\ TORONTO \

It’s now been 19 years since the introduction by the Toronto Blues Society of the national Maple Blues Awards, which have become the premier forum for recognizing Canadian talent in the genre.

Tonight’s event, in the Koerner Hall of the Royal Conservatory of Music in the TELUS Centre for the Performing Arts at 273 Bloor St. West, will see the handing out of awards in 16 categories, all but six of them chosen by fans through a national open online voting system.

(The six awards for which winners are chosen by the nominating panel of journalists, radio hosts, festival organizers and other “Blues experts” are those for the players of various instruments: guitar, bass, horns, harmonica, keys and drums.)

The list of nominees includes some sentimental favourites, such as Fathead singer John Mays (recovering from a serious illness and back to sounding great, for Singer Of The Year) and Duane Blackburn (for Keyboard player) one of three brothers sired by iconic Bobby Dean Blackburn, an influential figure on the Blues/R&B scene in the 1960s and beyond. It also includes a somewhat unexpected entry: Rockabilly songwriter Samantha Martin, who has always been an eclectic artist and who has displayed impressive Soul/Blues chops since forming Delta Sugar last year, is nominated in four categories, including Songwriter of the Year.

A full list of nominees can be found on a page on the TBS website and includes some of tonight’s performers, such as David Gogo (nominated in three categories), Harrison Kennedy (nominated in five) and Colin Linden (nominated in two).

The gala event (formal wear isn’t required but is encouraged) starts at 7 p.m. and tickets, which are $28 and up, can still be purchased online through the TBS website.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Monday, January 18, 2022

Listings are organized by area in which the shows occur and within each area field shows are listed chronologically.

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.). Events preceded by question mark (?) usually take place but have not been confirmed. Admission prices followed by a slash and minus (/-) after the amount indicates door charge with availability of cheaper rates for some purchases. /+ indicates stated price is minimum.

Names of subscribers appear in bold, are underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites. Advertisers’ listings are in larger highlighted type, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

On The Air / Online

*8:30> Songbird Mondays with Nicole “Songbird” Coward online live @ http://www.streetjelly.com ~Roots/Folk

416 - Toronto Central

6> Chris Weatherstone @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6:30> U of T Jazz Ensembles @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

*7> Balfolk Toronto @ May Café, 876 Dundas St. W., TO ~Folk music & dance

7> Maple Blues Awards with performances by David Gogo, Colin Linden, Cecile Doo-Kingue, Melanie Brulee, Harrison Kennedy, more @ Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W., TO ~Blues; $28+

**7:30-1 (sign-up starts at 7)> open stage with host Michael Burton @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO

7:30> Mega City Swing Band @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Road, TO North ~R&B/Swing

8> comedy @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W., TO

8> Ukulele jam @ Tranzac Lounge (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8:30> Alt Dot Comedy Lounge @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., TO; $5

9> Jennifer Budd; Mental Friction @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; no cover

**9-1:30> jam with No Band Required @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO

*9?> open mic @ Lou Dawgs Ryerson, 76 Gerrard St. E., TO

*9:30> open mic night at Amsterdam Bicycle Club, 54 The Esplanade, TO

9:30> Humber College Jazz Ensembles @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

10> Jordan John @ The Orbit Room, 580 College St., TO ~R&B/Blues

*10> jam night hosted by Phill Hood & Jon McCann @ The Cage 292, 292 College St., TO

**10> open mic (2 songs; sign-up starts 8 p.m.) with host Abigail Lapell @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> Rob Moir @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

10:30> Big Otter Creek Unplugged @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

416 - Toronto East

**7:30> M Factor Mondays with host Elana Harte & feature Pairadocs @ The Old Nick, 123 Danforth Ave., TO East ~songwriters

8-11> tba @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., Toronto East ~

8-12> open stage with Julian Taylor @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave. TO East

8:30> Big Rude Jake @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~Blues

*9:30-2> Sebastian Agnello & friends @ Black Swan (ground floor), 154 Danforth Ave., TO East

416 – Toronto Etobicoke

*8-12> Al Reilly’s Catalyst also featuring Anthony Cee host Rock jam @ Rockpile, 5555 Dundas St. W., Etobicoke

416 – Toronto Scarborough

*8-11> open stage @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough

416 – Toronto West

5-8> Evan Desaulnier Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

9> Phil Hood @ The Roncy, 390 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~acoustic Pop

*9-1> Hamstrung Stringband @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Bluegrass

*9-1> eclectic open stage/jam with host Nelson Sobral @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West

9-1> Linda Carone Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

705

*7> Rick & Gailie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9> Faux Cults; Beef Boys @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough

905 East

*8-12> open stage @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

*10> L&M Jam with host Emerson Ireland @ The Thirsty Monk, 21 Celina St., Oshawa

905 West

**8-12> BBQ & jam night with Catherine Harrison @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville; ($8.95 with BBQ dinner special starts at 6)

*8> open mic night @ Fionn MacCool’s Burlington, 2331 Appleby Line, Burlington

*9-12> jam hosted by Redder featuring Michelle Deneault @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore E., Port Credit

*9-1> jam with Tom Barlow @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit

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