There’s no stopping the blues – not even a third year of a global pandemic. In a year like no other, 2022 has proven that Canadian blues artists are tenacious, forward-thinking, and incredibly creative in the face of adversity. Despite ongoing challenges and changes, Toronto Blues Society continues to support and promote Canadian Blues artists by announcing the nominees for the upcoming 26th annual Maple Blues Awards. The winners will be announced on Monday, January 30, 2023 at the LIVE Maple Blues Award Show to be held at Koerner Hall in Toronto.
Eric Alper Public Relations’ musicians and clients receive a whopping 41 nominations!
Indigenous blues artists are well represented among the nominees, including BC-based duo Blue Moon Marquee, who are nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Acoustic Act of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Recording/Producer of the Year. Crystal Shawanda, of Wiikwemkoong First Nation received nominations in three categories including Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Recording/Producer of the Year. BC-based Afro-Canadian Cherokee blues matriarch Dalannah Gail Bowen is nominated for the Blues With A Feeling Award,
Under the guidance of Toronto Blues Society Board of Director Elaine Bomberry, a new Indigenous Blues Artist category will be launched at the event. A committee of Indigenous advisors are overseeing the criteria and outreach to a burgeoning community of Turtle Island blues creators.
Women and women-led groups were celebrated this year, including Angelique Francis, who has been nominated for four Maple Blues Awards in the categories of Female Vocalist of the Year, New Artist/Group of the Year, Recording/Producer of the Year, and Bassist of the Year, Sue Foley has been nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Electric Act of the Year and Guitarist of the Year.
The Eric Alper Public Relations and its family of labels and artists nominees listed below were selected by the Maple Blues Awards Nomination Panel for their outstanding achievements in blues music in Canada over the past year.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Blue Moon Marquee
Crystal Shawanda
Steve Marriner
Sue Foley
ELECTRIC ACT OF THE YEAR
Colin James
HOROJO Trio
Steve Strongman
Sue Foley
ACOUSTIC ACT OF THE YEAR
Blue Moon Marquee
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jeff Rogers
Kevin Harvey
Steve Marriner
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Angelique Francis
Crystal Shawanda
NEW ARTIST / GROUP OF THE YEAR
Angelique Francis
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Blue Moon Marquee
Colin James
Colin Linden
RECORDING/PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Long River
ARTIST: Angelique Francis
PRODUCER: Angelique Francis / Kiran Francis
Midnight Blues
ARTIST: Crystal Shawanda
PRODUCER: Dewayne Strobel
Open Road
ARTIST: Colin James
PRODUCER: Colin James / Dave Mezaros
Scream, Holler & Howl
ARTIST: Blue Moon Marquee
PRODUCER: Blue Moon Marquee, Duke Robillard & Erik Nielsen
BLUES WITH A FEELING AWARD
(Lifetime Achievement Award)
Dalannah Gail Bowen
GUITARIST
Colin James
Sue Foley
Tony D
HARMONICA PLAYER
Paul Reddick
Steve Marriner
PIANO/KEYBOARD PLAYER
David Vest
Jesse O’Brien
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne
HORN PLAYER
Loretta Hale
Pat Carey
Richard Thornton
DRUMMER
Chris Nordquist
Matt Sobb
Tom Bona
BASSIST
Angelique Francis
Gary Kendall
John Dymond
Russell Jackson
