Honouring the roots. Celebrating the future
The Canadian Blues Music Awards made history Monday night at The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, crowning the first-ever winners of Canada’s new national blues recognition programme across 16 competitive categories. The inaugural gala brought together the finest performers in Canadian blues for a landmark celebration that was more than an awards show. It was a statement about the depth, diversity, and resilience of blues music in this country.
The evening’s biggest winner was Brandon Isaak, who took home Electric Blues Recording of the Year, Blues Song of the Year for “Walkin’ With The Blues,” and Blues Guitarist of the Year, all for his album ‘Walkin’ With The Blues.’ Steve Marriner claimed Blues Producer of the Year for his work on three recordings: ‘Hear My Heart,’ Big Dave McLean’s ‘This Old Life,’ and David Gogo’s ‘YEAH!’ Sue Foley won Acoustic Blues Recording of the Year for ‘One Guitar Woman, A Tribute to the Female Pioneers of Guitar.’ Crystal Shawanda took Female Blues Vocalist of the Year for ‘Sing Pretty Blues,’ while Marcus Trummer claimed Male Blues Vocalist of the Year for ‘From The Start.’ Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne won Blues Keyboard Player of the Year for ‘Ooh, Yeah!’, and Ollee Owens was named Emerging Blues Artist or Group of the Year for ‘Nowhere to Hide.’
The Canadian Blues Music Awards is a fully independent, incorporated national not-for-profit organization built from the ground up with a mandate to govern, develop, and operate Canada’s premier blues recognition programme. Initially formed in spring 2024 by Brant Zwicker and Cindy McLeod, the CBMA Governing Committee spent more than a year in extensive research, national consultation, and programme development before incorporating as an independent organization. All artist category awards are decided exclusively by a jury panel of industry professionals drawn from a national pool spanning radio, print, labels, engineering, production, promotion, academia, associations, festivals, and venues. “The Canadian Blues Music Awards represents a complete overhaul,” said Quisha Wint, Chair of the Toronto Blues Society. “A whole new programme created to serve the Canadian blues community with greater transparency, fairness, and unity from coast to coast to coast.”
Lifetime Achievement honours were presented to five foundational contributors to Canadian blues: Amos Garrett, Bobby Dean Blackburn, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Russell Jackson, and Tim Williams. The gala also featured live performances from Steve Marriner, Crystal Shawanda, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Brandon Isaak, and Dana Wylie of Secondhand Dreamcar, with host Danny Marks opening the evening. The after-party featured sets from emerging artist nominees Glenn Marais and The Mojo Train, Ollee Owens, JP LeBlanc, and Secondhand Dreamcar.
The Canadian Blues Music Awards are now established as the gold standard of blues recognition in Canada, a programme built on transparency, coast-to-coast representation, and a genuine commitment to the music and the people who make it.
2025 Canadian Blues Music Awards Winners:
Emerging Blues Artist or Group of the Year
Ollee Owens (Ollee Owens: Nowhere to Hide)
Blues Song of the Year
Brandon Isaak: Walkin’ With The Blues (Walkin’ With The Blues)
Acoustic Blues Recording of the Year
Sue Foley: One Guitar Woman, A Tribute to the Female Pioneers of Guitar
Electric Blues Recording of the Year
Brandon Isaak: Walkin’ With The Blues
Blues Producer of the Year
Steve Marriner (Steve Marriner: Hear My Heart; Big Dave McLean: This Old Life; David Gogo: YEAH!)
Female Blues Vocalist of the Year
Crystal Shawanda (Crystal Shawanda: Sing Pretty Blues)
Male Blues Vocalist of the Year
Marcus Trummer (Marcus Trummer: From The Start)
Blues Guitarist of the Year
Brandon Isaak (Brandon Isaak: Walkin’ With The Blues)
Blues Keyboard Player of the Year
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne (Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne: Ooh, Yeah!)
Blues Harmonica Player of the Year TIE:
Guy Bélanger (Guy Bélanger: Postcards from London)
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)
Blues Drummer of the Year TIE:
Jim Casson (Davis Hall & The Green Lanterns: Canboro Canborough)
Sylvain “Sly” Coulombe (Chambers DesLauriers: Our Time To Ride)
Blues Bassist of the Year
Jasmine Colette (Blue Moon Marquee: New Orleans Sessions)
Blues Video of the Year
The Harpoonist: Show Me The Green (Did We Come Here To Dance)
Blues Industry Person of the Year TIE:
Bruce Morel (Morel Music International)
Ken Simms (Think Tank Music Network)
Lifetime Achievement Recipient
Tim Williams
Fan Favourite Award for Blues Artist or Group of the Year
Blue Moon Marquee