Maple Blues Awards

Winners Are Announced!

Some of the best in Canadian Blues were honoured with Maple Blues Awards at the near sold-out 22^ndannual Maple Blues Awards on Monday, February 4 at Koerner Hall. Hosted by popular theatre/television actor and blues artist Raoul Bhaneja (of Raoul and The Big Time), the audience was treated to sizzling performances by Edmonton expat Jenie Thai, Newfoundland’s Earle & Coffin, Ottawa’s Sue Foley (now based in Austin), and Toronto-based guitarist and singer Emily Burgess.  Salt Spring Island’s Harry Manx teamed up with MonkeyJunk’s Steve Marriner to preview their new release and Raoul closed the show with the Big Time joined by surprise guest and big winner Colin James for the finale.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the photos from the 22nd Maple Blues Awards by clicking here. Photo credits: Greg King

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BLUES BOOSTER OF THE YEAR!

We are thrilled to announce The Hornby Island Blues Society as the

Blues Booster of the Year award recipient, a very special Maple Blues Award honouring outstanding contribution to the Canadian blues music industry.

The volunteer-driven organization hosts the Hornby Island Blues Week and Music Camp every May on beautiful Hornby Island, BC. Their mandate is to bring blues performers to the island to create a greater awareness of Canadian blues music and of the depth that Canadian musicians have to offer.

Celebrating their 20th year, The Hornby Island Blues Society will be honoured with the Blues Booster of the Year award at the 22nd annual Maple Blues Awards in Toronto on February 4.

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ABOUT THE MAPLE BLUES AWARDS

The Maple Blues Awards is Canada’s national blues awards program. Its goal is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize outstanding achievement in the field. Winners in all categories (excluding the instrumental categories*) are decided by blues fans across Canada. Voting occurs online each November.

Nominating Panel & Steering Committee.  The nominees are selected by a distinguished panel of approximately 50 blues experts who form the MBA Nominating Panel. Co-chaired by the steering committee consisting of Terry Parsons, Yanick Theriault, John Valenteyn and Brant Zwicker, the panel includes radio hosts, journalists, and festival organizers regionally distributed across Canada. Members of the Nominating Panel are not eligible for any of the awards.

*Instrumental Categories.  Winners in the guitar, harmonica, piano/keyboards, horn, drum, and bass categories are not open for public vote. Instrumental or “craft” categories are determined by a panel of experts drawn from the nominating panel.

The awards program is proudly organized by the Toronto Blues Society. 

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LOOKING BACK: 21st ANNUAL MAPLE BLUES AWARDS

Internationally renowned Canadian Blues artists from coast to coast were honoured by their peers at the 21st Annual Maple Blues Awards gala in Toronto January 15th, 2018 as a full house of blues lovers gathered to celebrate Canadian blues at Koerner Hall.

Hosted by Multiple Juno Award-winning Indigenous vocalist ShoShona Kish, the 21st annual Maple Blues Awards included outstanding performances from The Maple Blues Band ( and Maple Blues Award nominees past and present, including Cécile Doo Kingué, Digging Roots, Matt Andersen, Diana Braithwaite, Donald Ray Johnson, and Colin James.

 

Performances from the night and the show are available at TBS Youtube channel.

Click here to see photos from the magical evening:

Photo Gallery

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MAPLES BLUES AWARDS NOMINATING PANEL

The Nominating Panel consists of industry professionals from across Canada who volunteer their time to participate.

*The panel is led by a steering committee consisting of John Valenteyn, Brant Zwicker, Yanick Theriault and Terry Parsons.