Hamilton Blues Lovers

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Hamilton's Skirt Check Pack Their Debut EP With Tasty Tracks!

Hamilton Jazz collective, Skirt Check, definitely pack a lot of tasty stuff into their self-titled EP. Each song's unique and showcases just how versatile this big band can be.

The recording kicks off with a medley of jazzified metal covers. Metallica, Rage Against the Machine and a few others get 'Skirted' with class. Following it up is a high energy instrumental Mega which finishes off with some incredible video game style music. Things then get super funky with Day to Day. Everything ends off on a cool, reggae vibe with The Dime.

This superb band includes:

Troy Dowding - Trumpet
Chris Skrzek - Trombone
Matt Weil - Alto Sax
Sal Rosselli - Tenor Sax
Victoria Cox - Bari Sax
Fab del Monaco - Guitar
James Gannett - Bass
Anthony D'Angela - Drums

You can pick up a disc at their live wonderful shows, such as their EP release party on Tuesday, February 19, 2016 at the Corktown in Hamilton)

Links: Skirt Check, Audio file above courtesy of Skirt Check, More Releases

Previous (International Blues Challenge Winners) - - - Next (Juno Nominations)

Monday, February 1, 2016

CONGRATS! 2016 International Blues Challenge Winners!

The 2016 International Blues Challenge wrapped up in Memphis on January 30, 2016. Unfortunately, none of the local performers won but they did an amazing job. A few Canadian acts did have an impressive showing. Montreal's Paul DesLauriers Band achieved second in the band competition. Debra Power from Calgary and Edmonton's Graham Guest reached the semi-finals. CONGRATS EVERYONE!

Quote from Paul's media release: “We are honoured to have had the opportunity to take our music to the international stage and represent Canada, Quebec and the Montreal Blues Society at the IBC in Memphis After an exhilarating week surrounded by so many wonderful musicians and blues lovers, we’re positively thrilled at having made it to the podium and grateful to The Blues Foundation for hosting such and incredible event.”

Live: Paul DesLauriers, More Paul DesLauriers Stories, Video above courtesy of Laura Carbone, More Robert Johnson Stories/Covers

Links: Graham Guest , More Graham Guest Stories, Video above courtesy of Richard Gale

Here is the complete list of winners and a few highlights.

Band

Best Self-Produced CD: Rob Lumbard - Blues in a Bottle

Harp: Sam Shepperd (InnerVision)

Solo Guitar: Bing Futch

Band Guitar: The Delgado Brothers

Video above courtesy of PaulaJean

Solo/Duo

Canadian Semi-Finalists

Debra Power (Calgary)
Graham Guest (Edmonton)

Complete Lists: Finalists, Semi-Finalists

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: International Blues Challenge , More IBC Stories

Previous (Ben Caplan Earns 3 East Coast Music Award Nominations) - - - Next (Skirt Check Debut EP)

Saturday, January 30, 2016

GOOD LUCK! Hamilton-Born Ben Caplan Earns 3 East Coast Music Award Nominations

The East Coast Music Awards will have little Steeltown colour this year. Hamilton-Born Easterner Ben Caplan is in the running for three categories: Album, Folk Recording and Song.

Hopefully, he'll be bringing home som hardware at the ECMA gala on Thursday, April 14, 2016 at the Centre 200 in Sydney, NS. GOOD LUCK BEN!

Links: Ben Caplan, More Ben Caplan Stories, Video above courtesy of Ben Caplan

Indie Rockers Hey Rosetta! lead with seven nominations. Folk singer/songwriter Jenn Grant earned six.

GOOD LUCK!

Click here for the winners

Here are some of the nomination highlights:

Album

Ben Caplan: Birds With Broken Wings
Fortunate Ones: The Bliss
Hey Rosetta!: Second Sight
Jenn Grant Compostela
Mo Kenney: In My Dreams

Folk Recording

Ben Caplan: Birds With Broken Wings
Amelia Curran: They Promised You Mercy
Jenn Grant: Compostela
Gabrielle Papillon: The Tempest of Old
Old Man Luedecke: Domestic Eccentric

Song

Ben Caplan: Birds With Broken Wings
Amelia Curran: Somebody Somewhere
Christina Martin: It'll Be Alright
Fortunate Ones: The Bliss
Hey Rosetta!: Soft Offering (For the Oft Suffering)

Video above courtesy of Sonic Records

Blues Recording

The Carson Downey Band: Catch Me If You Can
Ced Marty and Dave: To Our 3%
Dan Doiron: Stand Back I Don't Know How Loud This Thing Gets
John Campbelljohn: Chin Up
The Matt Landry Band: Are You Ever Gonna Go?

