Sue Foley, Colin James Head Maple Blues Awards Noms List
Canada's premier blues event places two veteran singers and guitar-slingers at the top of its just-announced nominations. Pictured: Sue Foley. Online voting for the Awards, held on Feb. 4, is open from Nov. 1.
By FYI Staff
The nominees for the 22nd annual Maple Blues Awards place two veteran Canadian singers and guitar-slingers, Sue Foley and Colin James, at the top of the list with six nominations apiece.
It is a banner year for female artists, for Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar tally four nominations, and Dawn Tyler Watson earns two. 2018 Juno Award winners MonkeyJunk receive four nods.
The Maple Blues Award for Blues Booster of the Year will be selected by the Toronto Blues Society Board of Directors and announced in advance of the Awards gala, which returns to Toronto's Koerner Hall on February 4, 2019.
The Awards will be hosted by bluesman/actor Raoul Bhaneja. Tickets are available online at rcmusic.com, at the Koerner Hall box office or by phone at (416) 408-0208.
The 22nd Annual Maple Blues Award Nominees
Entertainer of the Year
Colin James
Dawn Tyler Watson
MonkeyJunk
Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar
Sue Foley
Electric Act of the Year
Colin James
JW-Jones
MonkeyJunk
Paul DesLauriers Band
Sue Foley
Acoustic Act of the Year
Big Dave McLean
Earle & Coffin
Michael Jerome Browne
Rob Lutes
Tim Williams
Male Vocalist of the Year
Colin James
Harrison Kennedy
Jon Knight (Soulstack)
Matt Andersen
Rob Lutes
Female Vocalist of the Year
Angel Forrest
Crystal Shawanda
Dawn Tyler Watson
Samantha Martin
Sue Foley
New Artist of the Year
Cootes Paradise
Dan Doiron
Deb Rhymer
Elliott & The Audio Kings
Emily Burgess
Recording/Producer of the Year
Colin James - Miles to Go / True North (Colin James & Dave Meszaros)
Jack de Keyzer - Checkmate / Blue Star (Jack de Keyzer)
Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar - Run to Me / Gypsy Soul (Darcy Yates)
Sue Foley - The Ice Queen / Stony Plain (Mike Flanigan)
Sugar Brown - It's A Blues World / Self (Sugar Brown)
B.B. King International Artist of the Year
Buddy Guy
Ghost Town Blues Band
Mavis Staples
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats
Shemekia Copeland
Songwriter of the Year
Colin James
David Vest
Ken Kawashima (Sugar Brown)
Samantha Martin / Curtis Chaffey
Sue Foley
Blues with a Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award)
Alec Fraser
Brent Parkin
Danny Brooks
Ellen McIlwaine
Joe Murphy
Ken Whiteley
Michael Fonfara
Michael Jerome Browne
Tom Lavin
Guitarist of the Year
Colin James
Jack de Keyzer
Jack Semple
Steve Hill
Sue Foley
Harmonica Player of the Year
Carlos del Junco
Guy Bélanger
Harpdog Brown
Roly Platt (Matt Minglewood)
Steve Marriner (MonkeyJunk)
Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year
David Vest
Jenie Thai
Jesse O'Brien
Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne
Michael Kaeshammer
Horn Player of the Year
Chris Whiteley
Jon Wong
Mat “Moose” Mousseau (Ben Racine Band)
Richard Thornton (Jack de Keyzer)
Shirley Jackson
Drummer of the Year
Gary Craig (Colin Linden, Steve Dawson)
Lindsay Beaver
Matt Sobb (MonkeyJunk)
Sam Harrisson (Paul DesLauriers Band)
Tom Bona
Bassist of the Year
Gary Kendall (Downchild & Mighty Duck Blues Band)
Keith Picot (Brandon Isaak)
Laura Greenberg (JW-Jones)
Leigh-Anne Stanton (Wicked Grin)
Russell Jackson (Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne)
Online voting for the Awards is open from Nov. 1. Canadian blues fans can vote online in the eligible categories until Dec. 1. Register at www.mapleblues.ca.
Aya NakamuraMarion Gomez/Billboard France