18th Annual Maple Blues Awards

NOMINEES AND WINNERS

Congratulations to everyone who won at this year’s Maple Blues Awards! Winner names are highlighted in *BOLD in the nominee list below.

Categories for Public Voting

Entertainer of the Year

The 24^th Street Wailers
MonkeyJunk
Raoul & The Big Time
*Steve Hill
Steve Strongman

Electric Act of the Year

Downchild
Jack de Keyzer
MonkeyJunk
*Steve Hill
Steve Strongman

Acoustic Act of the Year

Adam Karch
Big Dave McLean
*Brandon Isaak
Harrison Kennedy
Michael Jerome Browne

Male Vocalist of the Year

Chuck Jackson (Downchild)
Harrison Kennedy
Jon Knight (Soulstack)
*Matt Andersen
Steve Marriner (MonkeyJunk)

Female Vocalist of the Year

*Angel Forrest
Dawn Tyler Watson
Diana Braithwaite
Shakura S’Aida
Suzie Vinnick

New Artist or Group of the Year

Irene Torres & The Sugar Devils
Joel Johnson Band
Jordan Officer
Sean Pinchin
*Wicked Grin

B.B. King International Artist of the Year

Beth Hart
Elvin Bishop
Janiva Magness
*Johnny Winter
Mavis Staples

Recording/Producer of the Year

Brandon Isaak Here On Earth Self; Producer: Chris Isaak
Downchild Can You Hear the Music Linus; Producer: Don Walsh
JW-Jones Belmont Boulevard Blind Pig; Producer: Tom Hambridge
Raoul and the Big Time Hollywood Blvd.; Big Time Producer: Raoul Bhaneja
*Steve Hill Solo Recordings Vol. 2 No Label; Producer: Steve Hill

Songwriter of the Year

*Angel Forrest
Brandon Isaak
Harrison Kennedy
Raoul Bhaneja
Ray Bonneville

Blues with a Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award)

Diana Braithwaite
Alec Fraser
Danny Brooks
Ellen McIlwaine
Joe Murphy
Ken Whiteley
Michael Fonfara
Stephen Barry
Tom Lavin
Michael Jerome Browne
Brent Parkin
*Nanette Workman
Theresa Malenfant

Instrumental Categories

(Not available for public voting)

Guitar Player of the Year

JW-Jones
Paul DesLauriers
Steve Dawson
*Steve Hill
Steve Strongman

Harmonica Player of the Year

Dave “Hurricane” Hoerl
*Guy Bélanger
*Harpdog Brown
Jerome Godboo
Steve Marriner (MonkeyJunk)

Piano or Keyboard Player of the Year

David “The Groove Doctor” McMorrow (Jack de Keyzer)
*David Vest
Julian Fauth
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne
Lance Anderson

Horn Player of the Year

Al Lerman
Chris Whiteley
*Jon Wong
Pat Carey
Richard Thornton

Drummer of the Year

Bucky Berger (Fathead)
Lindsay Beaver (The 24^th Street Wailers)
Matt Sobb (MonkeyJunk)
Sam Harrisson (Paul DesLauriers Band)
*Tom Bona (Soulstack; Raoul & The Big Time)

Bassist of the Year

Alan Duffy (Jack de Keyzer)
Alec Fraser
*Greg Morency (Paul DesLauriers Band)
Keith Picot (Brandon Isaak)
Omar Tunnoch (Fathead)