SPILL NEWS: CANADIAN BLUES MUSIC AWARDS – THE INAUGURAL GALA EVENT HAPPENING MARCH 30 @ THE PHOENIX CONCERT THEATRE

CANADIAN BLUES MUSIC AWARDS – THE INAUGURAL GALA EVENT HAPPENING MARCH 30 @ THE PHOENIX CONCERT THEATRE

The Canadian Blues Music Awards (CBMAs) is pleased to announce the GALA for its 2026 awards, presented this year by the Toronto Blues Society. As part of a celebration of musical excellence in Canada, (replacing the long-standing Maple Blues Awards), artists recognized from coast to coast will vie for the Inaugural Annual CBMAs. Hosted by Canada’s own consummate blues artist and radio personality Danny Marks, along with performances by Steve Marriner, Crystal Shawanda, Kenny ‘Blues Boss’ Wayne, Brandon Isaak, and Dana Wylie, the gala will be held in Toronto on Monday, March 30^th at the Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St. Admission for the event is $40-$75. Tickets are available now at Ticketweb.ca. For more information please visit The CBMAs website | TBS/CBMAs website | Announcement Video.

Supporting all of the live performances, the gala backing band “Pass the Envelope” is Manny DeGrandis (Musical Director, bass), Quincy Bullen (keyboards), Dave Patel (drums), plus Cecile Doo-Kingue (guitar), and Dan Jancar (sax). Blazing Kitchen will provide tacos during the show, and there’ll be an after-party, with performances by nominees Glenn Marais & The Mojo Train, Ollie Owens, JP LeBlanc, Secondhand Dreamcar and more, in the main room on the big stage, starting immediately after the awards.

Created in 2025 to continue to bring greater exposure to the wealth of Canadian blues music, the CBMAs, in its inaugural year of activity, honours outstanding achievements in 16 categories, including a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is different than the other categories – except for the Fan Favourite, which is chosen by the public and announced at the ceremony – in that entrants are submitted by Blues Societies across Canada. The nominees in this category are some of the best blues artists on the scene, including mellow virtuoso guitar ace Amos Garrett; trailblazing Toronto Black activist bluesman Bobby Dean Blackburn; award-winning boogie-woogie pianist Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne; Edmonton-based, Chicago-trained, bassist Russell Jackson; and the late, great Tim Williams.

The world lost a brilliant guitarist, songwriter, and producer last November, when renowned roots and blues musician Tim Williams left this earthly plane.

Growing up in Southern California, Williams was inspired by country guitarists, blues greats, Hawaiian sounds, and the Mexican music that permeates Los Angeles. He learned to slip easily from one style to another. Re-locating to Vancouver during the 1970s,  Williams opened for Taj Mahal, Albert Collins, Mose Allison, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and comic Steve Martin. In 1974, after recording several country-folk singles, he left the city, and the music business, for life as a horse wrangler, emerging long enough to record two albums and tour across Canada. Williams settled in Calgary, and returned to full-time performing with his appearance at the 1988 Edmonton Folk Festival, where he wowed every audience to which he played. He produced and/or performed on four JUNO-nominated projects, and about 40 others, plus more than a dozen solo and side-group albums. In 2014, he captured Best Solo Act and Best Guitarist at the International Blues Challenge.

Thankfully, Williams’s many gifts live on through his music, and in our hearts. https://timwilliamsblues.ca/home.

MORE ABOUT THE CBMAs

Canada’s new National Blues Music Awards program, the Canadian Blues Music Awards is an incorporated national not-for-profit, whose mandate is to govern, create, operate, maintain, and update the CBMA and its processes.

Inspired by the overwhelming response to the 2023 Maple Blues Awards (MBAs), and the many resultant ideas that evolved, a steering committee was formed to help shape the future of the awards. Many months of research, consultation, and development resulted in a wholly independent organization — not a rebranding or restructuring of any previous programme – that created a foundation of governance, a fair and inclusive process, transparency, and nationwide engagement, intended to maximize the integrity and impartiality of the awards. The CBMAs operate as a separate entity: the Toronto Blues Society has no role whatsoever in governance, nominations, judging, voting, or any other element of the awards process. The TBS will proudly host the gala ceremony, and that is the full extent of the relationship.

2026 CANADIAN BLUES MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES

ELECTRIC BLUES RECORDING OF THE YEAR

Angelique Francis: Not Defeated
Brandon Isaak: Walkin’ With The Blues
Crystal Shawanda: Sing Pretty Blues
David Gogo: YEAH!
Steve Marriner: Hear My Heart

ACOUSTIC BLUES RECORDING OF THE YEAR

Al Lerman: Country-Fried Blues
Big Dave McLean: This Old Life
Blue Moon Marquee: New Orleans Sessions
David Vest & Terry Robb: CrissCross
Sue Foley: One Guitar Woman, A Tribute to the Female Pioneers of Guitar

