Spencer Mackenzie Grows by Leaps and Bounds on Empty Chairs

Mini review: Empty Chairs, the latest album from Juno-nominated Niagara Blues superstar Spencer Mackenzie is getting a lot of international attention and for good reason. He grows with each release and Empty Chairs sees him painting with a lot more colours. Lyrically, the album delves into more personal and sometimes darker themes proving his songwriting is expanding by leap and bounds. You can also hear a touch of gospel and rootsier elements to his work.

Available on: CD/Vinyl Through His Website, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music

Released on: Gypsy Soul Records

Personnel:

• Spencer Mackenzie (vocals, guitar)
• Miles Evans-Branagh (piano, organ)
• Stacey Shopsowitz & Steve Pelletier (bass)
• Adam Canon & Matt Burns (drums)
• Sandra Bouza & Chantel Williams (background vocals)

Stream the album below

Links: Album above courtesy of Spencer Mackenzie - Topic, More Releases

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BB King's 100th Birthday + Local Covers

September 16, 2025 would have been American Blues Superstar B.B. King's 100th birthday.

Biographic Highlights (From Wikipedia)

• Born Riley B. King in Itta Bena, Mississippi (September 16, 1925)
• Followed cousin Bukka White to Memphis, Tennessee (1946)
• Performed on Sonny Boy Williamson's radio program on KWEM in West Memphis
• Worked at WDIA radio station as a singer and disc jockey where he was given the nickname "Beale Street Blues Boy", later shortened to "Blues Boy" and finally to "B. B."
• First single, Mistreated Woman (1950)
  
  
  
  Links: B.B. King, More BB King Stories, Video above courtesy of B.B. King
  
  
• Released first charting single (#1 Billboard R&B) 3 O'Clock Blues (1951)
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Ron Levy
  
  
• First album Singin' the Blues (1956)
• Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (1980)
• He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987)
• Died at age 89 (May 14, 2015)

Local Covers

Links: Steve Strongman, More Steve Strongman Stories, Video above courtesy of Steve Strongman - Topic

Links: Spencer Mackenzie, More Spencer Mackenzie Stories, Video above courtesy of pierre bertrand

More 100th Birthdays

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Canada Day Videos by Spencer Mackenzie, David Lum, Johnny Mac Slater

Update of 2019 Post

Links: Spencer Mackenzie, More Spencer Mackenzie Stories, Video above courtesy of Spencer Mackenzie



Links: David Lum, More David Lum Stories, Video above courtesy of David Lum - Official YouTube Channel



Links: Johnny Mac Slater, More Johnny Mac Slater Stories, Video above courtesy of Johnny Mac Slater

More Canada Day Videos!

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2025 Niagara Music Award Winners & Nominees

On Sunday, April 13, 2025, the 14th edition of the Niagara Music Awards were handed out at the Sheraton Fallsview Conference Centre.

Below are a list of winners and nominees. Winners are listed at the top of the list and bolded.

ADULT CONTEMPORARY

• Lastli: Favourite Colour
• Amanda Lyn Parker: Lucid Dreaming
• Caleb Fast: Further From Me
• Junyor: We Don't Dance
• Kathryn Sinopoli: Regret
• Mel Monaco: Love Tides
• Permilla: Let Me Down
• Vibi: Matress

ALBUM

• Spencer Macenzie: Preach to My Soul
• Dialect Sosa: Ultra Violence – Decline Of A Beautiful Mind
• Evan Rotella: Last Train Home
• Moe Killed My Cool: Call Me When You Get Home
• Otherwives: Everlasting
• Sea Of Gold and Burgandy: Golden Horizons

BLUES

• Spencer Macenzie: Baptized By Cold Water
• Danny Boy Phelan
• Davis Hall and the Green Laterns: Carrottown
• Gil Hicks: Cables Out
• Terry K3tl: Blues All Night

COUNTRY

• Spencer Burton: Going Fishin
• Samantha Ava: Dead Town Diva
• Andy Colonico: Wild Card Girl
• Marty Hopkins: You Don’t Know Jack
• Dean Young: So It Is What It Is