Roots/Traditional Group Recording

Ben Miller and Anita MacDonald: A Day at the Lake
Danny Boudreau: DANNY PARTY
The East Pointers: Secret Victory
The Ennis Sisters: Stages
Vishtèn: Terre Rouge

Country Recording

The BackYard Devils: Honky Tonk Heartbreaker
Pretty Archie: North End Sky
Quentin Reddy: Diamond In the Rough
Tim Chaisson: Lost In Light
Whitney Rose: Heartbreaker of the Year

Gospel Recording

Glenn Vincent Breen: Waiting
Informants: Ezekiel
Josh Lake: 40cm of Funk
Kelley Mooney: Still
Marcell Symonds: Just A Closer Walk

Jazz Recording

Gypsophilia: Night Swimming
Jerry Granelli: What I Hear Now
Kirk MacDonald: Vista Obscura
Matt MacDougall: Boy Goes to City
Ouroboros: Ouroboros

Rock Recording

Hey Rosetta!: Second Sight
Jerry Stamp: Rogue Doubt
Racoon Bandit: Close Your Eyes
Rain Over St. Ambrose: Still Waking Up
The Stanfields: Modem Operandi

Group Recording of the Year

Coyote: Proof of Life
Fortunate Ones: The Bliss
Gypsophilia: Night Swimming
Hey Rosetta!: Second Sight
Rain Over St. Ambrose: Still Waking Up

The Bucky Adams Memorial Award

Ced Marty and Dave: To Our 3%
Chelsea Amber: Introducing Chelsea Amber
Marcell Symonds: Just A Closer Walk
Samm Splash: The Breakup EP

Rising Star Recording

Alana Yorke: Dream Magic
Brianna Gosse: AERA
Coyote: Proof of Life
Fortunate Ones: The Bliss
Kat McLevey: Evergrown

Solo Recording

Amelia Curran: They Promised You Mercy
Gabrielle Papillon: The Tempest of Old
Jenn Grant: Compostela
Mo Kenney: In My Dreams
Ryan Hemsworth: Alone For the First Time

Songwriter

Andrew James O'Brien/Catherine Allan (Fortunate Ones)
Amelia Curran
Chris Luedecke (Old Man Luedecke)
Jenn Grant
Tim Baker (Hey Rosetta!)

Traditional Instrumental Recording

Aaron Collis and Duane Andrews: The Mallard Cottage Sessions
DOC: DesRoches Ouellette Chaisson
Jeff Jodrey: Carnival
Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy: One
Nuallan: The EP

Fans' Choice Entertainer

Fans' Choice Video

Video

Christina Martin: Take Me Back In A Dream
David Myles: Santa Never Brings Me A Banjo
Mo Kenney: Telephones
Ria Mae: Clothes Off
Ryan Hemsworth: Snow In Newark

Click here for the complete nominee list

Blast From the Past: Ben Wins Rising Star Award at 2013 ECMAs

Links: East Coast Music Awards, More ECMA stories

Previous (News Roundup: Mo' Kauffey, Lori Yates, Mike Saracino, Evan Champagne) - - - Next (International Blues Challenge Winners)

Friday, January 29, 2016

Check out the AMAZING Blues shows at the Jet Hall in Hamilton!

Previous (News Roundup: Mo' Kauffey, Lori Yates, Mike Saracino, Evan Champagne) - - - Next (Ben Caplan Earns 3 East Coast Music Award Nominations)

Thursday, January 28, 2016

News Roundup (Mo' Kauffey, Lori Yates, Mike Saracino, Evan Champagne)

Waterloo Blues Doc Earns Silver at Spotlight Documentary Film Awards

Click picture for film trailer

News

Local

Barbershop Podcast w Mo Kauffey

Links: Mo Kauffey, More Mo' Kauffey Stories, Video above courtesy of Barber Shop Podcast

Lori Yates on Americana Music Show Podcast

Award Winning Producer Steve Bigas Leaving Hamilton

Canada

Burton Cummings (Guess Who) to be Inducted into Canadian Music Hall of Fame

Windsor Radio figure Rosalie Trombley to receive special Juno award

World

Passings:Jimmy Bain (Dio, Rainbow bassist), Gary Loizzo (American Breed Singer)

The Adventures of Trebleclef, the Hamilton Blues Lovers Monkey

Trebleclef visited Niagara Falls, Ontario and checked out Mike Saracino at the Spyce Lounge.

Click here for more photos from his visit!

Michael Saracino & Guest Spyce Lounge Niagara Falls #NFallsOnMusic #NiagOnMusic #hblvideos
Posted by Hamilton B. Lous on Thursday, January 21, 2016

Video above courtesy of Hamilton B. Lous

Recently Added

Our Performer List

On Topic (Kim Ratcliffe, Aubrey Dayle, Brad Cheeseman)

Featured Video

Links: More Evan Champagne Stories, Video above courtesy of Evan Charles

Previous (New Vaudevillian Album) - - - Next (Ben Caplan Earns 3 East Coast Music Award Nominations)

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Grit and Dirt Just Ooze from The Vaudevillian's New Album

The Vaudevillian may be originally from Kitchener but are now Hamilton-based. The group's music is a perfect match for the former Steeltown as grit and dirt just ooze from these songs. This is as no-nonsense and raw as it gets.

