Press Releases:

Dec. 14, 2006
SPEAK Music, www.speak-music.com

BLUES SUMMIT THREE, WITH ELIJAH WALD
-AT THE DELTA CHELSEA HOTEL, 33 GERRARD ST. WEST, JANUARY 13TH-15TH

Blues Summit III, an industry conference bringing together blues festivals, societies, labels, media, musicians and fans, takes place from Saturday January 13th through Monday January 15th at the Delta Chelsea Hotel (33 Gerrard St. West) in downtown Toronto. Blues Summit III will feature panel discussions with industry experts on topics ranging from Blues Festival and Society Roundtable discussions, Blues in the Schools, professional development opportunities for artists, and Blues in the Digital World. Representatives from across Canada, the United States, and Europe will be in attendance. Discount hotel rates are available until December 22nd. Registration and hotel package information is now posted at www.torontobluessociety.com.

This year's keynote speech will be given by renowned Los Angeles author and musician Elijah Wald. Wald has written more than a thousand articles, mostly about folk, roots and international music for various magazines and newspapers, including over ten years as "world music" writer for the Boston Globe. He has won numerous awards, including a 2002 Grammy for the liner notes to the Arhoolie Records 40th Anniversary Box and the 2001 Best Performing Arts Book award from the Independent Publishers association for Josh White: Society Blues. Wald currently teaches blues history at UCLA and is working on an alternative history of American popular music.

The public is invited to attend Blues Summit showcases that will take place throughout the weekend and featuring the best in Canadian Blues. Showcases are PWYC and will take place at Healey's Roadhouse, the Silver Dollar Room, and in the Delta Chelsea Hotel. At the conference, SOCAN will also be presenting their "Songs and Stories" session featuring Harry Manx, Kyle Riabko, Treassa Levasseur, and Chris Kirby. The Blues Summit culminates on Monday, January 15 with the 10th Annual Maple Blues Awards, Canada's national celebration of home grown blues talent. Final programme announcements will be made in late December.

What: Blues Summit III
Where: The Delta Chelsea Hotel (33 Gerrard St. West) in downtown Toronto
When: January 13-15
Website: www.torontobluessociety.com
Tickets: www.ticketpro.ca


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The Maple Blues Awards and Blues Summit III are supported by FACTOR, The Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Government of Canada through the Canadian Music Fund, GALAXIE - CBC's Continuous Music Network, the SOCAN Foundation, SOCAN, the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council, KMP Designs Inc., Makeitreal Records, Stony Plain Records, Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, Sam the Record Man, Steve's Music Store/Pearl Drums, Lee Oskar Harmonicas, Fusion 3 Distribution/Justin Time Records, CBC Radio 99.1, Saturday Night Blues, and St. John's Music/Yamaha Music Canada.


For more information, photos, interviews, please contact:

Jennifer Claveau or Beverly Kreller
SPEAK Music
www.speak-music.com
www.myspace.com/spkmusic
905.989.1905 / 416.922.3620

Toronto Blues Society
416.538.3885
info@torontobluessociety.com

 

Dec. 13, 2006
SPEAK Music, www.speak-music.com

MAPLE BLUES AWARDS CELEBRATES TEN YEARS
- AT THE MOD CLUB THEATRE, 722 COLLEGE ST., MONDAY JANUARY 15TH, 8PM

On Monday January 15th, the 2007 Maple Blues Awards will be held at The Mod Club Theatre (722 College St., Toronto), starting at 8pm. This year marks the tenth year anniversary of the national awards program and their efforts in promoting and recognizing outstanding achievement in blues music. To honour this special occasion ten feature performers from across the country have been invited to perform with the Maple Blues Band at the awards gala presentation. Tickets are $28.00 ($20.00 for TBS members) and are now available at www.ticketpro.ca.

