Throwback Thursday: Steve Strongman in 2009

From March 19, 2009 edition of the Hamilton Spectator.

Click above to enlarge

Original posts: January 24, 2009, October 10, 2009

Updated Post: July 23, 2026

Hamilton Bluesman Steve Strongman had a great year in 2009

Here are a few highlights

• Released album, Blues in Color 
• The album Blues in Color was the only Canadian disc to enter Roots Music Report's Top 20 list for the week of July 10, 2026
• Opened for Buddy Guy
• Was the surprise opening act for legend Joe Cocker.
• Up for a Maple Blues Award
• Started recording Live DVD in West Lincoln Barn
• Won a Hamilton Music Award

Links: Steve Strongman, More Steve Strongman stories

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Winners of the 2026 Blues Music Awards + Canadian Nominees

The winners of the 2026 Blues Music Awards were announced on May 7.

Below is complete list of winners & nominees. Canadian artists are bolded.

International Blues Album

• WINNER: J.T.Lauritsen & The Buckshot Hunters, “Still be friends”
• Brandon Isaak, “Walkin With The Blues”
• Honeybear, the Band, “I Was Wrong”
• The Angelique Francis Band, “Not Defeated”
• Hubert Dorigatti & Blues Harp Masters, “Poor Boy”

Instrumentalist – Harmonica

• WINNER: Billy Branch
• Kim Wilson (from Fabulous Thunderbirds) (signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
• Bob Corritore
• Brandon Santini
• John Nemeth

Acoustic Blues Album

• WINNER: Doug MacLeod, “Between Somewhere and Goodbye”
• Catfish Keith, “Sugar for Sugar – Vol. 1 2025 Summer Sessions”
• Erin Harpe, “Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me: A Tribute to Mississippi John Hurt”
• Hudspeth & Taylor, “Kimuziki Live in Des Moines”
• Johnny Iguana, “At Delmark”

Acoustic Blues Artist

• WINNER: Kevin Burt
• Catfish Keith
• Doug MacLeod
• Eric Bibb
• Rhiannon Giddens

Album of the Year

• WINNER: D.K. Harrell, “Talkin’ Heavy”
• Blood Brothers Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia, “Help Yourself”
• Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, “Young Fashioned Ways”
• Larry McCray, “Heartbreak City”
• Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, “Closer To The Bone”

B.B. King Entertainer of the Year

• WINNER: Ronnie Baker Brooks
• Castro Coleman (Mr. Sipp)
• Rick Estrin
• Ruthie Foster
• Vanessa Collier

Band of the Year

• WINNER: Tedeschi Trucks Band
• Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra
• John Nemeth and the Blue Dreamers
• Southern Avenue
• Vanessa Collier Band

Best Emerging Artist Album

• WINNER: Sean McDonald, “Have Mercy!”
• Brody Buster, “Redemption”
• Allison August, “August Moon”
• Robbin Kapsalis, “THE BLUES IS IN THE HOUSE”
• Kyle Rowland, “NOT HOLDING BACK!”

Blues Rock Album

• WINNER: Blood Brothers Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia, “Help Yourself”
• Devon Allman, “BLUES SUMMIT”
• Kent Burnside, “Hill Country Blood”
• Tom Hambridge, “Down The Hatch”
• Walter Trout, “Sign Of The Times”

Blues Rock Artist

• WINNER: Tommy Castro
• Kenny Wayne Shepherd
• Kirk Fletcher
• Walter Trout

Contemporary Blues Album

• WINNER: D.K. Harrell, “Talkin’ Heavy”
• Brandon Santini, “Which Way Do We Go?”
• Carolyn Wonderland, “Truth Is”
• Monster Mike Welch, “Keep Living Til I Die”
• Southern Avenue, “Family”

Contemporary Blues Female Artist

• WINNER: Danielle Nicole
• Carolyn Wonderland
• Ruthie Foster
• Samantha Fish
• Vanessa Collier

Contemporary Blues Male Artist

• WINNER: Christone ”Kingfish” Ingram
• Brandon Santini
• Castro Coleman (Mr. Sipp)
• Chris Cain
• D.K. Harrell