EDM

• Kavai: Bob Does Acid
• Errunhrd: I’m Sorry

FEMALE 

• Vibi: Mattress
• Samantha Ava: Dead Town Diva
• Emily Andrews: Electric Wildlife
• Kathryn Sinololi: Regret
• Errunhrd: I’m Sorry
• Kennedy Von Kat: Edward Scissor Hands
• Paige Koop: Foolproof DIY
• Rita Visser: Rita and The Daydreamers
• Amanda Lyn Parker: Lucid Dreaming
• Mel Monaco: Love Tides
• Sleepy Jean: Six Feet Deep
• Nicole Cerminara: Let Me Down

FOLK

• Evan Rotella: Last Train Home
• Jeff Beadle: Batty Woman
• Fallen Leaves: Electric Wildlife
• Tribe 369: The Vibe Band Gypsy
• Suzie Vinnick: Talk to Me

HEAVY METAL

• Gutter Crowns: Shell
• Shadow Of The Fallen: Temples Of Stone
• Over It: Garden Style
• The Band Formely Known as Midnight Tripper: Dental Man
• Sunnycide: Decent
• Stuck In Neutral: Heart Attack
• Duskwalker: Never Going Back

HIP HOP  

• Cdot: DND &  Frvr Lonely
• Dialect Sosa: Running
• Choom Gang: Danky Kong
• Humble Hab: Bubble Gum
• Ezza E Featuring DJ Flip & Humble Hab: Let Go Pt2
• DPAX Nick Bee, K Double D, Everett Champion: Motions
• Everett Champion: Ghost Rider
• Pluto Hann: In Case You Were Wondering
• Caleb Fast: Sex and Drugs
• 80 Empire: RLWD

INSTRUMENTAL

• NT 1078: De Shrill
• P8E: Cruise Control
• Glass Apple Bonzai: Brother Bones
• Shiver: Going Underground
• M.U.L.L.E.Y: Musicians Night Off
• Shatterscript: Ignite
• Davis Hall And The Green Lanterns: Carrotown

MALE

• Spencer Burton: Going Fishin
• Evan Rotella: Last Train Home
• Lastli: Favourite Colour
• Junyor: Hurricane
• Jeff Beadle: Batty Woman
• Cdot: DND
• Nathaniel Goold: Electric Wildlife
• CD Onofrio: Sea Of Gold and Burgundy
• Brandon Agnew: The Blue That Shakes You
• Zach Mesic: Redemption Arc - Otherwives
• Spenscr Mackenzie: Preach My Soul
• Jonah Cappa: Twenty First Century – Galaxy Drive

MUSIC VIDEO

• Take The Money: Giancarlo & The Scarfones
  
  
  
  Links: Giancarlo & The Scarfones, Video above courtesy of Giancarlo & The Scarfones
  
  
• 1982: 80 Empire
• Live: Samantha Ava
• Forced To Walking: Thunderclap
• Going Fishin: Spencer Burton
• Material: The Maysides
• DND: Cdot
• Golden Horizon (Thats Alright): Sea Of Gold and Burgundy
• Mattress: Vibi
• Pieces Of Me: Suicide Star
• Maybe May: Still Mine
• Hometown: Roadwaves

NEW ARTIST

• Amanda Lyn: Parker Lucid Dreaming
• Abby Cabaj: It's Not My Fault
• Kennedy Von Kat: Edward Scissor Hands
• Dan Boyko: Lost Cause
• Jake Reynolds: If We Play Our Cards Right
• Ryan Thomas Smelle: Love Monkeys
• Brandon Agnew: The Kind Of Blue That Shakes You
• The Walkthrough: Timid

NEW GROUP  

• Days On Parade
• Stone Blind
• Lastlii
• Junyor
• Sunshine Express
• UFI
• Moe Killed My Cool
• Saint Paul
• Maybe May
• Playing With Fire
• Mushroom Valley
• Feverish Lemons
• Galaxy Drive

ORIGINAL ARTIST

• Errunhrd: I’m Sorry
• Codesis: Hold on to You
• Thunderclap: Forced To Walking
• Glass Apple Bonzai: Sound Of Love
• Anthony Botting: Boy
• Sensorium Angels: Artic Blueberry
• Eric Laurent: Back Seat

