The Toronto Blues Society and musician Paul Reddick announce the third annual competition for the Cobalt Prize Contemporary Blues Composition Award. The intention behind the Cobalt Prize is to promote blues music through exploration of its form.

Another pillar of the Quebec Blues community is gone. Richard Leblanc, best known as harmonica player Rick L. Blues, died last Thursday at the age of 51.

Bob Walsh, a Quebec City-born musician recognized as one of the province's leading blues artists, died Tuesday in Montreal. 

On the bio page of the Dawn Tyler Watson web site, there is this quote from Geoff Chapman, of the Toronto Star:

The Toronto Blues Society unveiled the list of nominees for the 20th edition of the Maple Blues Awards. Held in Toronto every January, the awards are presented to the winners in fifteen distinct categories. Quebec artists have, in recent years, fared very well. This year could yield another bumper crop of awards heading east on the 401.

The grand finale of the Quebec to Memphis challenge, hosted by the Montreal Blues Society, took place Tuesday night, October 18th, at the Bistro à JoJo in Montreal.

The final night of competition of the Quebec to Memphis challenge kicks off in less than 48 hours. The musicians will hit the stage right after 5 pm at the Bistro à JoJo on St-Denis.

The Montreal Blues Society is once again proud to participate in the 2017 edition of the International Blues Challenge's 'Best Self-Produced CD' category.

The registration period is now open for the Quebec to Memphis contest.

The 23rd edition of the Tremblant International Blues Festival kicks off in less than 24 hours. As usual, over one hundred free shows are offered over ten days, on the 5 outdoor stages, as well as inside at the 9 participating restaurants and bars, not to mention at the Tremblant Casino.

Although the album is dirtier and greasier than its' predecessor, Harrisson has taken a unique approach to timekeeping and applies it in good form from start to finish, keeping the balance in check. He could have thrashed away and they would still be great songs, but his methodology allows the compositions to remain under control giving the guitarist ample opportunity to shine.

Singer/guitarist Eric Bibb, from New York, decided to base himself out of Europe, where he found a fan base eager to embrace his roots/blues music. While living in Helsinki, Finland, he befriended brothers Janne (drums) and Olli Haavisto (Dobro, pedal steel), who then introduced him to Petri Hakala (mandolin).

Chris Antonik, a 41 year old Toronto resident, was playing locally, doing covers, when he started his songwriting career in 2010, and doors started to open up for him from that point on.

In the heart of the Monteregie, in a small welcoming town, the first edition of this blues festival is in full swing. The organizing team led by Mélanie Bouclin, is well established and everything is going smoothly… like a well-rehearsed sermon!

The George Thorogood and the Destroyers 'Badder Than Ever' tour stops in Montreal this coming Saturday, May 7th.

For the second in my series, I am doing something I did not expect to do, and that is write about something that is relatively new, not just to me, but to most folks. Since I consider myself a latecomer to the Blues scene, what I call my ‘discoveries’, and what would normally occupy this space, will be well known to a lot of folks.

Steve Hill's guitar "pusher" offered to sell him a guitar: a Gibson ES225. He wanted it but he didn't have the money for it, so they worked out a trade. A solo show in Drummondville in exchange for the guitar.

A new concert series has seen the light of day just across the border in Plattsburgh, NY. Less than an hour from Montreal, and only twenty minutes once you cross the border...

This series is going to be about the Blues discoveries of David, which would be me. My discoveries will be not just Blues musicians and groups, but also about venues, festivals and Blues series that may not be well known to a Montreal or Quebec audience.

The countdown is on!