Instrumentalist – Bass

• WINNER: Scot Sutherland
• Benny Turner
• Larry Fulcher
• Michael ”Mudcat” Ward
• Rodrigo Mantovani

Instrumentalist – Drums

• WINNER: Derrick D’Mar Martin
• Chris Layton
• Chris Peet
• Tom Hambridge
• Tony Braunagel

Instrumentalist – Guitar

• Derek Trucks
• Chris Cain
• Christoffer ”Kid” Andersen
• Joanna Connor
• Ronnie Baker Brooks

Instrumentalist – Horn

• WINNER: Trombone Shorty
• Greg Piccolo
• Jimmy Carpenter
• Mark Kaz Kazanoff
• Regi Oliver

Instrumentalist – Piano 

• WINNER: Marcia Ball
• Anthony Geraci
• Bruce Katz
• Dave Keyes
• Jon Cleary

Instrumentalist – Vocals

• WINNER: Danielle Nicole
• Candice Ivory
• John Nemeth
• Shemekia Copeland
• Susan Tedeschi

Song of the Year

• WINNER: “Can’t Catch a Break” written by Tommy Castro & Christoffer Andersen
  
  
  
  Links: Tommy Castro, More Tommy Castro Stories, Video above courtesy of Tommy Castro
  
  
• “Mile After Mile” written by Brandon Santini & Jeff Jensen
• “Bye Bye Blues” written by Larry McCray & Charlie Walmsley
• “Upside” written by Tierinii Jackson, Tikyra Jackson, Ori Naftaly, Dylan Altman & Marshall Altman
• “Who Was That?” written by Emmett Ellis Jr. & Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Soul Blues Album

• WINNER: Johnny Rawls, “Make Them Dance”
• Dave Keller, “La Brea”
• Jimmy Burns & Soul Message Band, “Full Circle”
• Tad Robinson Band, “Soul In Blue”
• The Soul of John Black, “Soul Salvation”

Soul Blues Female Artist

• WINNER: Thornetta Davis
• Annika Chambers
• Candice Ivory
• Kat Riggins
• Vaneese Thomas

Soul Blues Male Artist

• WINNER: Curtis Salgado
• Alabama Mike
• John Nemeth
• Johnny Rawls
• Tad Robinson

Traditional Blues Album

• WINNER: Buddy Guy, “Ain’t Done With The Blues”
• Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, “Young Fashioned Ways”
• Charlie Musselwhite, “Look Out Highway”
• Maria Muldaur, “One Hour Mama: The Blues of Victoria Spivey”
• Roomful Of Blues, “Steppin’ Out”

Traditional Blues Female Artist 

• WINNER: Eden Brent
• Diunna Greenleaf
• Maria Muldaur
• Rhiannon Giddens
• Teeny Tucker

Traditional Blues Male Artist

• WINNER: John Primer
• Billy Branch
• Jimmie Vaughan
• Jontavious Willis
• Rick Estrin

Links: Blues Music Awards, More Blues Music Awards Stories

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Throwback Thursday - 30th Blues Music Award Winners

Original Post: May 8, 2009

Updated & Expanded Post: July 10, 2025

On Thursday, May 7, 2009 the Blues Music Awards were handed out in Memphis, Tennessee.

The late Jeff Healey's CD, Mess of Blues, won for best Rock Blues Album. He was the only Canadian winner.

Here is a full list of winners Canadian Artists are bolded.

