TORONTO (CelebrityAccess) — British-Columbia-based blues duo Blue Moon Marquee (A.W. Cardinal and Jasmine Collette) took top honors at the 26th annual Maple Blues Awards, taking home awards for Acoustic Act of the Year, Recording/Producer of the Year for ‘Scream, Holler, Howl’, Songwriter of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year.
Ottawa’s Angelique Francis earned two awards for New Artist of the Year, and Bassist of the Year, while Matt Andersen and Suzie Vinnick won the awards for male and female vocalist of the year, respectively.
Long-time blues DJ Patrick Monaghan of Ontario was presented with the Blues Booster of the Year award, honoring his 40+ years of promoting and sharing Canadian blues music and veteran Canadian recording artist Harrison Kennedy was presented with the Blues With A Feeling lifetime achievement award.
The awards took place in front of a standing room only crowd at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre Theatre and the night included performances by Meghan Parnell and Dave Barnes of Bywater Call, Kevin Harvey and Neil Elsmore of Durham County Poets, AV (Ann Vriend), Blue Moon Marquee, and Paul Reddick with Kyle Ferguson. All of the performers were backed by house band and The Maple Blues Band who have recently signed with Cordova Bay.
The 26th annual Maple Blues Awards were hosted by Quisha Wint, who also provided the final performance of the night.
Maple Blues Award Winners 2023
Male Vocalist of the Year
Matt Andersen
Female Vocalist of the Year
Suzie Vinnick
Drummer of the Year
Jim Casson
Keyboard Player of the Year
Jesse O’Brien
New Artist of the Year
Angelique Francis
Blues Booster of the Year
Patrick Monaghan
Acoustic Act of the Year
Blue Moon Marquee
Electric Act of the Year
Colin James
Harmonica Player of the Year
Steve Marinner
Horn Player of the Year
Alison Young
Guitarist of the Year
Sue Foley
Bassist of the Year
Angelique Francis
B.B. King International Artist of the Year
Mavis Staples
Recording/Producer of the Year
Blue Moon Marquee
Blues With A Feeling (lifetime achievement)
Harrison Kennedy
