Canadian Blues artists, industry, and fans gathered at Koerner Hall in Toronto to celebrate the return of in-person live music and the 25th annual Maple Blues Awards. Blues fans showed up and cheered on the performers and the winners at the gala event, which was hosted by Ottawa dynamo Angelique Francis and featured incredible performances from the MBA house band The Maple Blues Band, and guest performers Bobby Dean Blackburn, Kat Danser, Sue Foley, Angelique Francis, Crystal Shawanda, and Colin Linden.
The big winner of the night was Steve Marriner, who won four awards including Acoustic Act of the Year (Steve Marriner/David Gogo), Harmonica Player of the Year, Recording of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year. Other multiple award winners were Colin James, who took home awards for Male Vocalist of the Year and Electric Act of the Year. Sue Foley won awards for Guitarist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year.
The Maple Blues Awards also honoured up-and-coming artists with the New Artist of the Year award, which went to Hamilton’s The Lowdown Dirty Mojos.
This year there was a tie for Blues Booster of the Year award, shared by Kitchener Blues Festival Artistic Director Claude Cloutier and long-time St. John’s Newfoundland radio host and champion of Canadian artists, Terry Parsons. Powerful Toronto vocalist Shakura S’Aida was voted in at the Blues With A Feeling category by the blues-loving public for her long and varied career as a powerhouse performer, actress, and mentor.
The evening wrapped up with the popular After Glow party, hosted by Kingston’s Miss Emily and featuring winners past and present jamming on the stage.
The 25th Annual Maple Blues Award Winners
Male Vocalist of the Year
Colin James
Female Vocalist of the Year
Miss Emily
Drummer of the Year
Lindsay Beaver
Keyboard Player of the Year
David Vest
New Artist /Group of the Year
The Lowdown Dirty Mojos
Blues Booster of the Year (tied)
Claude Cloutier & Terry Parsons
Acoustic Act of the Year
Steve Marriner/David Gogo
Electric Act of the Year
Colin James
Harmonica Player of the Year
Steve Marriner
Horn Player of the Year
Allison Young
Guitarist of the Year
Sue Foley
Bassist of the Year
Keith Picot
International Artist of the Year
Bonnie Raitt
Recording/ Producer of the Year
Steve Marriner – Hope Dies Last (Stony Plain)
Blues With A Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award)
Shakura S’Aida
Songwriter of the Year
Steve Marriner
Entertainer of the Year
Sue Foley
