Bill Durst Wins 2026 Mel Brown Award

Stratford Bluesman Bill Durst the 2026 winner of the Mel Brown Blues Award. It is named in honour of the late, legendary Kitchener musician.

From the Kitchener Blues Festival Facebook page:

MAY 12TH 2021 – MEL BROWN BLUES AWARD

Bill Durst, our 2026 winner of the Mel Brown Award, and always an audience favourite, is a Canadian Blues- Rock- Roots guitarist, singer, songwriter, entertainer who has written and recorded over 125 songs on 12 albums with 7 national radio chart hits. Bill has opened for or shared the stage with Rush, Aerosmith, BTO, Yardbirds, John Mayall, Savoy Brown, Bobby Rush, Little Feat, George Thorogood, Bad Company, Loverboy, Edgar Winter Group, Jeff Healey, Burton Cummings, Johnny Winter, Rick Derringer, Jack de Keyser, April Wine, L.A. Guns, David Wilcox, Bob Seger, Sly And The Family Stone and more. Mr. Durst has toured across North America and in Europe and tours extensively in Canada.

As a kid growing up in Wingham and then London, Ontario (which is halfway between Toronto and Detroit), Bill was heavily influenced by Motown, R&B, Toronto Psychedelic Soul music as well as the British Blues Invasion and Jimi Hendrix.

Bill’s entrance on the national/international stage was with his classic rock band Thundermug formed from London R&B groups in 1969. By the summer of 1972 the band had a number one hit and a fan following in Eastern Canada. The band went on to record a total of 5 albums, (3 albums in the early/mid 1970s and two CDs in the mid 1990s) releasing records in the US and Europe. Bill put out his first two solo releases in the mid eighties but it wasn’t until the early 2000s that Durst got some real career momentum. In 2004 he proclaimed his intention to start up a “little, fuzzy, psychedelic blues band” and since then Bill and his co-writer Joe DeAngelis have produced 5 full length CDs: The Wharncliffe Sessions (’05), The Great Willy Mammoth (’09), Bill Durst Live (‘12) and Hard And Heavy (’13) Good Good Lovin ('15).

Links: Bill Durst, More Bill Durst Stories, Video above courtesy of Bill Durst - Topic

Previous Years' Winners

• 2025: Bruce Hall (Grand River Blues Society)
• 2024: Rob Barkshire (Kitchener Blues Festival) & Matt Minglewood
• 2023: Donnie Walsh (Downchild)
• 2022: David Wilcox

More Mel Brown Award Stories

---

Previous (New Dunlop Brothers Album) - - - Next (Throwback Thursday: Mark McNeil - Greeting from Hamilton)

Expressive Vocals & Great Songwriting on Dunlop Brothers Album

Mini-Review: Expressive vocals and great songwriting permeate the latest relase from Hamilton's Dunlop Brothers. Vol. 2 picks up where they left off on their splendid debut. It's roots meets alternative wrapped in striking production.

Available on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music

Personnel

• Matt Dunlop - Guitars, Vocals
• Justin Dunlop - Vocals, Bass, Guitars, Mandolin, Keyboard
• Alan Zemaitis - Keyboards, Organ, Wurlitzer, Rhodes & Bass Rhodes
• Caleb Moroz - Drums & Percussion
• Mike Scime - Drums
• Jill Harris - Vocals

Links: Dunlop Brothers, More Dunlop Brothers Stories, Album above courtesy of Bandcamp

---

Previous (Throwback Thursday - Festival of Friends 2009)

Please Support Our Wonderful Sponsors

---

---

Please Support Our Wonderful Sponsors

To enable you to make good housing decisions call us or email us: www.judymarsales.com

PROUD SUPPORTER OF HAMILTON BLUES LOVERS

---

---

Throwback Thursday - Festival of Friends 2009

From August 7, 2009 Hamilton Spectator

Original Posts: August 9, 10, 14, 2009

Merged Post: August 13, 2026

Here's a look at the 2009 Festival of Friends.

Click here to read the August 6 Hamilton Spectator story

August 8, 2009

Lovers & Other Strangers Workshop

• Lowest Lanes (ft Mark McNeil) - Jolene
• Alfie Smith - Buckshot Blues
• Carly-Jo - Booty Call
• Carly Jo & Friends - The Truth No. 2

Good Lovin' Gone Bad Workshop

• Jace Martin
• Steven Elmo Murphy Band
• Steve Sinnicks
• Top Dead Centre
• Everyone - Some Kinda Wonderful

Guinness Book of World Records Attempt

Click pictures to make them larger

Guitars were raised high after a performance of Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water at the Festival of Friends on August 8, 2009. Hamilton musician Christopher Charles and his band were joined by a legion of guitarists scattered across Gage Park.

This was an attempt to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for most guitars in a jam performance.

According to the Spectator, the record wasn't broken (we were 77 short) but we did beat Toronto's recent attempt)

Below is a video of the event. We apologize for the extreme close-ups (the camera was stuck on zoom)

Links: Deep Purple, More Deep Purple Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Hamilton Blues Lovers

August 9, 2009 

Memories of Jackie Washington Workshop

• Alfie Smith - God Bless the Child
• Brenda Lewis - Honeysuckle Rose
• Donna Creighton - Sweet Cheeks
• Paul Langille - Smile
• Joan Crabtree - Put Me First
• Brian Blain - St. James Infirmary
• Dave Kidney - Jackie Washington

Leon Redbone Videos From mumblemod

---

Previous (Winners of the London Music Awards) - - - Next (New Dunlop Brothers Album)

Please Support Local Charities

---

---

Please Support Local Charities

From their website: Our objective is to accumulate capital, earn investment income and use this income to make charitable donations in Norfolk County.

