Local Acts Nominated for 2014 Maple Blues Awards

Once again, our talented local musicans were honoured with quite a few Maple Blues Award nominations.

Hopefully, some of them will be receieving the kudos on the 17th annual show (run by the Toronto Blues Society) on January 10, 2014.  GOOD LUCK!

Steve Strongman, Harrison Kennedy, and Soulstack garnered two nods each: Strongman for Entertainer & Guitarist; Harrison for Acoustic Act & Male Vocalist; Soulstack for Electric act &  Drummer (Tom Bona).

Other area nominees include: Dave King (Drummer) and Brant Parker Blues Band (New Artist/Group).



Links: Steve Strongman, More Steve Strongman stories,Video courtesy of Urban Hero Magazine



Links: Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories, Video courtesy of StellaBlu477



Links: Soulstack , Video courtesy of Jon Knight



Links: Brant Parker Blues Band, More Brant Parker Stories, Video courtesy of Daragent2
 
The largest number of nominations went to Ottawa's MonkeyJunk who were listed in six categories.

Here is the complete list of the 17th Annual Maple Blues Awards nominees:

Entertainer
The 24th Street Wailers
MonkeyJunk
Shakura S'Aida
Steve Strongman
The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer

Electric Act
The 24th Street Wailers
Bill Durst
David Gogo
MonkeyJunk
Soulstack

Acoustic Act
Brandon Isaak
Dawn Tyler Watson and Paul Deslauriers
Harrison Kennedy
Little Miss Higgins
Michael Jerome Browne

Male Vocalist
Bob Walsh
Charlie A'Court
Donald Ray Johnson
Harrison Kennedy
Jim Byrnes

Female Vocalist
Angel Forrest
Dawn Tyler Watson
Layla Zoe
Shakura S'Aida
Treasa Levasseur

New Artist or Group
Brant Parker Blues Band    
Declan O'Donovan
Denis Viel
James “Buddy” Rogers
The Mackenzie Blues Band                                         

Recording/Producer
MonkeyJunk - All Frequencies
David Vest - East Meets Vest (co-produced by Gary Kendall)
Julian Fauth - Everybody Ought To Treat A Stranger Right
Angel Forrest - Mother Tongue Blues
Ben Racine Band - One of A Kind

B.B. King International Artist
James Cotton
Dr. John
Mavis Staples
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Trampled Under Foot

Guitarist
David Gogo
Kevin Breit
Paul Deslauriers
Steve Strongman
Tony D (MonkeyJunk)

Harmonica
Carlos Del Junco
David Rotundo
Guy Belanger
Shawn Hall (The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer)
Steve Marriner (MonkeyJunk)

Piano/Keyboard
David Vest
Graham Guest
Julian Fauth
Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne
Lance Anderson

Horn
Al Lerman  (Fathead)
Chris Whiteley
Frank Thiffault  (Ben Racine)
Jon Wong (The 24th Street Wailers)
Shirley Jackson

Drummer
Bucky Berger
Chris Nordquist
Dave King (Steve Strongman)
Sam Harrisson (Paul Deslauriers)
Tom Bona (Soulstack)

Bassist
Alec Fraser
Gary Kendall 
Keith Picot (Brandon Isaak)
Omar Tunnoch (Fathead)
Russell Jackson

Songwriter
Brandon Isaak
Charlie A'Court
Harrison Kennedy
Julian Fauth
MonkeyJunk

Blues With A Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement)
Alec Fraser
Michael Jerome Browne
Danny Brooks
Ellen McIlwaine
Joe Murphy
Ken Whiteley
Michael Fonfara
Stephen Barry
Tom Lavin
Brent Parkin
Bob Walsh
Jim Zeller
Nanette Workman
Theresa Malenfant
John Dickie

Blast from the Past:  Last Year's Maple Blues Award Winners

Click here for more about the Maple Blues Awards

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Niagara Music Award Winners

Even after flooding damaged the original venue for the 6th annual Niagara Music Awards, the event couldn't be stopped.  On September 17, 2013 the Niagara music scene celebrated their best and brightest at the Seneca Queen Theatre.  Congratulations to all the winners!

Click here for the story in Niagara This Week

Here's a listing of the award recipients:

• Blues Group: Brant Parker Band
• Folk Group: Jordan Raycroft
• Country Group: Straight South
• Jazz Group: Dually Noted
• Adult Contemporary Artist: Paul Federici
• Female Vocalist: Jane Baker
• World Group: Fenian Raid
• Songwriter of the Year: Aaron Berger
• Rising Star:  Spencer Mackenzie
• Special Achievement: Pete Haverkamp 
• New Artist: Paige Kopp 
• Original Group: The Black Flies 
• Best Original Song: “Emergency Vehicles” by Thunderclap 
• People’s Choice: Cory Cruise 
• Male Vocalist: Anthony Botting
• Album of the Year: Anthony Botting: A Book for Wanderers
• Engineer: Ethan Rising
• Instrumental Artist: M-Phaktor
• Best Bar Band: Spinal Flux
• Heavy Metal Group: Silo 66
• Hip Hop Artist: The KAC Himself
• New Group: Barbudos
• EDM Artist: Micheal O’Howe
• Music Video: “Microscope” The Snips
• Rock Group: Crutch

Links: Jordan Raycroft, Video courtesy of Katelyn Elizabeth



Links: Aaron Berger, Video courtesy of Carl David Onofrio

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New Brant Parker Blues Band CD: River of Broken Dreams

River of Broken Dreams, the latest CD from St. Catherines's own Brant Parker Blues Band is an amazing example of straight ahead, old fashion boogie blues.

Brant's voice has character whether he's funking it up with songs like Designated Down Time or crooning with slow jams such as Same Old Blues. His talented band backs him up with gusto on all the numbers. 

The group's joined by a number of incredible guest stars, including Hamilton's Jack de Keyzer, who produces and adds his his amazing guitar work to three  songs. Al Duffy plays bass on two tracks as well.

This wonderful disc is available at the band's live shows and can be downloaded through their bandcamp site.

Below is a video from one of the songs from the CD, courtesy of BluesGuy1



You can also stream the album below



Links: Brant Parker Blues Band, More CD Releases

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