The Maple Blues Awards is Canada’s national blues awards program. Its goal is to promote blues music across Canada and to recognize outstanding achievement in the field. The nominees are selected by a distinguished panel of blues DJs and journalists from across Canada. Members of the Nominating Panel are not eligible for any of the awards. The winners are selected by the votes of blues fans from across Canada.
On Monday night, June, 20th, the awards were held at Koerner Hall, Toronto. Three artists walked away with multiple Maple Blues wins. Toronto-born, Texas-based Sue Foley won in the categories of Guitarist of the Year and Entertainer of the year on the heels of her Mike Flanigin produced album, Pinky’s Blues. Colin James won in the categories of Male Vocalist and Electric Act of the Year following the release of his 17th studio album, Open Road. Steve Marriner won four awards, including Acoustic Act of the year (shared with David Gogo), Harmonica Player of the Year, Recording/Producer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. This gave Marriner a total of 10 MBAs as a solo artist and 10 more as a member of Monkeyjunk.
Monday night’s gala event was hosted by Angelique Francis and included performances by Bobby Dean Blackburn, Kat Danser, Sue Foley, Angelique Francis, Crystal Shawanda and Colin Linden.
Winners of the 2022 Maple Blues Awards:
Male Vocalist of the Year: Colin James
Female Vocalist of the Year: Miss Emily
Drummer of the Year: Lindsay Beaver
Keyboard Player of the Year: David Vest
New Artist /Group of the Year: The Lowdown Dirty Mojos
Blues Booster of the Year: Claude Cloutier & Terry Parsons (tie)
Acoustic Act of the Year: Steve Marriner/David Gogo
Electric Act of the Year: Colin James
Harmonica Player of the Year: Steve Marriner
Horn Player of the Year: Allison Young
Guitarist of the Year: Sue Foley
Bassist of the Year: Keith Picot
International Artist of the Year: Bonnie Raitt
Recording/Producer of the Year: Steve Marriner – Hope Dies Last
Blues With a Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award): Shakura S’Aida
Songwriter of the Year: Steve Marriner
Entertainer of the Year: Sue Foley
