CANADIAN BLUES MUSIC AWARDS
ANNOUNCE NOMINEES!
Angelique Francis leads the nominations with eight, followed by five each for Brandon Isaak, and Blue Moon Marquee.
TORONTO – THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2026 – Canadian Blues Music Awards is pleased to announce the nominees for its awards program. As part of a celebration of Canadian musical excellence in blues, artists recognized from coast to coastwill vie for the top honours. For more information please visit the Canadian Blues Music Awards website | Announcement Video
Continuing to bring greater exposure to the wealth of Canadian blues music, the program honours outstanding achievements in 16 categories, including a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ottawa’s Angelique Francis leads the nominations with eight, followed by five each for Yukon native Brandon Isaak, and Alberta-born Blue Moon Marquee, now both of Vancouver Island. Other multiple nominees include Crystal Shawanda of Wikwemikong, ON, and newcomers Edmonton’s Secondhand Dreamcar, Calgary’s Marcus Trummer, and Jeff Rogers from Ottawa, as well as stalwarts Steve Marriner, Vancouver’s Ndidi O, and Bywater Call of Toronto. Emerging Artist nominees stretch from Atlantic to Pacific, including JP LeBlanc (NB), Glenn Marais (ON), Ollee Owens (AB), and Paul Black (BC). A record number of first-time nominees was delivered by the new Canadian Blues Music Awards process, which requires submissions based on the year’s recordings, and voting by industry experts representing all regions of Canada. In addition to those for musicians and their recordings, the categories for Blues Video, Producer, and Song of the Year likewise produced impressive nominees, as did Industry Person and Lifetime Achievement, in which entrants are submitted by Blues Societies across Canada. A Fan Favourite winner, chosen by the public, will also be announced at the awards presentation on March 30, 2026, at Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Theatre. – Tickets on sale now
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CANADIAN BLUES MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES:
ELECTRIC BLUES RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Angelique Francis: Not Defeated
Brandon Isaak: Walkin’ With The Blues
Crystal Shawanda: Sing Pretty Blues
David Gogo: YEAH!
Steve Marriner: Hear My Heart
ACOUSTIC BLUES RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Al Lerman: Country-Fried Blues
Big Dave McLean: This Old Life
Blue Moon Marquee: New Orleans Sessions
David Vest & Terry Robb: CrissCross
Sue Foley: One Guitar Woman, A Tribute to the Female Pioneers of Guitar
BLUES SONG OF THE YEAR
Angelique Francis: “Train Coming” (Not Defeated)
Blue Moon Marquee: “What I Wouldn’t Do” (New Orleans Sessions)
Brandon Isaak: “Walkin’ With The Blues” (Walkin’ With The Blues)
Crystal Shawanda: “Sing Pretty Blues “(Sing Pretty Blues)
Ndidi O: “Working Girl” (Simple Songs For Complicated Times)
BLUES PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Blue Moon Marquee (Blue Moon Marquee: New Orleans Sessions)
Brandon Isaak (Brandon Isaak: Walkin’ With the Blues)
Renan Yildizdogan & Ross Hayes Citrullo (Marcus Trummer: From The Start)
Steve Dawson (Ndidi O: Simple Songs For Complicated Times)
Steve Marriner (Steve Marriner: Hear My Heart; Big Dave McLean: This Old Life; David
Gogo: YEAH!)
