2012 MAPLE BLUES AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

The 16th Annual Maple Blues Awards Nominees:

Entertainer Of The Year
Colin James
Matt Andersen
MonkeyJunk
Shakura S'Aida
Steve Strongman
     
Electric Act Of The Year
Anthony Gomes
JW-Jones
MonkeyJunk
Paul Reddick
Steve Strongman

Acoustic Act Of The Year
Harrison Kennedy
Michael Jerome Browne
Ray Bonneville
Steve Strongman
Suzie Vinnick

Male Vocalist Of The Year
Chuck Jackson
Harrison Kennedy
Matt Andersen
Paul Reddick
Steve Marriner

Female Vocalist Of The Year
Dawn Tyler Watson
Nanette Workman
Shakura S'Aida
Suzie Vinnick
Treasa Levasseur      

New Artist Or Group Of The Year
Ben Racine
Boogie Patrol
Conor Gains Band
Steve Kozak
The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer

Recording/Producer Of The Year
"A Natural Fact" Steve Strongman (Independent) Producer - Rob Szabo
 "Checkered Past" The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer (Independent) Producers - Matthew Rogers & Shawn Hall
"Time" Shakura S'Aida (Electro-Fi) Producers - Shakura S'Aida, Howard Ayee
"Broad" Treasa Levasseur (Slim Chicken), Producers - Treasa Levasseur, Ken Whiteley, Steve Marriner, Terry Wilkins
"Wishbone" Paul Reddick (Independent) Producer - Colin Cripps

Guitarist Of The Year
David Gogo
Garrett Mason
Kevin Breit
Steve Strongman
Teddy Leonard 
                                                                                                        
Harmonica Player Of The Year
Carlos del Junco
David Hoerl 
Guy Bélanger
Paul Reddick
Steve Marriner 
                                                                                                        
Piano/Keyboard Player Of The Year
David Vest
Julian Fauth
Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne
Lance Anderson
Michael Fonfara
                                                                                                    
Horn Player Of The Year
Al Lerman
Chris Whiteley
Frank Thiffault (Ben Racine)
Jon Wong  
Pat Carey 
                                                                                                        
Drummer Of The Year
Bucky Berger 
Chris Nordquist
Matt Sobb (MonkeyJunk)
Sam Harrisson  (Paul Deslauriers Band / Dawn Tyler Blues Project)
Tom Bona 
                                                                                                        
Bassist Of The Year
Alec Fraser
Gary Kendall 
Omar Tunnoch 
Stephen Barry
Terry Wilkins 
                                                                                                        
Songwriter Of The Year
                                                                                                        
Julian Fauth
Paul Reddick
Shakura S'Aida & Donna Grantis
Steve Strongman
Treasa Levasseur

Hosted by Toronto actor and blues musician Raoul Bhaneja, The Maple Blues Awards are taking place at Koerner Hall in Toronto on January 21th, 2013.

Voting is open from Midnight NDT October 27th, 2012, through Midnight PST December 8th, 2012. Blues fans can cast their votes online at www.mapleblues.ca.

Tickets for the Maple Blues Awards, held at the Royal Conservatory's Koerner Hall in Toronto, are on sale now for $35 - $65 and can be purchased at The Weston Family Box Office, located in The Royal Conservatory building at 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto or online at https://tickets.rcmusic.ca/public.