• Blues Rock Album: Jeff Healey – Mess of Blues
  
  
  
  Links: Jeff Healey, More Jeff Healey Stories, Album above courtesy of miguel9388
  
  
• Acoustic Blues Album: Eden Brent – Mississippi Number One
• Acoustic Blues Artist: Eden Brent
• Album of the Year: Buddy Guy – Skin Deep
• Band of the Year: Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials
• Contemporary Blues Album: Buddy Guy – Skin Deep
• Contemporary Blues Female Artist: Janiva Magness
• Contemporary Blues Male Artist: Buddy Guy
• DVD: Broke & Hungry Records, Cathead Blues & Mudpuppy Recordings – M For Mississippi: A Road Trip Through The Birthplace of the Blues
• Entertainer: Janiva Magness
• Historical Blues Album: Albert Collins Live At Montreux 1992
• Instrumentalist - Bass: Mookie Brill
• Instrumentalist - Drums: Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith
• Instrumentalist - Guitar: Sonny Landreth
• Instrumentalist - Harmonica: Billy Gibson
• Instrumentalist - Horns: Deanna Bogart
• Instrumentalist - Other: Otis Taylor – Banjo
• Instrumentalist - Piano: Marcia Ball
• New Artist Debut: Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm – 2 Man Wrecking Crew
• Soul Blues Album: Irma Thomas – Simply Grand
• Soul Blues Female Artist: Etta James
• Soul Blues Male Artist: Bobby Rush
• Song of the Year: Kenny Neal – Let Life Flow
  
  
  
  Links: Kenny Neal, Video above courtesy of Kenny Neal - Topic
  
  
• Traditional Blues Male Artist: B.B. King
• Traditional Blues Female Artist: Koko Taylor
• Traditional Blues Album: B.B. King – One Kind Favor

Links: Blues Music Awards, More Blues Music Awards Stories

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Winners of the 2024 Living Blues Awards Including Local Artists

Recently, Living Blues Magazine revealed the winners of their 2024 awards. Burlington's Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne won another in a very long line of accolades by getting the Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard) award in the Critic's Poll. Waterdown's Stony Plain Records was also well represented as many of their talented artists (including Kenny) won the top spot in a few categories.

Below is a complete list of winners.

* signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records

Critics Poll

• Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard): Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne (Burlington)*
  
  
  
  Links: Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, More Kenny "Blues Boss" Stories, Video above courtesy of Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne - Topic
  
  
• Best New Recording / Traditional or Acoustic Blues: Eric Bibb: Ridin' (guest starring Hamilton's Harrison Kennedy)*
  
  
  
  Links: Eric Bibb, More Eric Bibb Stories, Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories, Video above courtesy of Eric Bibb Official 
  
  
• Best Blues Album: Taj Mahal: Savoy*
• Artist Deserving More Attention: D.K. Harrell
• Best Blues Book: Biography of a Phantom: A Robert Johnson Blues Odyssey by Robert "Mack" McCormick and John Troutman
• Best Historical Reissue / Postwar: Down Home Blues: Chicago, Vol. 3 – The Special Stuff 
• Best Historical Release / Pre-war: Memphis Blues Box: Original Recordings 1914–1969
• Best Live Performer: Bobby Rush
• Best New Recording / Best Debut Release: D.K. Harrell – The Right Man 
• Best New Recording / Contemporary Blues: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Live in London
• Best New Recording / Soul Blues: Johnny Rawls – Walking Heart Attack
• Blues Artist of the Year (Female): Shemekia Copeland
• Blues Artist of the Year (Male): Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
• Comeback Artist of the Year: Arthur Adams
• Most Outstanding Blues Singer: Shemekia Copeland
• Most Outstanding Musician (Bass): Jerry Jemmott
• Most Outstanding Musician (Drums): Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
• Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar): Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
• Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica): Charlie Musselwhite
• Most Outstanding Musician (Horns): The Texas Horns
• Most Outstanding Musician (Other): Anne Harris (violin)
• Producer of the Year / Historical Reissue: Jeff Place and John W. Troutman – (Playing for the Man at the Door: Field Recordings from the Collection of Mack McCormick 1958–1971)
• Producer of the Year / New Recording: Kid Andersen – (Alabama Mike – Stuff I’ve Been Through)

Readers' Poll

• Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard): Marcia Ball *
• Best Blues Album (New Release): Taj Mahal: Savoy*
• Blues Artist of the Year (Female): Shemekia Copeland
• Blues Artist of the Year (Male): Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
• Best Blues Album (Historical Recording): Ike & Tina Turner – River Deep – Mountain High
• Best Blues Book: Tell It Like It Is: My Story – Aaron Neville
• Best Live Performer: Buddy Guy
• Most Outstanding Blues Singer: Shemekia Copeland
• Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar): Buddy Guy
• Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica): Charlie Musselwhite

Links: Living Blues, More Living Blues Awards Stories

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Local Bluesman Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne Wins Living Blues Award

For the 2nd year in a row, local Bluesman Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne has won the Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard) award at the  Living Blues Awards. He's also signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records won.

