The Toronto Blues Society will be celebrating its 16 th annual Maple Blues Awards by honouring nationally and internationally recognized Canadian Blues artists from across the country on January 21, 2013. The nominees are recognized both for their talent as well as their contribution to the growing Canadian blues music scene.

Hamilton’s Steve Strongman leads the way with nominations in six categories, Toronto’s Shakura S’Aida and Paul Reddick, and Ottawa’s MonkeyJunk earned nominations in five categories.

Quebec blues artists are well represented with nominations for Nanette Workman, Michael Jerome Brown, Ben Racine, Stephen Barry, Dawn Tyler Watson and Guy Bélanger. British Columbia’s thriving blues scene is represented with nominations for The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer, Steve Kozak, Colin James, David Hoerl, David Gogo and Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne.

Hosted by Toronto actor and blues musician Raoul Bhaneja, The Maple Blues Awards are taking place at Koerner Hall in Toronto on January 21th, 2013.

Voting is open from Midnight NDT October 27th, 2012, through Midnight PST December 8th, 2012.

Blues fans can cast their votes online at http://www.mapleblues.ca. Tickets for the Maple Blues Awards, held at the Royal Conservatory’s Koerner Hall in Toronto, are on sale now for $35 – $65 and can be purchased at The Weston Family Box Office, located in The Royal Conservatory building at 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto or online at https://tickets.rcmusic.ca/public.

The 16th Annual Maple Blues Awards Nominees:

Entertainer Of The Year

Colin James
Matt Andersen MonkeyJunk
Shakura S’Aida
Steve Strongman

Electric Act Of The Year

Anthony Gomes
JW-Jones MonkeyJunk
Paul Reddick
Steve Strongman

Acoustic Act Of The Year

Harrison Kennedy
Michael Jerome Browne
Ray Bonneville
Steve Strongman
Suzie Vinnick

Male Vocalist Of The Year

Chuck Jackson
Harrison Kennedy
Matt Andersen
Paul Reddick
Steve Marriner

Female Vocalist Of The Year

Dawn Tyler Watson
Nanette Workman
Shakura S’Aida
Suzie Vinnick
Treasa Levasseur

New Artist Or Group Of The Year

Ben Racine
Boogie Patrol
Conor Gains Band
Steve Kozak
The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer

Recording/Producer Of The Year

“A Natural Fact” Steve Strongman (Independent) Producer – Rob Szabo “Checkered Past”

The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer (Independent) Producers – Matthew Rogers & Shawn Hall

“Time” Shakura S’Aida (Electro-Fi) Producers -Shakura S’Aida, Howard Ayee

“Broad” Treasa Levasseur (Slim Chicken), Producers – Treasa Levasseur, Ken Whiteley, Steve Marriner, Terry Wilkins

“Wishbone” Paul Reddick (Independent) Producer -Colin Cripps

Guitarist Of The Year

David Gogo
Garrett Mason
Kevin Breit
Steve Strongman
Teddy Leonard

Harmonica Player Of The Year

Carlos del Junco
David Hoerl
Guy Bélanger
Paul Reddick
Steve Marriner

Piano/Keyboard Player Of The Year

David Vest
Julian Fauth
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne
Lance Anderson
Michael Fonfara

Horn Player Of The Year

Al Lerman
Chris Whiteley
Frank Thiffault (Ben Racine)
Jon Wong
Pat Carey

Drummer Of The Year

Bucky Berger
Chris Nordquist
Matt Sobb (MonkeyJunk)
Sam Harrisson (Paul Deslauriers Band / Dawn Tyler Blues Project)
Tom Bona

Bassist Of The Year

Alec Fraser
Gary Kendall
Omar Tunnoch
Stephen Barry
Terry Wilkins

Songwriter Of The Year

Julian Fauth
Paul Reddick
Shakura S’Aida & Donna Grantis
Steve Strongman
Treasa Levasseur