ORIGINAL GROUP

• Road Waves
• Sunshine Express
• Giancarlo and the Scarfones
• Sea Of Gold and Burgandy
• Moe Killed My Cool
• Davis Hall and the Green Lanterns
• Mushroom Valley
• Permilla

ORIGINAL SONG

• Dear Daughter: Rita And The Daydreamers
  
  
  
  Links: Rita And The Daydreamers, Video above courtesy of  Rita & the Daydreamers - Topic
  
  
• Maryanne: Evan Rotella
• Favourite Colour: Lastlii
• Wild Card Girl: Andy Colonico
• Timid: The Walkthrough
• Sound Of Love: Glass Apple Bonzai
• Love Monkeys: Ryan Thomas Smelle
• Again and Again: Cdot
• Carrotown: Davis Hall And The Green Lanterns

PRODUCER/SONG/ARTIST

• Joe Lipinski & Rita Visser: Northern Daydream by Rita Visser
• Matt Keighan: One Tree Down by Rob Repovs
• Peter Havencamp: Forced To Walking by Thunderclap
• Daniel Belasco: Sound Of Love by Glass Apple Bonzai
• Erunhrd: I’m Sorry by Erunhrd
• Lucas Rezza: RLWD by 80 Empire
• Steve Goldberger: A Sea Of Gold and Burgandy

PROMOTER

• Rob Repovs
• Medium Baby
• Chico Sanchez

PUNK

• Otherwives: Everlasting
• The Maysides: Been There Done That
• Daze Away: Air Japan
• Days On Parade: Look Alive
• Chub: No Sleeves till Brooklyn
• Welland Wasted: Democracy and Hypocrisy
• Go Ogopogo: I Get It
• Galaxy Drive: Twenty First Century
• Nitro Girl Poison: In Every Puff

ROCK  

• Moe Killed My Cool: I Want to be Fooly Cooly With You
• Stone Blind: Should’ve Known
• Junyor: Hurricane
• Aeronaut: Keep the Light On
• Kennedy Von Kat: Edward Scissor Hands
• Dan Boyko: Lost Cause
• Foolproof: DIY
• Suicide Star: Pieces of Me
• Cocktails: Get Off My Back
• Maybe May: Still Mine
• Dark City Panik: Sell Me A Lie
• Breaking Still: l Devil Inside My Mind
• Revive The Rose: Good Enough

VENUE

• Local
• Partridge Hall, First Ontario
• Warehouse
• Taps
• Big Texas
• Doc Magilligans
• Camp Cataract
• The Bank Art House
• OLG Stage
• Industria
• Moose and Goose
• Meridian Centre
• Donnelly's

GLOBAL ACHIEVEMENT

• Stephan Moccio, Rezz

BEYOND NIAGARA 

• Cassandra DiFruscio

Links: Niagara Music Awards, More NMA Stories

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Winners of the 2024 Ontario Folk Music Awards Including Guelph's Samir Baijal

The 2024 Ontario Folk Music Awards were handed out at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, Ontario on Sunday, October 6, 2024 following the Folk Music Ontario Conference. 

Below is a complete list of winners

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Samir Baijal (Hillside Festival)
• Album of the Year: Payadora Tango Ensemble featuring Lenka Lichtenberg and Aviva Chernick​ - "Silent Tears, The Last Yiddish Tango"
• Community Builder Award: Pat O’Gorman and Julie Schryer
• Performing Artist of the Year: The Angelique Francis Band
• Song of the Year:  “Annie’s Daughter” - The Pairs (written by Renée Coughlin, Noelle Frances Coughlin, Hillary Watson)
• Recording Artist of the Year: Good Lovelies
• Songwriting Award: Leah Holtom
• Taylor Mitchell Bursary: All of the Developing Artist Program participants at this year’s Folk Music Ontario conference

A number of area artist were showcased at the conference including:

• Will Gillespie
• Janice Jo Lee
• Spencer Mackenzie
• Minuscule
• Kristin Nicholls
• Sultans of String
  

Links: Will Gillespie, More Will Gillespie Stories, Video above courtesy of Will Gillespie

Links: Saltwater Hank, Video above courtesy of Richard Garvey

Links: Ontario Folk Music Awards, More OFMA Stories 

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Enter to Win 2 Tix to Spencer Mackenzie Band with Brant Parker in Hamilton

Juno nominee Spencer Mackenzie is bringing his brand of Rocking Blues to Stonewalls in Hamilton on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 8pm! He'll be joined by talented Bluesman Brant Parker for an amazing two-guitar attack. That's two Blues Slingers at the top of their game for only $20.