Critics' Poll

• Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard): Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne (Ontario)(signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
  
  
  
  Links: Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, More Kenny "Blues Boss" Stories, More Willie Dixon Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne - Topic
  
  
• Blues Artist of the Year (Male): John Primer
• Blues Artist of the Year (Female): Shemekia Copeland
• Most Outstanding Blues Singer: Irma Thomas
• Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar): Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
• Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica): Charlie Musselwhite
• Most Outstanding Musician (Bass): Bob Stroger
• Most Outstanding Musician (Drums): Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
• Most Outstanding Musician (Horns): The Texas Horns
• Most Outstanding Musician (Other): Shardé Thomas (Fife)
• Best Live Performer: Bobby Rush
• Comeback Artist of the Year: Jimi “Prime Time” Smith
• Artist Deserving More Attention: Dylan Triplett

Album Awards

• Album of the Year: Diunna Greenleaf - I Ain’t Playin’
• Best New Recording / Contemporary Blues: Shemekia Copeland - Done Come Too Far
• Best New Recording / Traditional or Acoustic Blues: Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder - Get on Board
• Best New Recording / Soul Blues: Trudy Lynn - Golden Girl
• Best New Recording / Best Debut Release: Dylan Triplett - Who Is He?
• Best Historical Release / Pre-war: Tampa Red - The Guitar Wizard: The Tampa Red Collection 1929–53
• Best Historical Reissue / Postwar: Elmore James - The Sky Is Crying: The Ultimate Collection
• Best Blues Book of 2022: The Blues Dream of Billy Boy Arnold (Billy Boy Arnold with Kim Field)
• Producer of the Year / New Recording: Will Kimbrough - (Shemekia Copeland - Done Come Too Far)
• Producer of the Year / Historical Reissue: Bill Dahl (Elmore James - The Sky Is Crying: The Ultimate Collection)

Readers' Poll

• Blues Artist of the Year (Male): Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
• Blues Artist of the Year (Female): Shemekia Copeland
• Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar): Buddy Guy
• Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica): Charlie Musselwhite
• Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard): Marcia Ball
• Best Live Performer: Buddy Guy
• Most Outstanding Blues Singer: Shemekia Copeland
• Best Blues Album of 2022 (New Release): Buddy Guy - The Blues Don’t Lie
• Best Blues Album of 2022 (Historical Recording): Elmore James - The Sky Is Crying: The Ultimate Collection
• Best Blues Book of 2022: Further on Up the Road: Traveling to the Blues (Martin Feldmann)

Links: Living Blues, More Living Blues Awards Stories

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Sue Foley (artist signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records) Earns 2023 Blues Music Award + Full Winners List

Sue Foley, an Ottawa Blueswoman signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records was the only Canadian to take home a Blues Music Award (specifically The Koko Taylor Award) at the ceremony on May 11, 2023in Memphis.

This was her reaction on Facebook:

Thank you to The Blues Foundation and to blues fans everywhere for your continued love and support. I am proud to be known as a traditional blues artist, and any way I can have my name associated with the great Koko Taylor is good for me. 

⭐️ 💗👍🙏

Thanks to our team; my band, Jon Penner and Corey Keller, Michele Gare, Stony Plain Records,  Atomic Music Group, RPM Talent, and our publicists Mark Pucci and Eric Alper.

We call this a hat trick up in Canada!