The latest offering, Barton Street Blues is filled with references to Hammertown and is sung with abandon. Featuring an old-timey sound that will transport you back in time, the disc also possesses a powerful, punk-like attitude.

Vaudevillian mainstays Brendan J Stephens (vocals/multiple instruments) and Willow Walker (vocals/washboard/banjo) are joined by Guy Johnson (bass), Minnie Heart of the Ever Lovin' Jug Band (fiddle), Danny Edmonds of Harlan Pepper (vocals/banjo/Producer), Mimi Shaw (vocals) and Aaron on sax.

You can pick up this CD at their live shows or download it via Bandcamp.

Blast from the Past: Vaudevillian CD - Salty Dog

Links: The Vaudevillian, More Vaudevillian Stories, Video above courtesy of the Vaudevillian, More Releases

Previous (Laura Cole Wins Best Female Artist in RockWired Readers Poll) - - - Next (News Roundup: Mo' Kauffey, Lori Yates, Mike Saracino, Evan Champagne)

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

CONGRATS! Hamilton's Laura Cole Wins Best Female Artist in RockWired Reader's Poll

Hamilton songstress, Laura Cole has won Best Female Artist in the Rockwired Reader's Poll. She received an impressive 50% of all the category votes in the international contest hosted by the popular online music magazine.

Links: Laura Cole, More Laura Cole Stories, Video above courtesy of Stokratka

Brantford singer/songwriter Logan Staats earned 2nd place in Best Male Artist. John Taglieri from New Jersey won the poll.

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

Here is the complete list of winners

Female Artist:Laura Cole
Band: Acidic
Recording (EP): John Taglieri - True Believer
Recording (LP): Acidic - Creatures
Male Artist: John Taglieri
American Indian/First Nations Artist: Innastate
Song: John Taglieri - Don't Ask Why

Video above courtesy of John Taglieri

CONGRATS EVERYBODY!

Click here for the full list of winners and nominees

Blast from the Past: Laura Wins Best Female Artist in View Magazine's Readers Poll

Previous (New Nate of Earth EP) - - - Next (New Vaudevillian Album)

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Hamilton's Nate of Earth Crafts Full, Textured and Beautiful EP

Hamilton's Nate of Earth (A former member of Dead End Sessions) has crafted a wonderful acoustic alt-folk solo debut EP, First Contact. He combines traditional and ethereal sounds to create an amazing recording.

Thanks to his multi-instrumental skills and compelling voice, Nate imbues the 5-song EP with a full, textured feel. Beautiful, thoughtful lyrics add to the disc's artistic atmosphere.

You can pick up a physical copies of the EP by contacting him or going to his incredible live shows. It's also available for download at Nate's Bandcamp page.

Blast from the Past: Nate on Barber Shop Podcast

Links: Nate of Earth, More Nate of Earth Stories, Video above courtesy of Nate of Earth, More Releases

Previous (Music Express Award Nominations) - - - Next (Laura Cole Wins Best Female Artist in RockWired Readers Poll)

Saturday, January 23, 2016

GOOD LUCK! Area Musicians Up For 2016 Music Express Awards! VOTE FOR THEM NOW!

Canadian Music Website MusicExpress.ca will be dishing out their own awards soon and a few area musicians have been nominated. Readers can also can also vote for their faves by clicking here. Deadline is Feb 16, 2016.

St. Catharines Country singer Tim Hicks might soon be adding more to his big award collection since he's up for Top Country Album (5:01) and Top Country Artist. Also from the same city, alt-folk sensation City and Colour is up for Top Record Album (Pop/Rock) and Top Male Vocalist (Dallas Green)

Links: Tim Hicks, More Tim Hicks Stories, Video above courtesy of DyAnn Rusaw

Links: City and Colour, More City and Colour Stories, Video above courtesy of Jini Bailey

Hammertown rockers, Arkells have a chance to win Top Live Act (Small Venue). Burlington's Walk Off the Earth is also in the running for Top Record Album (Pop/Rock). Hard rockin' Burlington boys Finger Eleven were given the nod for the Back In The Spotlight award. Canadian superstars Blue Rodeo (now featuring Hamilton boy Colin Cripps on guitar) are nominated for Top Canadian Group and Top Live Act (Arena/Concert Hall)

Links: Blue Rodeo, More Blue Rodeo Stories, Terra Lightfoot, More Terra Lightfoot Stories, Video above courtesy of James Kalyn

GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY!

Here is the complete list of nominees

Top Record Album (Pop/Rock)