Click here to purchase tickets. Some physical tickets are available at Picks and Sticks.

Thanks to our friends in Spencer's promo team, we have two tickets to this energetic show to give away. To enter to win please do one (or more) of the following:

• Email blueshamilton@gmail.com with the work Spencer in the subject
• Like and share this Facebook post
• Like and RT this X (formerly Twitter) post 

Deadline to enter is Monday, April 22 at midnight. A winner will be drawn and will have until the end of the day to respond. If they don't respond, another winner will be picked.

GOOD LUCK!

Video above courtesy of Hamilton Blues Lovers

Links: Spencer Mackenzie, More Spencer Mackenzie Stories, Video above courtesy of Spencer Mackenzie

Links: Brant Parker, More Brant Parker Stories, Video above courtesy of  The Juke Joint in Acton

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2023 Juno Nominees (including tons of local acts)

Nominees for the 2023 Junos were recently announced and lots of local artists are in the running. Good luck on March 12-13 during the ceremony in Edmonton.

Below is a complete list of winners. Local acts are bolded.

Adult Contemporary Album

• He Sang She Sang - Marc Jordan & Amy Sky (released on Waterdown's Linus Entertainment)
• Adventure Book - Francois Klark 
• Descendant - Jann Arden 
• Higher - Michael Bublé 
• A Tyler Shaw Christmas - Tyler Shaw 

Alternative Album

• Sewn Back Together - OMBIIGIZI (Hamilton)
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Arts & Crafts
  
  
• Blue Rev - Alvvays 
• Duality - Luna Li 
• THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND - PUP 
• Tongues - Tanya Tagaq 

Blues Album

• Thanks For Tomorrow - Harrison Kennedy (Hamilton) 
• Preach To My Soul - Spencer Mackenzie (Fort Erie)
• Midnight Blues - Crystal Shawanda (Released on Waterdown's True North Records)
• Long River - Angelique Francis 
• Live at the King Eddy - The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer 

Breakthrough Group

• Harm & Ease (Burlington)
• Banx & Ranx 
• Rare Americans 
• Tommy Lefroy 
• Wild Rivers 

Children's Album

• Say Hello - Jeremy and Jazzy (Hamilton)
• Vol. 2 - Walk off the Earth & Romeo Eats (Burlington)
• Nice to Meet You - Beppie 
• I Am Love - Splash’N Boots
• Maestro Fresh Wes Presents: Julia the Great Young Maestro and Keysha 

Classical Album (Large Ensemble)

• Radiant Dawn: Music for Advent and Christmas The Elora Singers, conducted by Mark Vuorinen (Elora)
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Various Artists - Topic

• Clara – Robert – Johannes: Lyrical Echoes Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, conducted by Alexander Shelley 
• Handel: Messiah, HWV 56 Ensemble Caprice, Ensemble Vocal Arts-Quebec, conducted by Matthias Maute, featuring Karina Gauvin 
• Richard Strauss: Metamorphosen – Arvo Pärt: Symphonie No. 4, “Los Angeles” I Musici de Montréal, conducted by Jean-Marie Zeitouni 
• Viola Borealis Orchestre de l’Agora, conducted by Nicolas Ellis, featuring Marina Thibeault 

Contemporary Roots Album

• O Glory - Blackie and The Rodeo Kings (Hamilton, Guelph)
• That Was You and Me - Fortunate Ones 
• Hold on to Love - Shakura S’Aida Independent
• Come Morning - The Bros. Landreth 
• House of Dreams - The East Pointers

Country Album

• Good Ol’ Days - The Reklaws (Cambridge)
• Way Back - High Valley 
• Honkytonk Revival - Jade Eagleson 
• Bronco - Orville Peck 
• Masquerades -  Tenille Townes 

