Canada launches Blues awards
The inaugural Canadian Blues Music Awards will debut March 30 at Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Theatre — billed as a first-of-its-kind national celebration for Canadian blues artists [].
The awards were incorporated as a national not‑for‑profit entity under the Canadian Blues Music Awards name, according to the organisation’s official site. canadianbluesmusicawards.com Organisers say the program now operates independently while the Toronto Blues Society will simply stage the gala and no longer controls nominations, judging or voting. torontobluessociety.com Ottawa singer Angelique Francis leads the field with eight nominations, and organisers say the new ceremony will hand out prizes across 16 distinct categories. celebrityaccess.com The CBMA introduced a submissions-based entry system and says winners are chosen by panels of industry experts from across Canada, a process that produced a record number of first‑time nominees this year. blasttoronto.com Broadcaster‑musician Danny Marks has been named host, and the program will feature live sets and tributes from nominated artists and honourees including Steve Marriner and Crystal Shawanda. torontobluessociety.com Advance tickets went on sale through the venue’s ticketing partner with prices listed around $24–$50 and doors scheduled one hour before the ceremony’s start; the organisers also list sponsors such as Paul Sanderson Law, Beverly Kreller SPEAK MUSIC, the Toronto Blues Society and Calgary Bluesfest. thephoenixconcerttheatre.com