The Hamilton Blues Lovers (HBL) want to showcase a deserving local charity every week.  HBL is not affiliated with these charities nor does it fund raise for them.

---

---

Winners of the 2026 Forest City London Music Awards

The 2026 Forest City London Music Awards were handed out as part of London Music Week - June 6 to 14.

CONGRATS EVERYONE!

Below is a complete list of winners. Click the name to see the award announcement.

• PRODUCER/ENGINEER:  Iain McNally, Producer/Engineer: Chris Strei (Brantford) - One Day at a Time
  
  
  
  Links: Chris Strei, More Chris Strei Stories, Video above courtesy of Chris Strei
  
  
• LONDON MUSIC HALL OF FAME: Teddy Leonard (of Niagara's Mighty Duck Blues Band, Hogtown AllStars, Fathead)
• AFRO CARIBIANNA: King Willie
• BLUES: Smokes Like Lightning
• CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTAL (GROUP): Brass Roots New Horizons Band
• CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTAL (SOLO): Yanet Campbell-Secades, Violin
• CLASSICAL VOCAL (SOLO): Felix Stueckmann
• CLASSICAL VOCAL (CHOIR OR GROUP): London Gospel Collective
• CLUB DJ: DJ Calderon
• CONTEMPORARY SINGER SONGWRITER: Anne Moniz
• CONTRIBUTOR: Jeff Bailkowski (Community Builder)
• COUNTRY: Tyler DeLargie
• COVER BAND: The Strands
• ELECTRONIC: Mat Lunnen
• FAN FAVOURITE: Lindsey & The Lonelies
• FANTASY BAND: Vocals – Amanda Movio, Bass – Ryan Spong, Guitar – Randy Hicks, Drums – Cameron Hand, Horns – Alexa Brown, Strings – Tara Dunphy, Keyboards – Nathan Nykor
• FOLK ROOTS: Jesse Grandmont & Brian Barber
• HIPHOP: Cronica
• JAZZ VOCAL (SOLO or GROUP): Nicole Tan
• JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL (SOLO or GROUP): Seth McNall Sextet
• LATIN: Sofi R
• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Jones Family, Fred Smith
• LIVE MUSIC VENUE: The Bunker Performance Lounge (Stratford)
• METAL: Crowning Kings
• MUSIC VIDEO: Sophia Korz - Pretty People
  
  
  
  Links: Sophia Korz, Video above courtesy of Sophia Korz
  
  
• ONTARIO INDIE RECORDING ARTIST: Lorraine Klaasen
• POP: Justin Maki
• PUNK: Full Throttle
• ROCK: Texas King
• SUPER FAN: Brenda Heywood
• TRIBUTE ARTIST: AXL/DC: Guns N’ Roses and AC/DC
• WORLD MUSIC: Rachel McGarry
• YOUTH AWARD: Can’t Drive Yet - H.B. Beal Secondary School

Links: London Music Awards, More London Music Awards Stories

---

Previous (Cat Day Videos) - - - Next (Throwback Thursday - Festival of Friends 2009)

International Cat Day Videos by Trevor Strong & the Arrogant Worms

Links: Arrogant Worms, More Arrogant Worms Stories, Video above courtesy of Arrogant Worms - Topic

Links: Trevor Strong, Album above courtesy of Trevor Strong - Topic

More Cat Day Videos

---

Previous  (New Rob Lamothe Live Album) - - - Next (Winners of the London Music Awards)

Rob Lamothe's Unforgettable Voice & Inspired Songwriting Take Centre Stage on New Live Album

Mini-Review: I've you've had the pleasure of listening to the incredible local singer/songwriter Rob Lamothe, you know about his unforgettable voice and inspired songwriting. His recent album, Live at St. Pancras Old Church lays everything bare. With mainly his voice and an acoustic guitar, Rob's vocals and lyrics take centre stage and have room to breathe. His daughter Rose Lamothe also lends her equally unique voice to two tracks. 

Available on Bandcamp, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music

Links: Album above courtesy of Bandcamp

---

Previous (Throwback Thursday - Acoustics Album Get Noticed) - - - Next (Cat Day Videos)

Throwback Thursday - The Acoustics 'Forever and a Day' Gets Noticed (2009)

Original post: January 24, 2009

Updated: August 6, 2026

Forever and a Day, the instrumental album by Hamilton folk/roots group, the Acoustics, got a bit of notice in 2009

From their blog entry:

It is with great pride and joy to share the news that The Acoustics have just been nominated for a JPF Music Award for World Album of the year 2009, for our CD, 

JPF (Just Plain Folks Music Organization) is a community of over 51,500 Songwriters, Recording Artists and Music Industry Professionals — and host to the world's largest independent music awards

The Acoustics, the only Canadian artists to be nominated in this category. Not bad, eh!!!

Hoping for the best!

Ciao for now

Alfonso

Update from their Myspace Blog

Unfortunately we did not win the award for World Album of the year. However for what it’s worth we came in 2nd place! Second out of ten nominees is not bad.

Links: Acoustics, More Acoustics Stories, Album above courtesy of The Acoustics - Topic

---

Previous (Uncommon Instrument Awareness Day Videos) - - - Next (New Rob Lamothe Live Album)

Please Support Local Charities

---

---

Please Support Local Charities

The Hamilton Blues Lovers (HBL) want to showcase a deserving local charity every week.  HBL is not affiliated with these charities nor does it fund raise for them.

---

---