Dance Recording

• Spiral - Rezz (Niagara Falls)
• Afterglow - Bob Moses and Kasablanca 
• Shinigami Eyes - Grimes 
• These Nights feat. KIDDO - Loud Luxury 
• CTRL + ALT + DEL - Rêve 

Electronic Album

• Nightmare on Rezz Street 2 Mix - Rezz (Niagara Falls)
• NOT OK - Mecha Maiko 
• Spectrums - Odonis 
• Synthetic Season One - Rich Aucoin 
• Interior - Teen Daze 

Fan Choice 

• The Reklaws (Cambridge)
• Avril Lavigne 
• Lauren Spence-Smith 
• MacKenzie Porter 
• Preston Pablo 
• Rêve
• Shawn Mendes 
• Tate McRae 
• The Weeknd 
• Tyler Shaw 

Group

• Arkells (Hamilton)
• Reklaws (Cambrige)
• Arcade Fire 
• Billy Talent 
• Metric

Instrumental Album

• Canadiana - Canadian Brass (Released on Waterdown's Linus Entertainment)
• Everything Was Forever Until It Was No More - Esmerine 
• Iguana - Hard Rubber Orchestra 
• aubades - Jean-Michel Blais 
• Lionheart - Stephan Moccio 

Producer

• Murda Beatz (Fort Erie)
• Akeel Henry 
• Banx & Ranx
• KAYTRANADA
• Mike Wise

Rap Single

• Been Himma - Dom Vallie (Kitchener)
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Dom Vallie
  
  
• Alejandro Sosa - 6ixbuzz and Pengz 
• Wrath - Freddie Dredd
• Twin Flame - KAYTRANADA and Anderson .Paak
• Wrong Decisions - NAV 

Vocal Jazz Album

• blue - Diana Panton (Hamilton)
• Featuring - Caity Gyorgy 
• Venez donc chez moi - Laura Anglade and Sam Kirmayer 
• Nikki By Starlight - Nikki Yanofsky 
• The Ostara Project - The Ostara Project 

Adult Alternative Album

• Born Losers - Altameda
• The Garden - Basia Bulat 
• Being Somewhere - Dan Mangan 
• Colder Streams - The Sadies 
• How Is It That I Should Look At The Stars - The Weather Station 

Album

• WHO HURT YOU? - Ali Gatie
• Love Sux - Avril Lavigne 
• Demons Protected By Angels - NAV 
• i used to think i could fly - Tate McRae 
• Dawn FM - The Weeknd 

Album Artwork

• Emy Storey (Art Director, Designer, & Photographer), Becca McFarlane and Pamela Littky (Photographer): CRYBABY – Tegan and Sara 
• Ian Ilavsky (Art Director & Designer), Maciek Szczerbowski (Illustrator): EVERYTHING WAS FOREVER UNTIL IT WAS NO MORE – Esmerine 
• Jud Haynes (Art Director & Designer): KUBASONGS – Kubasonics 
• Kee Avil (Art Director), Lawrence Fafard (Photographer): CREASE – Kee Avil 
• Lights (Art Director & Illustrator), Virgilio Tzaj (Designer), Matt Barnes (Photographer): PEP – Lights 

Artist

• Avril Lavigne 
• Lauren Spencer-Smith
• Michael Bublé 
• Shawn Mendes
• The Weeknd 

Breakthrough Artist

• Dax 
• Devon Cole 
• Preston Pablo 
• RealestK 
• Rêve

Classical Album (Small Ensemble) 

• Nagamo - Andrew Balfour and musica intima 
• Hemsi: Chamber Works - ARC Ensemble 
• Vagues et ombres - collectif9 
• Early Italian Cello Concertos - Elinor Frey and Rosa Barocca, conducted by Claude Lapalme 
• De la cour de Louis XIV à Shippagan! Chants traditionnels acadiens et airs de cour du XVIIe siècle - Suzie LeBlanc, Marie Nadeau-Tremblay, Vincent Lauzer, and Sylvain Bergeron 

Classical Album (Solo)

• Winner of the 18th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition Warsaw 2021 - Bruce Liu 
• Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1 - David Jalbert 
• La Zingarella: Through Romany Songland - Isabel Bayrakdarian 
• Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin - James Ehnes 
• Fables - Philip Chiu 