Below is a complete list of winners:

• Traditional Blues Female Artist: Sue Foley, signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records
  
  
  
  Links: Sue Foley, More Sue Foley Stories, Video above courtesy of Sue Foley
  
  
• Acoustic Blues Artist: Doug MacLeod
• Acoustic Blues Album: Mississippi Son, Charlie Musselwhite
• Album: The Blues Don’t Lie, Buddy Guy
• Band: Tedeschi Trucks Band
• Bass: Danielle Nicole
• Blues Rock Artist: Albert Castiglia
• Blues Rock Album: I Got Love, Albert Castiglia
  
• Contemporary Blues Female Artist: Ruthie Foster
• Contemporary Blues Male Artist: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
• Contemporary Blues Album: The Blues Don’t Lie, Buddy Guy
• Drums: Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
• Emerging Artist Album: Who Is He?, Dylan Triplett
• Entertainer: Tommy Castro
• Piano: Anthony Geraci                                                                                                           
• Traditional Blues Male Artist: John Primer
• Traditional Blues Album: May Be the Last Time, John Németh
• Guitar: Laura Chavez
• Harmonica: John Németh
• Horn: Deanna Bogart
• Song: Buddy Guy: The Blues Don’t Lie (Written by Tom Hambridge)
  
  
  
  Links: Buddy Guy, More Buddy Guy Stories, Video above courtesy of Buddy Guy
  
  
• Soul Blues Album: In Too Deep, Sugaray Rayford
• Soul Blues Female Artist: Thornetta Davis
• Soul Blues Male Artist: Curtis Salgado
• Vocals: Shemekia Copeland

Links: Blues Music Awards, More Blues Music Awards Stories

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CONGRATS! Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne, Artist Signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records, Wins Living Blues Award

The 29th Annual Living Blues Awards were announced recently and Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, an artist signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records won.

Part 1: Critics' Poll

• Keyboard: Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne (signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
  
  
  
  Links: Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, More Kenny "Blues Boss" Stories, More Willie Dixon Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne - Topic
  
  
• Artist (Female): Shemekia Copeland
• Artist (Male): Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
• Bass: Bob Stroger
• Book: I Ain't Studdin' Ya: My American Blues Story by Bobby Rush with Herb Powell
• Comeback Artist: Johnny Tucker
• Deserving More Attention: Crystal Thomas
• Drums: Rodd Bland
• Guitar: Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
• Harmonica: Charlie Musselwhite
• Horns: James “Boogaloo” Bolden
• Live Performer: Bobby Rush
• Other Instrument: Cedric Watson (Accordion)
• Producer (New Recording): Tom Hambridge: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – 662
• Producer (Historical Recording): Tom Vickers: Chicago / The Blues / Today! 
• Singer: Sugaray Rayford

Album Awards

• Album: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – 662
• Contemporary: Now Dig This! - Crystal Thomas
• Debut: Buffalo Nichols – Buffalo Nichols
• Reissue/Pre War: Matchbox Bluesmaster Series, Set 1 (Various Artists)
• Reissue/Post War: Down Home Blues: Miami, Atlanta & the South Eastern States – Blues in the Alley (Various Artists)
• Southern Soul: Wee Willie Walker & The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra – Not in My Lifetime
• Traditional & Acoustic: Eric Bibb – Dear America

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Part 1: Readers' Poll

• Album: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – 662
• Album (Historical Recording): Jimmie Vaughan – The Jimmie Vaughan Story 
• Artist (Male): Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
• Artist (Female): Mavis Staples
• Book: King of the Blues: The Rise and Reign of B.B. King by By Daniel de Visé
• Guitar: Buddy Guy
• Harmonica: Charlie Musselwhite
• Keyboard: Marcia Ball
• Live Performer: Buddy Guy
• Singer: Mavis Staples

Links: Living Blues, More Living Blues Awards Stories

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CONGRATS! Hamilton-Packed Album Wins Maple Blues Award

Canadian Blues legend Colin James swept the Maple Blues Awards with 5 wins. He was a similar face at the podium during the ceremony on February 4, 2019 at Koerner Hall in Toronto. His fabulous recording Miles to Go features Hamiltonians Jesse O'Brien (keys, writing), Steve Pelletier (bass) and Tom Wilson aka Lee Harvey Osmond (writing). Also, it's released by Waterdown's True North Records).