BLUES SONG OF THE YEAR

Angelique Francis: “Train Coming” (Not Defeated)
Blue Moon Marquee: “What I Wouldn’t Do” (New Orleans Sessions)
Brandon Isaak: “Walkin’ With The Blues” (Walkin’ With The Blues)
Crystal Shawanda: “Sing Pretty Blues “(Sing Pretty Blues)
Ndidi O: “Working Girl” (Simple Songs For Complicated Times)

BLUES PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Blue Moon Marquee (Blue Moon Marquee: New Orleans Sessions)
Brandon Isaak (Brandon Isaak: Walkin’ With the Blues)
Renan Yildizdogan & Ross Hayes Citrullo (Marcus Trummer: From The Start)
Steve Dawson (Ndidi O: Simple Songs For Complicated Times)
Steve Marriner (Steve Marriner: Hear My Heart; Big Dave McLean: This Old Life; David Gogo: YEAH!)

EMERGING BLUES ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Glenn Marais & the Mojo Train (Glenn Marais & the Mojo Train: Red Hot and Blue)
Jeff Rogers (Jeff Rogers: Dream Job)
JP LeBlanc (JP LeBlanc: All In My Blood/Je l’ai dans l’sang)
Ollee Owens (Ollee Owens: Nowhere to Hide)
Paul Black (Paul Black: Beautiful Sin)

BLUES VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Blue Moon Marquee: “Come On Down” (New Orleans Sessions)
Angelique Francis: “Train Coming” (Not Defeated)
The Harpoonist: “Show Me The Green” (Did We Come Here To Dance)
Bywater Call: “Colours” (Shepherd)
André Bisson: “Latchford” (Latchford)
Ray Lemelin & Steve Hill: “Walk On”/“Ain’t No Use In Worryin’” (Brother Ray Lemelin & The Matinee Kings: Stirring the Pot)
JP LeBlanc: “All On Your Own” (All In My Blood/Je l’ai dans l’sang)

FEMALE BLUES VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Angelique Francis (Angelique Francis: Not Defeated)
Crystal Shawanda (Crystal Shawanda: Sing Pretty Blues)
Dana Wylie (Secondhand Dreamcar: Answer the Call)
Ndidi O (Ndidi O: Simple Songs For Complicated Times)
Samantha King (Samantha King and the Midnight Outfit: Samantha King and the Midnight Outfit)

MALE BLUES VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Big Dave McLean (This Old Life)
Brandon Isaak (Walkin’ With The Blues)
Jeff Rogers (Dream Job)
Marcus Trummer (From The Start)
Wayne Nicholson (Gin House)

BLUES GUITARIST OF THE YEAR

Brandon Isaak (Brandon Isaak: Walkin’ With The Blues)
David Gogo (David Gogo: YEAH!)
Paul DesLauriers (Chambers DesLauriers: Our Time To Ride)
Sue Foley (Sue Foley: One Guitar Woman, A Tribute to the Female Pioneers of Guitar)
Tony D (Tony D: Electric Delta)

BLUES KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR

David Vest (David Vest & Terry Robb: CrissCross)
Jeff Rogers (Jeff Rogers: Dream Job)
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne (Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne: Ooh, Yeah!)
Miles Evans-Branagh (Marcus Trummer: From The Start,
Sandra Bouza: A Sound In The Dark)
Rooster Davis (Secondhand Dreamcar: Answer the Call)

BLUES HARMONICA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Al Lerman (Al Lerman: Country-Fried Blues)
Guy Bélanger (Guy Bélanger: Postcards from London)
Shawn Hall (The Harpoonist: Did We Come Here To Dance)
Steve Grant “Cabbagetown Steve” (Little Magic Sam: Live At The Rivoli)
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)
Julian Nalli (Bywater Call: Shepherd)
Kharincia Francis (Angelique Francis: Not Defeated)
Kira Francis (Angelique Francis: Not Defeated)
Loretta Hale (André Bisson: Latchford)

BLUES BASSIST OF THE YEAR

Angelique Francis (Angelique Francis: Not Defeated)
Harry Gregg (Secondhand Dreamcar: Answer the Call)
Jack Lavin (Wailin’ Walker: All Fired Up)
Jasmine Colette (Blue Moon Marquee: New Orleans Sessions)
Mike Meusel (Bywater Call: Shepherd)

BLUES DRUMMER OF THE YEAR

Bruce McCarthy (Bywater Call: Shepherd)
Jim Casson (Davis Hall & The Green Lanterns: Canboro Canborough)
Kiran Francis (Angelique Francis: Not Defeated)
Sandro Dominelli (Samantha King and the Midnight Outfit: Samantha King and the Midnight Outfit)
Sylvain “Sly” Coulombe (Chambers DesLauriers: Our Time To Ride)

BLUES INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR

Bruce Morel (Morel Music International)
Ken Simms (Think Tank Music Network)
Ken Wallis (Blues Source Entertainment)
Lori & Paul Murray (Music By The Bay Live)
Ron Simmonds (Blues In The Dark)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Amos Garrett
Bobby Dean Blackburn
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne
Russell Jackson
Tim Williams

Canadian Blues Music Awards Links