Classical Composition

• An Overall Augmented Sense of Well-being - Anthony Tan 
• Bestiary I & II - Bekah Simms 
• The Black Fish - Keyan Emami 
• Prayers for Ruins - Nicole Lizée 
• Supervillain Études - Vincent Ho 

Comedy Album

• Let Me Hold Your Baby - Courtney Gilmour 
• Splash Pad - Jackie Pirico 
• A Person Who Is Gingerbread - Jon Dore 
• Here Live, Not A Cat - Matt Wright 
• Things Black Girls Say – The Album -  Zabrina Douglas 

Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album

• Into The Wild - Dan Bremnes 
• TRUST - Daniel Ojo 
• Jordan St. Cyr - Jordan St. Cyr 
• Only Ever Always - Love & The Outcome 
• The Church Will Rise - Tehillah 

Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group

• Watin - Aysanabee 
• Zhawenim - Digging Roots 
• Code Red - Indian City 
• Beyond The Reservoir - Julian Taylor 
• The Crossing - Susan Aglukark 

Contemporary R&B Recording

• When Flowers Bloom - Adria Kain 
• If I Get Caught - dvsn 
• No Longer in the Suburbs - Dylan Sinclair 
• YESSIE - Jessie Reyez 
• WTF - Savannah Ré  

Francophone Album

• medium plaisir - Ariane Roy 
• Mercure en mai - Daniel Bélanger 
• PICTURA DE IPSE : Musique directe - Hubert Lenoir 
• Crash Les - Louanges 
• Chiac Disco - Lisa LeBlanc

Global Music Album

• In the Footsteps of Rumi - Ghalia Benali Constantinople, Kiya Tabassian 
• Thieves of Dreams - Lenka Lichtenberg
• José Louis And The Paradox Of Love - Pierre Kwenders 
• Vox.Infold - Ruby Singh 
• Tradisyon - Wesli  

International Album

• = - Ed Sheeran 
• Harry’s House - Harry Styles 
• MONTERO - Lil Nas X 
• Midnights - Taylor Swift 
• Red (Taylor’s Version) - Taylor Swift 

Jazz Album (Group)

• Semantics - Andrew Rathbun Quintet 
• Talk Memory - BADBADNOTGOOD 
• The History of Us - Carn Davidson 9 
• Desert Bloom - Florian Hoefner Trio 
• The Dragon’s Tail - Mark Kelso & the Jazz Exiles 

Jazz Album (Solo)

• Joy - Ernesto Cervini 
• A Little Louder Now - Lauren Falls 
• El Tinajon - Luis Deniz 
• Rumba - Rafael Zaldivar 
• Kinds of Love - Renee Rosnes 

Metal/Hard Music Album

• Psychic Jailbreak - Cancer Bats 
• Merciless Destruction - Get The Shot 
• Paid In Full - Skull Fist 
• Synchro Anarchy - VOIVOD 
• Thought Form Descent - WAKE 

Music Video

• Fraud - Jessie Reyez (directed by Emma Higgins)
• Unholy feat. Kim Petras  - Sam Smith and Kim Petras (directed by Floria Sigismondi)
• Have Mercy - Chlöe (directed by Karena Evans)
• Different Than Before - Amanda Sum (directed by Mayumi Yoshida)
• Remember Me For Me feat. Lily Moore  - SonReal and Lily Moore (directed by Sterling Larose)

Pop Album

• In The Meantime - Alessia Cara 
• Love Sux - Avril Lavigne 
• The Loneliest Time - Carly Rae Jepsen 
• i used to think i could fly - Tate McRae 
• Dawn FM - The Weeknd 

Rap Album/EP

• GONZO - Boslen 
• Retrospected (Acoustic) - Classified 
• The Fleur Print Vol. 2 - Jazz Cartier 
• Demons Protected By Angels - NAV
• Shall I Continue? - TOBi

Recording Engineer

• Derek Hoffman
• George Seara
• Gus van Go
• Jason Dufour
• Serban Ghenea

Reggae Recoding

• Water Ammoye - Lulaword
• Like A Star - Celena 
• Jah Love - Exco Levi 
• In The Streets - Kairo McLean 
• Reggae Party feat. Kairo McLean & Finn - Kirk Diamond, Kairo McLean and Finn

