Downchild has 8 nominations for Maple Blues Awards
Veteran Toronto blues band Downchild has snagged a leading eight nominations for the Maple Blues Awards, a national award for outstanding achievement in blues music.
Downchild, founded 38 years ago by Donnie Walsh, earned nominations for entertainer, electric act and recording of the year for Live at the Palais Royale.
Each member of the band earned individual nominations รณ vocalist Chuck Jackson, keyboardist Michael Fonfara, horn player Pat Carey, drummer Mike Fitzpatrick and bassist Gary Kendall.
Toronto soul man Danny Brooks is up for four awards, including best male vocalist and recording of the year for No Easy Way Out.
Downchild is competing for entertainer of the year with Vancouver’s Jim Byrnes and Colin James along with Jack de Keyser and Toronto’s Shakura S’Aida.
Montreal’s Queen of the Blues, Dawn Tyler Watson, who has earned a nomination for best female vocalist and best acoustic act, will host a gala awards ceremony Jan. 21 in Toronto.
Ndidi Onukwulu, Roxanne Potvin, Suzie Vinnick and S’Aida are also in the running for best female vocalist.
Johnny Max, Kevin Breit, Chris Whiteley, Paul Reddick and Fathead also had multiple nominations.
Nominees are selected by a panel of blues experts from across Canada, and winners are selected by the online votes of Canadian fans.
Voting runs Nov. 4 until Dec. 8.
Maple Blues Awards selected nominees
Entertainer of the year
Jim Byrnes
Jack de Keyzer
Downchild
Colin James
Shakura S’Aida
Electric act
Downchild
Sue Foley/Deborah Coleman/Roxanne Potvin
Colin James and the Little Big Band
Garrett Mason
Johnny Max Band
Acoustic act
Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley
Michael Jerome Brown
Harry Manx & Kevin Breit
Big Dave McLean
Dawn Tyler Watson & Paul Deslauriers
Male vocalist
Danny Brooks
Jim Byrnes
Chuck Jackson
Harrison Kennedy
John Mays
Female vocalist
Ndidi Onukuwulu
Roxanne Potvin
Shakura S’Aida
Suzie Vinnick
Dawn Tyler Watson
New artist/group
Little Miss Higgins
Steve Marriner
Son Roberts Band
Steve Strongman
Thom Swift
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