Maple Blues Archive

April 2020 – Watermelon Slim

Straight, no chaser. That’s what we get from Watermelon Slim here.

April 2020 – Sonny del Rio

Saxophone legend Sonny Del Rio aka Dennis Grasley, has long been a fixture of the Hamilton music scene, most prominently as a member of Crowbar and of King Biscuit Boy’s bands.

April 2020 – Sandra Bouza

Sandra Bouza was our Talent Search winner this past year and the winner of our playoff to head to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge in January where she reached the semi-finals. She released a couple of songs during this time and now we have a full album.

April 2020 – Ken Whiteley

In some ways, Ken Whiteley’s new album is not a surprise in that it contains his usual blend of personal, political and spiritual songs. He also continues to bring along some remarkable guests to help out. He has however come up with some brilliant new songs and he’s singing very well indeed.

April 2020 – Crystal Shawanda

Crystal Shawanda is from the Wikwemikong reserve on Manitoulin Island although she has lived in Nashville for several years now. With husband Dewayne Strobel on guitars & production and Crystal on powerhouse vocals & songwriting, they make for quite a couple and they have outdone themselves on this new one.

April 2020 – Loose Blues News

Musicians Take Note: The Toronto Arts Foundation and Toronto Arts Council launched their TOArtist Covid-19 Response Fund yesterday which is an emergency support program that will help Toronto artists who have lost income as a result of COVID-19 arts cancellations. Major donors and partners have generously kick-started the campaign with collective contributions to date of over $500,000 – enough to provide grants for more than 500 artists. Every additional dollar will increase the number of artists supported.

Qualifying artists will each receive up to $1,000 and can apply until April 30th through a simplified online application portal. The first grants will go out by mid-April.Applications at www.torontoartscouncil.org/grant-programs/toartist-covid-response-fund

April 2020 – Top Blues

This month’s recommended listening by Brad Wheeler, music writer for the Globe and Mail Twitter: @bwheelerglobe

April 2020 – 35th Anniversary

March 2020 – Rory Block

After her 6 CD Mentor Series, which focused on the rediscovered blues singers she met personally (all male), Rory Block launched her ‘Power Women of the Blues’ Series with a full disc devoted to Bessie Smith.

March 2020 – Adam Karch

Montreal’s Adam Karch returns with album number five, a most impressive set of originals and selected covers.