Maple Blues Archive

Canadian Blues Music Awards

September 2025 – Bywater Call

This is a new live album by Bywater Call, the rock-soul-funk band that had been a touring sensation over the last few years. They have been releasing albums of new songs, and this is your chance to hear how they play those songs live.

September 2025 – JP LeBlanc

JP LeBlanc’s album “All In My Blood”/ “Je l’ai dans le sang” on the Acadian Connection label was crafted in Canada, and recorded in Nashville with Colin  Linden producing.

September 2025 – Loose Blues news

History Lesson: If you haven’t visited the Friar’s Music Museum in Dundas Square (on the 2nd floor of a Shoppers Drug Mart at 283 Yonge Street) you might want to check it out before they turn over the exhibition at the end of September. The current exhibit is “Shaking the Foundations: Women Trailblazers in Toronto Music,” which honors the contributions of women to the city’s music scene.

September 2025 – Top Blues

This month’s recommended listening by Brant Zwicker, host/executive producer of At the Crossroads syndicated blues radio.

Website: atcblues.ca

September 2025 – Cheryl Lescom

Cheryl Lescom is a featured vocalist at the 38th Annual Women’s Blues Revue, Friday, November 28 at Roy Thomson Hall

August 2025 – Chambers DesLaurier

Our Time to Ride is the new album by Chambers DesLauriers. It’s also the name of the next-to-last song on the album. It’s a statement of purpose for the album. It swings and the guitars chug along like they mean business. The layers of the guitars pile up with increasing power and intent. Like a freight train. It certainly is an apt metaphor for what this group is doing right now.

August 2025 – Little Magic Sam

“Little Magic” Sam Taylor is a party. His enthusiasm is unabashed. If he loves something he is going to share it, and then you’re going to love it too. That’s just how it goes. This record, true to its name, catches Sam and his band playing a gig at the Rivoli in Toronto. From the opening count of the blistering “When I’m Down,” to the soulful set closer “Kiss Me One More Time,” the blues is in the house.

August 2025 – Top Blues

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

August 2025 – Loose Blues news

Blues on the Tube: The Ensemble! TV Show on Cable 14 (Hamilton) will feature the Spencer Mackenzie Band (David Hollingshead, Matt Burns, Justine Fischer) on Sat August 2: 2:30am / 9am and Sunday August 3 at 3am or live stream on cable14now.com. Hosted by Dave Rave and recorded at Clifford Brewing Co.