The awards night will be hosted by Vancouver's Jim Byrnes and will include guest performances by Jim Byrnes, John Campbelljohn, Ndidi Onukwulu & Madagascar Slim, Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley, Harry Manx & Kevin Breit, and Rick Fines & Suzie Vinnick. Online voting for nominees in sixteen categories is currently open to the public and will close at midnight on Friday December 15th. For a complete list of awards, this year's nominees and voting registration, please visit: www.mapleblues.ca

The gala performers will also be delegates at Blues Summit III, an industry conference bringing together blues festivals, societies, labels, media, musicians and fans. Blues Summit III will take place from January 13-15 at the Delta Chelsea Hotel (33 Gerard St. West) in downtown Toronto. In addition, Blues Summit III will feature panel discussions with industry experts on topics ranging from Blues Festivals and Societies Roundtable discussions, Blues in the Schools, professional development opportunities for artists, and Blues in the Digital World. Representatives from across Canada, the United States, and Europe will be in attendance. Registration information is available at www.torontobluessociety.com.

What: The Maple Blues Awards
Where: The Mod Club Theatre, 722 College St., Toronto
When: Monday January 15, 2007, 8PM
Website: www.torontobluessociety.com, www.mapleblues.ca
Tickets: www.ticketpro.ca


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The Maple Blues Awards and Blues Summit III are supported by FACTOR, The Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Government of Canada through the Canadian Music Fund, GALAXIE - CBC's Continuous Music Network, the SOCAN Foundation, SOCAN, the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council, KMP Designs Inc., Makeitreal Records, Stony Plain Records, Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, Sam the Record Man, Steve's Music Store/Pearl Drums, Lee Oskar Harmonicas, Fusion 3 Distribution/Justin Time Records, CBC Radio 99.1, Saturday Night Blues, and St. John's Music/Yamaha Music Canada.

For more information, photos, interviews, please contact:

Jennifer Claveau or Beverly Kreller
SPEAK Music
www.speak-music.com
www.myspace.com/spkmusic
905.989.1905 / 416.922.3620

Toronto Blues Society
416.538.3885
info@torontobluessociety.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 13, 2006

VANCOUVER ACTOR AND BLUESMAN JIM BYRNES TO HOST MAPLE BLUES AWARDS

What: The Maple Blues Awards
Where: The Mod Club Theatre, 722 College St., Toronto
When: Monday January 15, 2007, 8PM
Website: www.torontobluessociety.com
Tickets: www.ticketpro.ca

The tenth annual Maple Blues Awards, Canada's national award programme that promotes and recognizes outstanding achievement in blues music, has announced their nominees for 2006. Jim Byrnes leads nominations while veterans Mel Brown and Chris Whiteley received multiple nods alongside youthful blues women Suzie Vinnick and Ndidi Onukwulu.

Vancouver's Byrnes, who will host and perform at the Gala, is nominated in four categories: Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Songwriter, and Record of the Year for his latest album "House of Refuge". 2007 will be a busy year for the multitalented Juno Award winner who will feature in the movies
"Highlander: The Source" and "Heart of a Dragon".

Byrnes is one of many Western artists recognized in a very strong showing by the region that also includes multiple nominees Harry Manx and Kenny Blues Boss Wayne. Other multiple nominees include the East coast's John Campbelljohn, Quebec's Dawn Tyler Watson, and Ontario's Harrison Kennedy, Mel Brown and Sue Foley.

This year, the Blues Booster award honouring outstanding contribution to the Canadian Blues industry will be given to filmmaker Mako Funasaka in recognition of his success in documenting the Blues in Canada through his network-broadcast Talkin' Blues series.

The nominees are selected by a distinguished panel of blues experts from across Canada, and winners are selected by the votes of Canadian blues fans. Voting is online from November 13 until December 16 2006 at www.mapleblues.ca.

The winners will be announced at a spectacular gala presentation at the Mod Club Theatre (722 College St. West, Toronto) on Monday, January 15, 2007.