Links: Colin James, More Colin James Stories, Steve Pelletier, More Steve Peletier Stories, Jesse O'Brien, Lee Harvey Osmond, More Lee Harvey Osmond Stories, More Jesse O'Brien Stories, Video above courtesy of Colin James - Topic

CONGRATS EVERYONE!

Here is a complete list of winners

• Recording/Producer: Colin James: Miles to Go (Producers: Colin James, Dave Meszaros) ft work by Hamilton's Jesse O'Brien, Steve Pelletier and Tom Wilson, Released by Waterdown's True North Records)
• Male Vocalist: Colin James
• Entertainer: Colin James
• Electric Act: Colin James
• Songwriter: Colin James
• New Artist: Emily Burgess
• Guitarist: Sue Foley
• Bassist: Laura Greenberg (JW-Jones)
• Horn Player: Shirley Jackson
• Piano/Keyboard: David Vest
• Drummer: Lindsay Beaver
• Female Vocalist: Angel Forrest
• Acoustic Act: Big Dave McLean
• Blues with A Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award): Ellen McIlwaine
• Harmonica Player: Steve Marriner (MonkeyJunk)
• Blues Booster: The Hornby Island Blues Society
• B.B. King International Artist: Buddy Guy

Cobalt Prize:

• Winner: Ann Vriend - It's Happening
• 2nd Place: Son Roberts - Down on Vaughn Rd
• 3rd Place: Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar: Chasing Dreams

Blast from the Past: Last Years's Winners

Links: Maple Blues Awards, More Maple Blues Awards Stories

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Previous (News Roundup: Gary Santucci, Awards, Wayne Janus, more)  - - - Next (Year of the Pig Videos)

News Roundup (Awards, kd lang, Jason Isbell, More)

HBL Blogger/Founder Nominated for Maggie Award
Please Vote!

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News

Local

• Local Canadian Folk Music Award Nominees
• HBL Blogger/Founder Nominated for Maggie Award
• New Hamilton Musicians' Guild Honourees

Spectator Stories

• Martin Barre (of Jethro Tull) Comes to Hamilton
• Billy F Gibbons (ZZ Top)
• Noname's Debut Album
• Steven Page

Canada

• Watch Leonard Cohen Tribute Concert on CBC

Americana Award Winners

• Americana Trailblazer: k.d. lang
  
  
  
  Links: kd lang, More kd lang Stories, Video above courtesy of zen4ever
  
  
• Album: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - The Nashville Sound
• Artist: John Prine
• Song: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - If We Were Vampires
  
  
  
  Links: Jason Isbell, More Jason Isbell Stories, Video above courtesy of Jason Isbell
  
  
• Duo/Group: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
• Emerging Artist: Tyler Childers
• Instrumentalist: Molly Tuttle
• Free Speech Award: Rosanne Cash
• Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist: Buddy Guy
• Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance: Irma Thomas
• Lifetime Achievement Award for Executive: Cris Williamson and Judy Dlugacz of Olivia Records

World

• Native American Music Award Nominees

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Adventure of Trebleclef, the Music-Loving Monkey

Trebleclef was proud to go to his Uncle John and Auntie Sarah's 20's themed wedding!

Click here for more pics from the event

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MORE NEWS ROUNDUPS

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Previous (Folk Road Show Videos) - - - Next (Dirty Nil on CBC's q)

News Roundup (Passings, Living Blues Award Winners, Patrick Ballantyne)

Festival of Friends Volunteer Mosche Freedman Passes

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News

Local

• CHCH Video: Nicole Coward
• Winners of the Niagara Jazz Fest Jazz 4 the Ages Contest
• Local Music Super Fan Gary DePodesta Passes

Living Blues Award Winners

Critic's Poll

• Artist (Male): Bobby Rush
• Artist (Female): Rhiannon Giddens
• Most Outstanding Blues Singer: William Bell
• Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar): Lurrie Bell
• Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica): Billy Branch
• Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard): Henry Gray
• Most Outstanding Musician (Bass): Bob Stroger
• Most Outstanding Musician (Drums): Cedric Burnside
• Most Outstanding Musician (Horns): Big Jay McNeely
• Most Outstanding Musician (Other): Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton (Banjo)
• Best Live Performer: Bobby Rush
  
