Saturday, November 15, 2025

Music Listings: November 16-20, 2025

November 16-20, 2025

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.

2025: Nov 16-20 / Nov 21-23 / Nov 24-30

Sunday, November 16

---- Before 3:00pm ----




11:30am: Beatles Brunch ft Andrew McTaggart @ Black Bull (Burlington) (Weekly)


1:30-4:30pm: Traditional Irish Jam Sesssion @ Doc Magilligan's (Niagara Falls) (Weekly)





2-6pm: Bareback Riders @ Carrigan Arms (Burlington) No Cover






2-5pm: The Shalalas @ Irish Harp (Niagara-on-the-Lake)

2-5pm: Stuck in the 90s Duo @ Olde Angel Inn (Niagara-on-the-Lake) 


2-5pm: The Tonewheels @ Busholme (Erin) PWYC

---- After 3:00pm ----


4pm: Glenn Groves @ Black Bull (Burlington) (Weekly)


5-8pm: The Feverish Lemons @ Cat's Caboose (St. Catharines)



7pm: Junestone Band @ The Capitol Bar (Hamilton) 



7:30pm: Open Mic @ Golden Brothers (Welland) (Weekly)



8pm: Nap Eyes + Flwr Grl @ Warehouse Concert Hall (St. Catharines) $25.33


8pm: Kansas @ Centre in the Square (Kitchener) $?
Monday, November 17




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


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


7:30pm: Nap Eyes with Tractor Beam @ Sonic Hall (Guelph) $25.33


8pm: Open Jam with Martin Rouleau @ Moonshine Cafe (Oakville) $5 (Weekly) 
Tuesday, November 18







7-10pm: Open Mic with Brennagh Burns @ Lukaya Cafe (Hamilton) (Weekly)



7-10pm: The John McKinley Jam @ The Huether Hotel Jazz Room (Waterloo) (Bi-weekly) 

7pm: Felicia McMinn @ Capitol 33 (Delhi) (Weekly)



7:30pm: Christopher Clause @ Thirsty Cactus (Dundas) (Weekly)

8-11pm: Open Jam with the Boom Babiez @ Ale House (Hamilton) (Weekly) 

8-11:30pm: Open Mic @ Which Craft (Guelph) (Weekly)


8:30-11:30pm: Open Mic/Jam @ Barton Touchdown Pub (Hamilton) (Weekly)
Wednesday, November 19



2pm: Plaid Tidings: Holiday Edition of Forever Plaid @ Hildebrand Schoolhouse Theatre (St. Jacobs) $59.50 (Nov 19-23, 25-30, Dec 2-5)


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


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

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

7:30pm: Disney's Frozen (Musical) @ Theatre Aquarius (Hamilton) $? (Nov 19-23, 26-30, Dec 3, 6-7, 10-14, 17-21, 23-24, 26-28)


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


7:30pm: Hawksley Workman @ River's Edge (Brant) $58.64



7:45pm: Jazz Night (Open Stage) @ Corktown Pub (Hamilton) (Weekly)



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


8pm: Felicia McMinn @ 211Main (Port Dover) (Weekly)
Thursday, November 20

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






2pm: Plaid Tidings: Holiday Edition of Forever Plaid @ Hildebrand Schoolhouse Theatre (St. Jacobs) $59.50 (Nov 19-23, 25-30, Dec 2-5)

5:30pm: Jamie Petrie @ Pub Fiction (Ancaster) (Weekly)

6pm: Brad Hailz @ Slye Fox Pub (Burlington) 

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

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



6:30-9:30pm: James Ferris with Fried Balogna @ The Corktown Pub (Hamilton)(Weekly)


---- After 7:00pm ----




7-10pm: Amanda Lyn Parker @ Teddy's (Grimsby) 

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

7-10pm: The Uncle Jessies @ Cat's Caboose (St. Catharines)

7-9pm: Dealerz Choice @ Doc Magilligan's (Niagara Falls) 

7-10pm: Stu Peterson @ Manhattans (Guelph) 

7:30pm: Disney's Frozen (Musical) @ Theatre Aquarius (Hamilton) $? (Nov 19-23, 26-30, Dec 3, 6-7, 10-14, 17-21, 23-24, 26-28)


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

7:30-10:30pm: Daryl Gray @ Irish Harp (Niagara-on-the-Lake) 







8pm: Beat Heathens @ Moonshine Cafe (Oakville) $15 

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


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



9:30pm-1am: Neon Dirty @ Olde Angel Inn (Niagara-on-the-Lake)

2025: Nov 16-20 / Nov 21-23 / Nov 24-30


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Thursday, November 13, 2025

2026 Canadian Grammy Awards Nominations

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 Pop Solo Performance: 

Best Pop Vocal Album:

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: 

Record of the Year:

Songwriter of the Year:

Previous (Throwback Thursday: Blues With a Feeling 2009)
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Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Throwback Thursday: Blues With A Feeling 2009 Overview

Original Posts: June 1-8, 2009
Combined post: November 13, 2009


2009 featured the very first Blues With A Feeling event that HBL covered. BWF is done in honour of the late, legendary Hamilton Bluesman King Biscuit Boy.