2006 MAPLE BLUES NOMINEES

Entertainer of the Year
Jim Byrnes
Downchild Blues Band
Jack de Keyzer
Dawn Tyler Watson
Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne

Electric Act of the Year
Mel Brown
John Campbelljohn
Colin James
Garrett Mason
The Perpetrators

Acoustic Act of the Year
Rick Fines & Suzie Vinnick
Hot Toddy/Isaac & Blewitt
Harrison Kennedy
Harry Manx
Tim Williams

Male Vocalist of the Year
Jim Byrnes
David Clayton-Thomas
Donald Ray Johnson
Harrison Kennedy
John Mays

Female Vocalist of the Year
Rita Chiarelli
Ndidi Onukwulu
Roxanne Potvin
Suzie Vinnick
Dawn Tyler Watson

New Artist/Group of the Year
The Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
DiggingRoots
Treasa Levasseur
Ndidi Onukwulu
Ricky Paquette
Trouble & Strife

Recording of the Year
Blues - A Beautiful Thing (Electro-Fi)
Artist: Mel Brown
Producer: Mel Brown & Andrew Galloway
House Of Refuge (Black Hen)
Artist: Jim Byrnes
Producer: Steve Dawson
Kissing In 29 Days (NorthernBlues)
Artist: JW-Jones Blues Band
Producer: JW-Jones
Morning Sun (Electro-Fi)
Artist: Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley
Producer: Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley
No, I Never (Jericho Beach)
Artist: Ndidi Onukwulu
Producer: Sam Goldberg

B.B. King International Artist of the Year
Solomon Burke
James Hunter
Bettye Lavette
Keb' Mo'
Watermelon Slim

Guitarist of the Year
Kevin Breit
Mel Brown
John Campbelljohn
Sue Foley
Bill Johnson

Harmonica Player of the Year
David Hoerl
Carlos del Junco
Al Lerman
Paul Reddick
David Rotundo

Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year
Lance Anderson
Richard Bell
Julian Fauth
Graham Guest
Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne

Horn Player of the Year
Pat Carey
Mike Clark
Johnny Ferreira
Chris Murphy
Chris Whiteley

Drummer of the Year
Geoff Arsenault
Bucky Berger
Al Cross
Mike Sloski
Bob Vespaziani

Bass Player of the Year
Alec Fraser
Russell Jackson
Gary Kendall
Omar Tunnoch
Suzie Vinnick

Songwriter of the Year
Ray Bonneville
Jim Byrnes
Rick Fines & Suzie Vinnick
Harry Manx
Chris Whiteley

Blues With a Feeling (Lifetime Achievement Award)
Alec Fraser
Amos Garrett
Tom Lavin
Colin Linden
Big Dave McLean
Ellen McIlwaine
Joe Murphy
Chris Whiteley
Ken Whiteley
Terry Wilkins


The Maple Blues Awards Gala is the culmination of Blues Summit III, an industry conference bringing together blues festivals, societies, labels, musicians and fans. Blues Summit III will take place from January 13-15 at the Delta Chelsea Hotel (33 Gerard St. West) in downtown Toronto. More information can be found at www.torontobluessociety.com.

What: The Maple Blues Awards
Where: The Mod Club Theatre, 722 College St., Toronto
When: Monday January 15, 2007, 8PM
Website: www.torontobluessociety.com
Tickets: www.ticketpro.ca

The Maple Blues Awards are supported by FACTOR and the Government of Canada through the Canadian Music Fund, GALAXIE - CBC's Continuous Music Network, the SOCAN Foundation, SOCAN, the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council, KMP Designs Inc., Cordova Bay, Stony Plain Records, Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, Sam the Record Man, Steve's Music Store/Pearl Drums, Lee Oskar Harmonicas, Fusion 3 Distribution/Justin Time Records, CBC Radio 99.1, Saturday Night Blues, and St. John's Music/Yamaha Music Canada.


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For more information, photos, interviews, please contact:

Jennifer Claveau or Beverly Kreller
SPEAK Music
www.speak-music.com
www.myspace.com/spkmusic
905.989.1905 / 416.922.3620

Toronto Blues Society
416.538.3885
info@torontobluessociety.com