  
  
  Links: Bobby Rush, More Bobby Rush Stories, Video above courtesy of MusicUCanSee
  
  
• Comeback Artist of the Year : William Bell
• Artist Deserving More Attention: Bruce “Mississippi” Johnson

Best Blues Albums of 2016

• Album: Lurrie Bell - Can’t Shake This Feeling
• New Recordings/Contemporary Blues: Toronzo Cannon -  The Chicago Way
• New Recordings/Southern Soul: William Bell – This Is Where I Live
• New Recordings/Best Debut: Anthony Sherrod and the Cornlickers – Right on Time
• New Recordings/Traditional and Acoustic: Jimmy “Duck” Holmes – It Is What It Is 
• Historical (Pre-war): Washington Phillips – Washington Phillips and His Manzarene Dreams
• Historical (Postwar): B.B. King – The Complete RPM–Kent Recordings Box

Various

• Book: Martin Hawkins – Slim Harpo: Blues King Bee of Baton Rouge
• DVD: Sherman Robertson – Takin’ You to Texas
• Producer (New Recording): Scott Billington (Bobby Rush – Porcupine Meat)
• Producer (Historical Recording): Michael Corcoran, April G. Ledbetter and Steven Lance Ledbetter (Washington Phillips and His Manzarene Dreamss)

Readers Poll

• Artist (Male): Buddy Guy
• Artist (Female): Shemekia Copeland
• Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar): Buddy Guy
• Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica): Charlie Musselwhite
• Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard): Marcia Ball
• Best Live Performer: Buddy Guy
  
  
  
  Links: Buddy Guy, More Buddy Guy Stories, Video above courtesy John Richardson
  
  
• Most Outstanding Blues Singer: Buddy Guy
• Album (New Release): Toronzo Cannon -  The Chicago Way
• Album (Historical Recording): B.B. King – The Complete RPM–Kent Recordings Box
• DVD: David “Honeyboy” Edwards – I’m Gonna Tell You Somethin’ That I Know
• Book: Alan Harper – Waiting for Buddy Guy: Chicago Blues at the Crossroads

World

• International Bluegrass Music Association Award Nominations

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The Adventures of Trebleclef the Music Loving Monkey

Trebleclef helped his daddy (Lou, our blogger) celebrate his birthday along with Trickbag at King West Bistro in Dundas

Click here for more pictures of the event.

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A few days after, he went to Gore Park in Hamilton to check out Andre Bisson and his incredible Band!

Click here for more pictures of the event.

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Featured Video

Links: Patrick Ballantyne, More Patrick Ballantyne Stories, Video above courtesy of Patrick Ballantyne

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Previous (Winners of the Niagara Jazz 4 the Ages Competition) - - - Next (Niagara Area Musicians Star in Band on a Couch YouTube Series)

GOOD LUCK! Vote for Hamilton's Harrison Kennedy in the Downbeat Readers Poll!

The American Blues and Jazz magazine, Downbeat, is holding it's annual reader's poll and Hamilton Blues legend Harrison Kennedy is in the running for the Blues Artist Or Group category.  Anyone can register (all they need is your email and your name) and vote.  Users can also add their own choices to the groups.

Click here to vote.

Results will be published in the December issue (out in October) of the magazine.

GOOD LUCK HARRISON!

Video above courtesy of Electro-Fi Records

Blast from the Past: Harrison Wins European Blues Award

Links: Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories

Downbeat also recently released the results of their 2016 Critic's Poll where Buddy Guy won the Blues Artist Or Group award.

Montreal native Christine Jensen earned two wins: Rising Star–Arranger and Rising Star–Big Band. CONGRATS!

Video above courtesy of JazzHeadTradeFair

Links: Downbeat, More Downbeat Poll Stories

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GOOD LUCK! The Late, Legendary Mel Brown's DVD Up for Living Blues Award! You Can Vote!