The first part was a Blues showcase at the Corktown on June 5.

Here are the videos we took from that show: 



This was followed by a fabulous show at the Leander Boat Club on June 6.

Videos:



Finishing up the festivities was the inaugural BWF Blues Cruise (June 7) featuring Trickbag and many wonderful guests. To top everything off Crowbar frontman Kelly Jay got married to Tammi G Rose on the boat! Unfortunately, both have since passed.

Videos (all ft Trickbag):


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Monday, November 10, 2025

Lest We Forget! Remembrance Day Videos ft Michael J Birthelmer, Leonard Cohen and more

Update of 2015 Post





Links: Michael Birthelmer, More Michael Birthelmer Stories, Video above courtesy of Michael Hickey



Links: Buy the Single on iTunes, Video above courtesy of Standing Strong and True



Links: Leonard Cohen, More Leonard Cohen Stories, Video above courtesy of Legion Magazine



Links: John McCormack, Video above courtesy of WW1 Photos

More Remembrance Day Songs
Previous (Nominees for the Canadian Folk Music Awards) - - - Next (Throwback Thursday: Blues With a Feeling 2009)
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Saturday, November 8, 2025

Nominees for the 2026 Canadian Folk Music Awards Including Local Artists

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

Single 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 Group 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

Previous (Robert Sears Passes) - - - Next (Remembrance Day Videos)
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Friday, November 7, 2025

Burlington's Robert Sears Was Kind, Generous & Loyal

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Burlington musician Robert Sears. He passed away on October 29, 2025. Our condolences to his family, friends and fans.

There will be a celebration of life for him on Sunday November 30, 1pm at Stonewalls Restobar in Hamilton.

Social Media Reaction

Whiskey Chasers (Robert was a founding member)
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. 

Paul Sage

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

Previous (2025 Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductees) - - - Next (Nominees for the Canadian Folk Music Awards)
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Thursday, November 6, 2025

2025 Canadian Songwriter Hall of Fame Inductees Including Hamilton's Ian Thomas & Guelph's Jane Sibbery

Courtesy: Lu Chau

Music legends Ian Thomas from Hamilton and Guelph's Jane Sibbery were two of nine artists inducted to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame on October 17, 2025 at the Meridian Arts Centre in Toronto.




Here's a complete list of inductees.

Previous (Throwback Thursday: Pepper Jack Closing, Voyageur Guitar, Jacob Moon) - - - Next (Robert Sears Passes)
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Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Throwback Thursday: News Roundup ft Pepper Jack Cafe Closing, Voyageur Guitar, Jacob Moon

Original post: May 20, 2009
Updated: November 6, 2025


After eight years, the Pepper Jack Cafe will be closing it's doors for good. It has played host to many great gigs with local and international talent. The PJC will be missed.

Ken Inouye sent the following e-mail message to members of the Pepper Jack Facebook Group (no longer available):

"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"



Journalist Mark McNeil wrote an interesting true tale in the Thursday, May 7,  2009 edition of the Spectator (article no longer available).

It was all about a guitar (dubbed "Voyageur") built of 63 pieces of Canadian history.

Here are some highlights:
CBC Radio Broadcaster Jowi Taylor helped create the guitar and is travelling Canada with it. On Wednesday, May 6, 2029 it was brought to Westdale Secondary School where students and the teacher played the fabulous instrument.

Plans are underway for a book about the guitar and the Canadian Mint recently issued a coin celebrating it.

Click here for the guitar's blog/web-site.


Jacob Moon has recently released a YouTube video on the making of his new six-song EP, Maybe Sunshine. The disc was released in the fall of 2009.


Links: Video above courtesy of Jacob Moon

From Jacob's site:
"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."
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Sunday, November 2, 2025

Star-Studded Solo Debut from Dundas' Lily Sazz


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
Stream the album below


Links: Album above courtesy of Bandcamp
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