The Blues Music Awards: Canadian and Canada-based blues artists Sue Foley and Kenny ‘Blues Boss’ Wayne had a big night in Memphis at the Blues Music Awards. Sue Foley won in the Traditional Female Artist (Koko Taylor Award) category. And Juno-winning keyboardist/singer Wayne also won, in the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player category. Both these artists are on the Stony Plain Records label, and current head Geoff Kulawick and label co-founder Holger Petersen were on hand to enjoy the celebration with them. Honourary-Canadian, Annika Chambers (Madame Paul Deslauriers) received the Soul Blues Female Artist. Guitarist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram was the night’s biggest winner, taking home four awards, including “Album of the Year” for Live In London. Mike Zito, Bobby Rush, Ruthie Foster and John Primer also garnered multiple awards. The 45th Annual Blues Music Awards took place May 9 in Memphis. Go to blues.org for a full list of winners.

More Congratulations Canadian Music Week has announced legendary musician Tom Wilson will receive the 2024 CMW Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award during a special presentation at the INDIE Awards, on June 6, 2024 at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto. Down the road in Ottawa, Angelique Francis is the 2024 recipient of the Peter Honeywell Mid-Career Artist Award from the Ottawa Arts Council encouraging the arts/artists in Ottawa. And we are happy to announce that the Western Canadian Music Awards (aka Breakout West) have restored the Blues category this year and the nominees are: Blue Moon Marquee, Brandon Isaak, Garret T. Willie, Kinjo & Young and Paul Black. Hats off to all these worthy recipients!

Winterfolk (spring edition): You can get a taste of Winterfolk on June 8th at Toronto’s historic Redwood Theatre, 1300 Gerrard Street E. This special edition of the festival promises to be a celebration of local talent with bluesy grooves provided by Noah Zacharin, Isaak Bonk, Donne Roberts Band, the Gary Kendall Trio, Toney ” Wild T ” Springer and Garnetta Cromwell. Tickets for the Winterfolk Spring Edition are available for purchase online at https://www.winterfolk.com/wristbands/.

Blues Moves: Rick Fines is headed to Germany and it’s not just for a European tour. His wife Lise hase accepted a two-year teaching contract at a school in Bonn, Germany.“We’re Peterborough people and we’re coming back,” assures Fines, putting an end to any suggestion the move is permanent. On Friday, June 21 at Market Hall, he’ll headline a last Peterborough show before a slew of schedule summer gigs takes him out of city right up to his August departure for Germany.
Jesse Greene is a powerhouse blueswoman who has just settled in our town after making her mark in the nation’s capital. You may find her sitting in with the likes of Marriner and Reddick as she navigates the rugged waters of the Toronto Blues Scene and starts to get some gigs. They’re also looking for a place to live so if you’ve got some reasonably priced digs or some paying gigs, contact Jesse at thejessegreeneband@gmail.com

Yonge Street Music History Walking Tour: Dr. Mike Daley, lecturer and researcher, leads a fun and informative walking tour downtown on Monday, June 17 at 10am (tickets required). Yonge Street is the heart of Toronto, and for decades it was a music mecca as well. From the late 1940s, the stretch from Queen to Carlton was ‘the Strip,’ hosting performances by Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks, Billie Holiday, Jackie Shane and many more. In this informative and entertaining walking tour, Dr. Mike Daley tells the story of the Yonge Street Strip – the taverns and after-hours clubs as well as the early history of music on Yonge St. Tickets on Eventbrite (private tours available), email mikedaley@gmail.com for details.