EMERGING BLUES ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Glenn Marais & the Mojo Train (Glenn Marais & the Mojo Train: Red Hot and Blue)
Jeff Rogers (Jeff Rogers: Dream Job)
JP LeBlanc (JP LeBlanc: All In My Blood/Je l’ai dans l’sang)
Ollee Owens (Ollee Owens: Nowhere to Hide)
Paul Black (Paul Black: Beautiful Sin)
BLUES VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Blue Moon Marquee: “Come On Down” (New Orleans Sessions)
Angelique Francis: “Train Coming” (Not Defeated)
The Harpoonist: “Show Me The Green” (Did We Come Here To Dance)
Bywater Call: “Colours” (Shepherd)
André Bisson: “Latchford” (Latchford)
Ray Lemelin & Steve Hill: “Walk On”/“Ain’t No Use In Worryin’” (Brother Ray Lemelin & The Matinee Kings: Stirring the Pot)
JP LeBlanc: “All On Your Own” (All In My Blood/Je l’ai dans l’sang)
FEMALE BLUES VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Angelique Francis (Angelique Francis: Not Defeated)
Crystal Shawanda (Crystal Shawanda: Sing Pretty Blues)
Dana Wylie (Secondhand Dreamcar: Answer the Call)
Ndidi O (Ndidi O: Simple Songs For Complicated Times)
Samantha King (Samantha King and the Midnight Outfit: Samantha King and the Midnight Outfit)
MALE BLUES VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Big Dave McLean (This Old Life)
Brandon Isaak (Walkin’ With The Blues)
Jeff Rogers (Dream Job)
Marcus Trummer (From The Start)
Wayne Nicholson (Gin House)
BLUES GUITARIST OF THE YEAR
Brandon Isaak (Brandon Isaak: Walkin’ With The Blues)
David Gogo (David Gogo: YEAH!)
Paul DesLauriers (Chambers DesLauriers: Our Time To Ride)
Sue Foley (Sue Foley: One Guitar Woman, A Tribute to the Female Pioneers of Guitar)
Tony D (Tony D: Electric Delta)
BLUES KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
David Vest (David Vest & Terry Robb: CrissCross)
Jeff Rogers (Jeff Rogers: Dream Job)
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne (Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne: Ooh, Yeah!)
Miles Evans-Branagh (Marcus Trummer: From The Start,
Sandra Bouza: A Sound In The Dark)
Rooster Davis (Secondhand Dreamcar: Answer the Call)
BLUES HARMONICA PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Al Lerman (Al Lerman: Country-Fried Blues)
Guy Bélanger (Guy Bélanger: Postcards from London)
Shawn Hall (The Harpoonist: Did We Come Here To Dance)
Steve Grant “Cabbagetown Steve” (Little Magic Sam: Live At The Rivoli)
Steve Marriner (Steve Marriner: Hear My Heart
Big Dave McLean: This Old Life; David Gogo: YEAH!)
BLUES HORN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jerry Cook (Wailin’ Walker: All Fired Up)
Julian Nalli (Bywater Call: Shepherd)
Kharincia Francis (Angelique Francis: Not Defeated)
Kira Francis (Angelique Francis: Not Defeated)
Loretta Hale (André Bisson: Latchford)
BLUES BASSIST OF THE YEAR
Angelique Francis (Angelique Francis: Not Defeated)
Harry Gregg (Secondhand Dreamcar: Answer the Call)
Jack Lavin (Wailin’ Walker: All Fired Up)
Jasmine Colette (Blue Moon Marquee: New Orleans Sessions)
Mike Meusel (Bywater Call: Shepherd)
BLUES DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
Bruce McCarthy (Bywater Call: Shepherd)
Jim Casson (Davis Hall & The Green Lanterns: Canboro Canborough)
Kiran Francis (Angelique Francis: Not Defeated)
Sandro Dominelli (Samantha King and the Midnight Outfit: Samantha King and the Midnight Outfit)
Sylvain “Sly” Coulombe (Chambers DesLauriers: Our Time To Ride)
BLUES INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR
Bruce Morel (Morel Music International)
Ken Simms (Think Tank Music Network)
Ken Wallis (Blues Source Entertainment)
Lori & Paul Murray (Music By The Bay Live)
Ron Simmonds (Blues In The Dark)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Amos Garrett
Bobby Dean Blackburn
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne
Russell Jackson
Tim Williams
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For more information, hi res photos, mp3s, WAV files, interviews, please contact:
MEDIA CONTACT:
Beverly Kreller, Publicist | SPEAK Music
bev@speak-music.com | 416-922-3620
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