The 2023 Maple Blues Awards will take place on Jan. 30 at Koerner Hall, marking a return to their usual mid-winter time-frame after a COVID-related delay last year.

This week, we found out who the nominees are.

Fans can vote for their favourites at www.MapleBlues.ca until Dec. 1.   That’s also the place to go to get tickets for the show.

Here’s who’s up for the awards:

Entertainer of the Year

•  Blue Moon Marquee
•  Bywater Call
•  Crystal Shawanda
•  Steve Marriner
•  Sue Foley

Electric Act of the Year

•  Blackburn
•  Colin James
•  HOROJO Trio
•  Steve Strongman
•  Sue Foley

Acoustic Act of the Year

•  Blue Moon Marquee
•  Brandon Isaak
•  Harrison Kennedy
•  Matt Andersen
•  Suzie Vinnick

Male Vocalist of the Year

•  Harrison Kennedy
•  Jeff Rogers
•  Kevin Harvey
•  Matt Andersen
•  Steve Marriner

Female Vocalist of the Year

•  Angelique Francis
•  Crystal Shawanda
•  Meghan Parnell
•  Miss Emily
•  Suzie Vinnick

New Artist/Group of the Year

•  Angelique Francis
•  Campbell & Johnston
•  Lyle Odjick
•  Marcus Trummer
•  South Island Rhythm Kings

Songwriter of the Year

•  Blue Moon Marquee
•  Colin James
•  Colin Linden
•  Harrison Kennedy
•  Suzie Vinnick

B.B. King International Artist of the Year

•  Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
•  Erja Lyytinen
•  Ghost Town Blues Band
•  Larkin Poe
•  Mavis Staples

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
•  Thanks For Tomorrow
  •  Artist: Harrison Kennedy
  •  Producer: Harrison Kennedy / Jesse O’Brian

Blues with a Feeling Award
(Lifetime Achievement Award)

•  Alec Fraser
•  Bobby Dean Blackburn
•  Brent Parkin
•  Dalannah Gail Bowen
•  Danny Brooks
•  Harrison Kennedy
•  Murray Porter
•  Tom Lavin

Guitarist of the Year

•  Colin James
•  Jack de Keyzer
•  Sue Foley
•  Teddy Leonard
•  Tony D

Harmonica Player of the Year

•  Guy Bélanger
•  Paul Reddick
•  Roly Platt
•  Shawn Hall
•  Steve Marriner

Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year

•  Ann Vriend
•  David Vest
•  Debra Power
•  Jesse O’Brien
•  Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne

Horn Player of the Year

•  Alison Young
•  Chris Whiteley
•  Loretta Hale
•  Pat Carey
•  Richard Thornton

Drummer of the Year

•  Chris Nordquist
•  Cory Blackburn
•  Jim Casson
•  Matt Sobb
•  Tom Bona

Bassist of the Year

•  Alec Fraser
•  Angelique Francis
•  Gary Kendall
•  John Dymond
•  Russell Jackson

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