The Canadian blues music industry held its annual shindig, the Maple Blues Awards, last Monday, January 16, 2012 at Koerner Hall in Toronto, Ontario. Fans and musicians alike attended the event, sponsored by the Toronto Blues Society, to honor the artists that make up a rich Canadian blues scene.
The 15th annual Maple Blues Awards were hosted by artists Shakura S'aida and Treasa Levasseur, both of whom also performed during the show. The annual celebration also featured performances from artists like Rita Chiarelli, Bill Johnson, Joe Murphy, and the bands Fathead and MonkeyJunk.
MonkeyJunk, hailing from Ottawa, was one of the night's big winners, the popular blues band taking three awards, including "Electric Act of the Year," "Recording of the Year" for their album To Behold, and "Drummer of the Year" for the band's Matt Sobb. Bluesman Matt Andersen, from New Brunswick, also walked off with three awards, while Canadian blues institution Paul James, a veteran of over 40 years on the scene, was honored with the "Blues With A Feeling" award for lifetime achievement.
Liz Sykes, President of the Ottawa Blues Society, was given the "Blues Booster of the Year" award for her work in championing blues music in Canada. See who else won a 2012 Maple Blues Award...
MonkeyJunk photo courtesy VizzTone Records
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