(TORONTO, CANADA) – Canada’s National Blues Awards Program, the Maple Blues Awards, promotes blues music across Canada, and recognizes outstanding achievement in the field. The awards ceremony will take place Feb 3, 2020 at Koerner Hall in Toronto and feature performances by several nominees backed by the all-star Maple Blues Band.

A number of Blues and Roots Radio hosts are on the Maple Blues Awards nomination panel, you can listen in to their shows from across Canada each week on the lead up to the awards to hear features on this year’s nominated artists. Find stations here.

​Nominees for the Maple Blues Awards are selected by a distinguished panel of some 62 blues experts. Co-Chaired by the steering committee consisting of John Valenteyn, Yanick Theriault, Terry Parsons, and Brant Zwicker, the panel includes radio hosts, journalists, and festival organizers regionally distributed across Canada. Members of the Nominating Panel are not eligible for any of the awards. This year Toronto Blues Society has a Musician Advisory Committee commenting on the submitted from the nominating panel as well.

Winners in instrumental categories – guitar, harmonica, piano/keyboards, horn, drum, and bass – will be determined by the Nominating Panel. Winners in all other categories are selected by blues fans across the country (voting is closed).

Check Roots and Blues Radio and the Maple Blues Awards website for nominee list and more event details.