artwork of the Year
Children’s Album of the Year
English Songwriter(s) of the Year
French Songwriter(s) of the Year
Global Roots Album of the Year
Indigenous Songwriter(s) of the Year
Instrumental Composer(s) of the Year
Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year
New Artist(s) of the Year
Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries
Producer(s) of the Year
Solo Artist of the Year
Traditional Album of the Year
Young Performer(s) of the Year
It is with profound sadness and deepest of sorrow that Whiskey Chasers announce the passing of our dear friend and band mate Robert Sears.
Robert passed away peacefully surrounded by his family around 7:20am on Wednesday October 29.
Robert was a founding member of Whiskey Chasers and was an integral part of the band and our sound with his masterful bass playing and vocals. He was forced to retire from the band last August due to health issues.
Robert was kind, caring, generous, and a loyal friend. He will be dearly missed by his friends and family and the many people whose lives he touched.
Rest in peace brother.
Robert and Dean (Robert Sears & Dean Hunt from Whiskey Chasers) were the very first musicians that I got to play with when I moved to Hamilton about 10 years ago at a bar called Black Bull in Burlington. Robert also assisted me playing his bass on a Rock on Locke St . event pro gratis. I still owe him !
Links: Whiskey Chasers, Playlist & Videos above courtesy of Robert Manley
Links: Whiskey Chasers, Video above courtesy of Vesna Trkulja-Stevens
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| Courtesy: Lu Chau |
It's been 8 wonderful years of music, food and friends but also 8 years of very hard work. A bit too much hard work to continue on past June when our lease is up.
I'd like to thank you ever so much for all your support of our club and your support of live music in general over all these years. No doubt there are some truly great people who make it fun to throw shows for and with in Hamilton.. Who knew? We've had "maybe" one "fight" in the entire 8 years we've been in downtown Hamilton. I really can't stress enough how great the crowds have been. I've especially admired anyone who's done the research, spotted something interesting and been brave enough to attend a show even if they could not find a buddy or crew to go with.
While I'm at it I'd also like to comment on the abundance of good music coming thru Hamilton. Even when we are gone, many great bands will of course still be coming by the other live music clubs in this city. Not to mention the abundance of talent that this city has in it's own citizens. Please remember that when you go to a show, on top of the potential to have a fun and rich experience, you are also casting your vote and approval to the promoter and/or band to continue coming back and playing Hamilton.
The more support the clubs get, the more chances for unique and interesting entertainment to continue flowing and staying in the city.
Also, rest assured that there are clubs in Hamilton that do consistently book the up and coming buzz bands that go on to play much bigger, less intimate venues for way more money.
There are still almost 2 months of quality shows coming your way from PJC as well as some gems yet to be announced!
Thanks for your support and for being so cool!
Sincerely,
Ken
"I have been writing some new songs, and trying them out on unsuspecting audiences, slipping them into sets like some kind of mad scientist, to see how they react.
What I'm hoping to achieve this summer is something I've rarely tried: compose parts of songs, then record them and finish the lyric and melody as I go, reacting to studio musicians' interpretation.
All of this in an attempt to uncover something about the songs that I would be unable to do on my own. First up is something to get me into that headspace again: a band version of The Great Beyond, for an upcoming animated video I've partially commissioned from local animator Rachel Peters. I intend to make that video part of a half dozen new videos that will debut this fall."
Artist: Lily Sazz (Dundas)
Recording: What Just Happened
Mini-Review:
Dundas' Lily Sazz is finally taking centre stage after years of playing with incredible arists such as the Trailblazers, Groove Corporation, Cootes Paradise, Women's Blues Revue, Rita Chiarelli, and many others.
This is a fabulous way to kickstart a solo career! This star-studded project has everything from the deeply personal to the downright quirky. Every song is infused with own feel and will have you contemplating or shaking your moneymaker.
Available on: Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Physical media coming soon
Personnel:
Main Band: Lily Sazz (vocals, piano, organ, Tibetan tingsha cymbal), Robin Pirson (drums), Carrie Clark (bass)
Guests