(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!