The Canadian Blues Music Awards held its inaugural edition last night and Brandon Isaak was the big winner of the evening, earning three awards – for Blues Song, Electric Blues Recording and Blues Guitarist of the Year.
Blue Moon Marquee won the Fan Favourite Award, chosen by the public, for Blues Artist or Group of the Year, and Tim Williams was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Hosted by Danny Marks at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in downtown Toronto, the gala featured performances from winners Steve Marriner; Crystal Shawanda; Kenny ‘Blues Boss’ Wayne, Brandon Isaak and Dana Wylie.
Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone who was nominated. Here’s who took home awards:
Emerging Blues Artist or Group of the Year: Ollee Owens (Ollee Owens – Nowhere to Hide)
Blues song of the year: Brandon Isaak – “Walkin’ With the Blues” (Walkin’ With the Blues)
Acoustic Blues Recording of the Year: Sue Foley – One Guitar Woman, A Tribute to the Female Pioneers of Guitar
Electric Blues Recording of the Year: Brandon Isaak: Walkin’ With the Blues
Blues Producer of the Year: Steve Marriner (Steve Marriner – Hear My Heart; Big Dave McLean – This Old Life; David Gogo – YEAH!)
Female Blues Vocalist of the Year: Crystal Shawanda (Crystal Shawanda – Sing Pretty Blues)
Male Blues Vocalist of the Year: Marcus Trummer (Marcus Trummer: From the Start)
Blues Guitarist of the Year: Brandon Isaak (Brandon Isaak: Walkin’ With the Blues)
Blues Keyboard Player of the Year: Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne (Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne: Ooh, Yeah!)
Blues Harmonica Player of the Year: (tie) Guy Bélanger (Guy Bélanger – Postcards from London) and Steve Marriner (Steve Marriner – Hear My Heart; Big Dave McLean – This Old Life; David Gogo – YEAH!)
Blues Horn Player of the Year: Jerry Cook (Wailin’ Walker – All Fired Up)
Blues Drummer of the Year: (Tie) Jim Casson (Davis Hall & The Green Lanterns – Canboro Canborough) and Sylvain “Sly” Coulombe (Chambers DesLauriers: Our Time to Ride)
Blues Bassist of the Year: Jasmine Colette (Blue Moon Marquee – New Orleans Sessions)
Blues Video of the Year: The Harpoonist – “Show Me the Green” (Did We Come Here to Dance)
Blues Industry Person of the Year: (Tie) Bruce Morel (Morel Music International) and Ken Simms (Think Tank Music Network)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Tim Williams
Fan Favourite Award for Blues Artist or Group of the Year: Blue Moon Marquee