Rock Album

• Otherness - Alexisonfire
• Crisis Of Faith - Billy Talent 
• Get Rollin’ - Nickelback 
• Outta Sight - The Sheepdogs 
• EXPLOSIONS - Three Days Grace 

Single

• Bite Me - Avril Lavigne 
• Flowers Need Rain - Preston Pablo and Banx & Ranx 
• When You’re Gone - Shawn Mendes 
• she’s all i wanna be - Tate McRae 
• Sacrifice - The Weeknd 

Songwriter

• The Weeknd
• CITIZENS
• Tate McRae
• Tenille Townes
• TOBi

Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group

• kâkîsimo ᑳᑮᓯᒧᐤ - Cikwes 
• Katajjausiit - Iva & Angu
• Mikwanak Kamôsakinat - Joel Wood 
• Ôskimacîtahowin: A New Beginning - Northern Cree 
• Unbreakable - The Bearhead Sisters 

Traditional R&B/Soul Recording

• Please Do Not Lean feat. BADBADNOTGOOD - Daniel Caesar 
• PALISADE - Jon Vinyl 
• All I Need - SAFE 
• Last One feat. Dylan Sinclair - Savannah Ré 
• HOW TO MAKE LOVE - THEHONESTGUY 

Traditional Roots Album

• Hurricane Clarice - Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves 
• 20 printemps - Le Vent du Nord 
• Narrow Line - Mama’s Broke 
• Tell ‘Em You Were Gold - Pharis & Jason Romero 
• The Empress - The McDades 

Underground Dance Single

• Debonair - Bensley 
• Aye Aye - BLOND:ISH and Cameron Jack 
• The Time Is (Now) - Fred Everything 
• I Knew Techno - Greg Gow 
• Easy - Tiga 

Links: Juno Awards, More Juno Stories

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Spencer Mackenzie Tops Himself With Phenomenal New Album

Niagara Blues master Spencer Mackenzie has been topping himself with every release and his latest phenomenal album, Preach to My Soul, is no different. This Gypsy Soul Records release (distributed by Warner Canada) is a massive step forward.

Spencer's youthful vibrancy is still in place plus he's added lot more sweet soul to his repertoire. His voice projects the experience of musicians two times his age. Whether he's rockin' out, getting his gospel on or slinking through a beautiful slow number, Spencer's playing grabs your attention and doesn't let go.

The singer/guitar slinger is aided and abetted by Miles Evans (keys), Steve Pelletier (bass), Adam Cannon (drums), Ross Hayes-Citrullo (producer, guitars on two tacks), Steve Strongman (guitar on Paranoia Blues), Chantal Williams (background vocals), Julian Nalli, and Stephen Dyte (trumpet)

Get your hands on this astounding album at his powerful live shows or Spencer's website. It also available on Spotify to stream.

Video above courtesy of Spencer Mackenzie - Topic

Links: Steve Strongman, More Steve Strongman Stories, Video above courtesy of Spencer Mackenzie - Topic

Links: Spencer Mackenzie, More Spencer Mackenzie Stories, Video above courtesy of Spencer Mackenzie - Topic, More Releases

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Happy International Jazz Day! Concert Videos from the Hamilton Public Library

Links: Michael Maguire, More Michael Maguire Stories, Video above courtesy of Hamilton Public Library

Links: Mohawk College's Applied Music, Spencer Mackenzie, More Spencer Mackenzie Stories, Video above courtesy of Hamilton Public Library

Links: Angela Nethersole, Video above courtesy of Hamilton Public Library

More Jazz Day Videos

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Happy Devil's Night! Videos by Spencer Mackenzie, Madison Galloway, Colin Linden

Links: Spencer Mackenzie, More Spencer Mackenzie Stories, Video above courtesy of Spencer Mackenzie

Links: Madison Galloway, More Madison Galloway Stories, Video above courtesy of Madison Galloway

Links: Colin Linden, More Colin Linden Stories, Video above courtesy of Colin Linden