It's very rare for local musicians to be nominated for the Living Blues Awards but this year, the late, legendary Kitchener Bluesman, Mel Brown is up for Best Blues DVD of 2015 for the documentary Love Lost and Found.



Links: Mel Brown, More Mel Brown Stories, Video above courtesy of Peter Beacock

Also, Harmonica Shah, whose last few albums featured Hamilton guitar slinger Jack de Keyzer recieved a nod for Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica).



Links: Harmonica Shah, More Harmonica Shah Stories, Video above courtesy of Dimitris Koutsiaftis

You can help them win this prestigious award from the popular Blues magazine by voting online.  Click here to vote. Deadline is July 15, 2016!

GOOD LUCK!

Click here for the results.

DVD

• Mel Brown: Love Lost and Found: The Story of Mel Brown
• Otis Grand: Blues From The Heart
• Muddy Waters and Friends: Soundstage: Blues Summit in Chicago, 1974
• Lonnie Shields: The Blues Soul of Lonnie Shields

Harmonica

• Harmonica Shah 
• Bob Corritore 
• Billy Branch 
• Charlie Musselwhite 
• Phil Wiggins 
• Grady Champion 
• Charlie Sayles 
• Sugar Blue
• Omar Coleman 
• James Harman 

Artist (Male) Lurrie Bell  Buddy Guy  John Primer  Keb' Mo'  Taj Mahal  Mr. Sipp  Little Freddie King  Tommy Castro  Vasti Jackson  Leo Bud Welch  Artist (Female) Trudy Lynn  Janiva Magness  Ruthie Foster  Shemekia Copeland  Diunna Greenleaf  Jewel Brown  Rhiannon Giddens  Irma Thomas Ms. Jody  Dorothy Moore  Singer Buddy Guy  Diunna Greenleaf Otis Clay John Németh Irma Thomas Joseph "Smokey" Holman Wee Willie Walker Mighty Sam McClain Trudy Lynn Johnny Rawls Guitar Lurrie Bell  Duke Robillard Joe Louis Walker Walter "Wolfman" Washington Buddy Guy  Lucky Peterson Classie Ballou Lil' Buck Sinegal Jimmy Johnson Jimmy Burns Keyboard Eden Brent  Marcia Ball  Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne  Allen Toussaint Henry Gray Ironing Board Sam David Maxwell Barrelhouse Chuck Victor Wainwright Mitch Woods Live Performer Super Chikan Shemekia Copeland Bobby Rush Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials Buddy Guy Ruthie Foster Tab Benoit Victor Wainwright The Cedric Burnside Project Mr. Sipp Album (New) Shemekia Copeland: Outskirts of Love Buddy Guy: Born To Play Guitar Mr. Sipp: The Mississippi Blues Child Wee Willie Walker: If Nothing Ever Changes Omar Coleman: Born and Raised Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King: Fat Man's Shine Parlor James Harman: Bonetime Various Artists - Muddy Waters 100 Henry Gray and Bob Corritore: Sessions Vol. 1: Blues Won't Let Me Take My Rest The Cedric Burnside Project: Descendants of Hill Country Album (Reissue) Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection Various Artists: Parchman Farm: Photographs and Field Recordings, 1947-1959 J. B. Hutto: Hawk Squat Tampa Red: Dynamite! The Unsung King of the Blues Various Artists: Acoustic Blues: The Roots of It All The Definitive Collection Vols. 1-4 Bobby Rush: Chicken Heads: A 50-Year History of Bobby Rush Book Grady Gaines with Rod Evans: I've Been Out There: On the Road with Legends of Rock 'n' Roll Jas Obrecht: Early Blues: The First Stars of Blues Guitar Preston Lauterbach: Beale Street Dynasty: Sex, Song, and the Struggle for the Soul of Memphis Blues Unlimited: Essential Interviews From the Original Blues Magazine  Peter Guralnick: Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock 'n' Roll Barry Mazor: Ralph Peer and the Making of Popular Roots Music Blast From the Past: Our Review of the Mel Brown DVD Links: Living Blues, More Living Blues Awards Stories

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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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