Canada's National Blues Awards Land in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa and Hamilton

Canada's National Blues Awards Land in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa and HamiltonMaple Blues Award Nominations Led by MonkeyJunk, Downchild and Steve Hill (October 30, 2014) Toronto, ON - The Toronto Blues Society will be celebrating the 18th annual Maple Blues Awards by honouring nationally and internationally recognized Canadian blues artists from across the country on January 19th, 2015.  Toronto artists lead with twenty seven nominations, followed by Montreal (15), Vancouver (9), Ottawa (8) and Hamilton (7). Ottawa’s MonkeyJunk and Toronto’s Downchild each received five nominations followed by Montreal’s Steve Hill with four. There are plenty of other acts each with multiple nominations including Fathead, Raoul & the Big Time, The 24th Street Wailers, Brandon Isaak, Steve Strongman and Harrison Kennedy. Quebec blues artists are well represented with nominations for Jordan Officer, Angel Forrest, Dawn Tyler Watson, and Guy Bélanger to name a few. British Columbia’s thriving blues scene is represented with nominations for Dave “Hurricane” Hoerl,  David Vest,  Keith Picot and Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne. The nominees, selected by a panel consisting of industry professionals from across Canada, are recognized both for their talent as well as their contribution to the growing Canadian blues music scene.   Voting is open from 11:59pm Newfoundland Daylight Time on November 5, 2014, through 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time on December 5, 2014. Blues fans can cast their votes online at www.mapleblues.ca. Canadian blues fans can cast their votes in all categories except instrumental. Tickets for the Maple Blues Awards, held at the Royal Conservatory's Koerner Hall in Toronto, are on sale now for $28 - $65 and can be purchased at The Weston Family Box Office, located in The Royal Conservatory building at 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto, by phone at RCM box office (416) 408-0208 or online at https://tickets.rcmusic.ca/public. Contact The Toronto Blues Society for member discounts. Heading in to its 30th anniversary year, The Toronto Blues Society is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the Blues. The Maple Blues Awards is Canada's national blues awards program. Its goal is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize outstanding achievement in the field. Located along the Bloor Street cultural corridor, The Royal Conservatory of Music is one of the largest and most respected music performance and arts education institutions in the world. Its breathtaking Koerner Hall, "the jewel in the crown of Toronto's Cultural Renaissance," along with two other concert spaces, presents 70+ concerts annually from acclaimed classical, jazz, pop, and world music and hosts an additional 100+ concerts and events from a wide range of not for profit arts groups, charities, and corporate clients. The 18th Annual Maple Blues Awards Nominees: Entertainer of the Year The 24th Street Wailers MonkeyJunk Raoul & the Big Time Steve Hill Steve Strongman Electric Act of the Year Downchild Jack de Keyzer MonkeyJunk Steve Hill Steve Strongman Acoustic Act of the Year Adam Karch Big Dave McLean Brandon Isaak Harrison Kennedy Michael Jerome Browne Male Vocalist of the Year Chuck Jackson Harrison Kennedy Jon Knight Matt Andersen Steve Marriner Female Vocalist of the Year Angel Forrest Dawn Tyler Watson Diana Braithwaite Shakura S’Aida Suzie Vinnick  New Artist or Group of the Year Irene Torres & the Sugar Devils Joel Johnson Band Jordan Officer Sean Pinchin Wicked Grin B.B. King International Artist of the Year Beth Hart Elvin Bishop Janiva Magness Johnny Winter Mavis Staples Guitarist of the Year JW-Jones Paul DesLauriers Steve Dawson Steve Hill Steve Strongman Piano or Keyboard Player of the Year David McMorrow (Jack de Keyzer) David Vest Julian Fauth Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne Lance Anderson Harmonica Player of the Year Dave “Hurricane” Hoerl Guy Bélanger Harpdog Brown Jerome Godboo Steve Marriner Horn Player of the Year Al Lerman Chris Whiteley Jon Wong Pat Carey Richard Thornton Drummer of the Year Bucky Berger (Fathead) Lindsay Beaver (The 24th Street Wailers) Matt Sobb (MonkeyJunk) Sam Harrisson (Paul DesLauriers Band) Tom Bona (Raoul and the Big Time, Soulstack) Bassist of the Year Alan Duffy (Jack de Keyzer) Alec Fraser (Fraser/Daley) Greg Morency (Paul DesLauriers Band) Keith Picot (Brandon Isaak) Omar Tunnoch (Fathead) Songwriter of the Year Angel Forrest Brandon Isaak Harrison Kennedy Raoul Bhaneja Ray Bonneville Recording/Producer of the Year Brandon Isaak - Here On Earth (Self) Producer: Chris Isaak Downchild - Can You Hear the Music (Linus Entertainment) Producer: Don Walsh JW-Jones - Belmont Boulevard (Blind Pig Records) Producer: Tom Hambridge Raoul and the Big Time - Hollywood Blvd (Big Time Records) Producer: Raoul Bhaneja Steve Hill Solo Recordings Vol. 2 (No Label Records) Producer: Steve Hill Blues With A Feeling (Lifetime Achievement Award) Diana Braithwaite Alec Fraser Danny Brooks Ellen McIlwaine Joe Murphy Ken Whiteley Michael Fonfara Stephen Barry Tom Lavin Michael Jerome Browne Brent Parkin Nannette Workman Theresa Malenfant