More Devil's Night Songs

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Previous ('Punk for a Day' Day Videos) - - - Next (Halloween Videos)

Happy Hug a Bassist Day! Videos of Justine Fischer

Links: Matty Simpson, More Matty Simpson Stories, Video above courtesy of CoWork @ the Cotton Factory

Links: Logan Staats, More Logan Staats Stories, Video above courtesy of L Staats

Links: Spencer Mackenzie, More Spencer Mackenzie Stories, Video above courtesy of Frank Muggianu

Links: Justine Fischer, More Justine Fischer Videos, More Bassist Day Posts

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Happy Hug a Drummer Day! Videos of Matt Burns

Links: Spencer Mackenzie, More Spencer Mackenzie Stories, Video above courtesy of Frank Muggianu

Links: Matty Simpson, More Matty Simpson Stories, Video above courtesy of bluetiltstudio

Links: Steve Deeps, More Deeps Stories, Video above courtesy of The Unicorn Project GTA

Links: Matt Burns, More Drummer Day Stories

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Happy World Sax Day! Videos by Richard Thornton

Links: Johnny Cox, More Muddy Waters Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Johnny Cox

Links: Jerome Tucker, Video above courtesy of randallstaffordcook

Links: Jack de Keyzer, More Jack de Keyzer Stories, Spencer Mackenzie, More Spencer Mackenzie Stories, More Elmore James Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Steven Frank

Links: Richard Thornton, More Richard Thornton Stories, Video above courtesy of Vesna Trkulja-Stevens, More Sax Day Videos

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Canal Bank Shuffle Posting Dazzling Blues Every Saturday! Videos by Virgil Scott, Josh Miller, Spencer Mackenzie, Chris Ayries

If missing live Blues music has got you down during the quarantine, the Canal Bank Shuffle YouTube page is here to help. Every Saturday, they'll be posting multiple videos from dazzling past performances as part of the Almost Live series.

Special message from the Shuffle:

If you can tip even a buck or two it will help to keep this series going. All money goes to artists and video team.

You can do that at www.facebook.com/canalbankshufflebluesfestival and press "shop now" or e-transfer brantparkermusic@gmail.com, or click the paypal button at the top of the Canal  Bank Youtube home page. Also non digital option is to drop a tip at Donnelly's Pub. They are open for take-out.

I hope everyone stays safe and we love you. Cheers' and feel free to share the videos folks. Thanks to videographer David Stephen.

Here's a sampling of what's been offered:



Click here for Virgil Scott's site



Links: Josh Miller, More Josh Miller Stories



Links: Spencer Mackenzie, More Spencer Mackenzie Stories



Links: Chris Ayries, More Chris Ayries Stories

All videos above courtesy of Canal Bank Shuffle

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News Roundup, Part 1 (Jackie Shane Passes, James Anthony + Ted Peters, Coachmen + Spencer Mackenzie)

Jackie Shane passes

Links: Jackie Shane, Video above courtesy of Gerry Lincoln

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News

Local

• Samaritan Mag story on the Arkells

Spectator Stories

• Hollerado calling it quits
• Arkells up for video award
• Peter Frampton announces farewell tour
• Blue Man Group
• Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga's Oscar performance
• Music Hall review
• Ensemble Made in Canada

Thorold News Stories

• Blushing Brides
• Review of Oh Canada, Eh
• Vanessa Collier

World

• Company will press your ashed into vinyl record

Passings

• Peter Tork (Monkees)
• Mark Hollis (Talk Talk singer)
• Wes Mackey (Carolina Bluesman)

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Adventures of Trebleclef, the Music-Loving Monkey

Trebleclef returned to the Coach and Lantern in Ancaster to see the Coachmen's weekly Saturday matinee. Their guest was the explosive Spencer Mackenzie.

Links: Spencer Mackenzie, More Spencer Mackenzie Stories, Video above courtesy of Hamilton B. Lous

Click here for more pics from the event

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Later on, he also went to the Uptown Social House in Burlington again. This time the James Anthony Band teamed up with the fabulous Ted Peters.

Links: James Anthony, More James Anthony Stories, Ted Peters, Video above courtesy of Hamilton B. Lous

Click here for more pics from the event

MORE NEWS ROUNDUPS

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