TORONTO (CelebrityAccess) – In a night celebrating the blues at the 27th annual Maple Blues Awards held at The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, blues sensation Matt Andersen emerged as the standout winner, claiming multiple awards for his outstanding contributions to the genre. Andersen’s accolades included Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Recording/Producer of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year, making him the only multi-award winner of the evening.
The event also spotlighted other notable winners, such as Ontario’s Little Magic Sam, securing the title of New Artist/Group of the Year. Nova Scotian Garrett Mason earned recognition as Guitarist of the Year. Crystal Shawanda and Brant Zwicker, previously announced winners, were celebrated for their achievements in the inaugural Indigenous Artist of the Year and Blues Booster of the Year categories, respectively.
Hosted by the multi-talented artist Quisha Wint, the ceremony featured captivating performances from nominees, including Blackburn Brothers, Brandon Isaak, Andersen, Angelina Hunter, and Shawanda. Backed by the new Maple Blues Awards house band, The Maples, the night showcased the vibrant talent within the blues music community.
Here is the complete list of the 27th Annual Maple Blues Awards Winners:
Entertainer of the Year: Matt Andersen
Electric Act of the Year: Colin James
Acoustic Act of the Year: Suzie Vinnick
Male Vocalist of the Year: Matt Andersen
Female Vocalist of the Year: Miss Emily
New Artist/Group of the Year: Little Magic Sam
International Artist of the Year: Tedeschi Trucks
Recording/Producer of the Year: Matt Andersen
Blues With A Feeling (lifetime achievement): Sue Foley
Songwriter of the Year: Matt Andersen
Guitarist of the Year: Garrett Mason
Harmonica Player of the Year: Guy Belanger
Keyboard Player of the Year: Jesse O’Brien
Horn Player of the Year: Alison Young
Drummer of the Year: Jim Casson
Bassist of the Year: Gary Kendall
Indigenous Artist/Group of the Year: Crystal Shawanda
Blues Booster of the Year: Brant Zwicker
The Maple Blues Awards recognize outstanding individual achievements and celebrate the blues music community’s collective talent and spirit.
