The inaugural Canadian Blues Music Awards took place Monday, March 30 at the The Phoenix Concert Theatre, marking the launch of a new national blues awards program in Canada. The event featured 16 competitive categories and brought together artists and industry professionals from across the country.
Brandon Isaak was the night’s top winner, earning 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 was named Blues Producer of the Year for his work on Hear My Heart, This Old Life by Big Dave McLean, and YEAH! by David Gogo.
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 won Male Blues Vocalist of the Year for From The Start. Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne was named Blues Keyboard Player of the Year for Ooh, Yeah!, and Ollee Owens won Emerging Blues Artist or Group of the Year for Nowhere to Hide.
Additional winners included Guy Bélanger and Steve Marriner, who tied for Blues Harmonica Player of the Year, and Jim Casson and Sylvain “Sly” Coulombe, who tied for Blues Drummer of the Year. Jerry Cook won Blues Horn Player of the Year, Jasmine Colette was named Blues Bassist of the Year, and The Harpoonist won Blues Video of the Year for “Show Me The Green.” Bruce Morel and Ken Simms shared Blues Industry Person of the Year honors.
Tim Williams received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Blue Moon Marquee was named Fan Favourite Blues Artist or Group of the Year.
The awards are organized by the Canadian Blues Music Awards, an independent, not-for-profit organization formed in 2024 to establish a national blues recognition program. Winners were selected by a jury of industry professionals from across Canada.
“The Canadian Blues Music Awards represents a complete overhaul,” said Quisha Wint. “A whole new programme created to serve the Canadian blues community with greater transparency, fairness, and unity from coast to coast to coast.”
The ceremony also featured performances from Steve Marriner, Crystal Shawanda, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Brandon Isaak, and Dana Wylie of Secondhand Dreamcar. Host Danny Marks opened the event, with an after-party performance lineup that included Glenn Marais and The Mojo Train, Ollee Owens, JP LeBlanc, and Secondhand Dreamcar.
2025 Canadian Blues Music Awards Winners
Emerging Blues Artist or Group of the Year
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 – Hear My Heart; Big Dave McLean – This Old Life; David Gogo – YEAH!
Female Blues Vocalist of the Year
Crystal Shawanda – Sing Pretty Blues
Male Blues Vocalist of the Year
Marcus Trummer – From The Start
Blues Guitarist of the Year
Brandon Isaak – Walkin’ With The Blues
Blues Keyboard Player of the Year
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne – Ooh, Yeah!
Blues Harmonica Player of the Year (Tie)
Guy Bélanger – Postcards from London
Steve Marriner – Hear My Heart; Big Dave McLean – This Old Life; David Gogo – YEAH!
Blues Horn Player of the Year
Jerry Cook – All Fired Up
Blues Drummer of the Year (Tie)
Jim Casson – Canboro Canborough
Sylvain “Sly” Coulombe – Our Time To Ride
Blues Bassist of the Year
Jasmine Colette – 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 Award
Tim Williams
Fan Favourite Blues Artist or Group of the Year
Blue Moon Marquee
