(TORONTO, ON, CA) – The Maple Blues Awards, Canada’s national Blues awards program, promotes blues music across Canada and recognizes outstanding achievement in the field [they are equivalent to the Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Awards]. The winners of the Twenty-Second Annual Maple Blues Awards will be announced at the Annual Maple Blues Awards Gala in Toronto, on February 4, 2019 at TELUS Centre for the Performing Arts: Koerner Hall at the Royal Conservatory of Music (273 Bloor St W, Toronto, Ontario, Canada).
This very special evening is Canada’s national annual celebration of homegrown blues talent. It’s also a night of great music with performances by some of this year’s nominees backed by the all-star Maple Blues Band and hosted by bluesman and actor Raoul Bhaneja from Raoul and The Big Time. The annual all-star concert, awards event, and after party celebrating Canada’s blues music will feature performances by Steve Marriner, Harry Manx, Sue Foley, Jenie Thai, Crystal Shawanda and Earl & Coffin. Don’t miss the after party with Guy Bélanger, too. Presented in partnership with the Toronto Blues Society.
Nominees for the Maple Blues Awards are selected by a distinguished panel of some 45 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.
Winners in instrumental categories of guitar, harmonica, piano/keyboards, horn, drum, and bass, will be determined by the Nominating Panel. Winners in all other categories will be selected by blues fans across the country!
