2024 Artists

Colin Linden

Nashville, Tennessee

Linden is a Canadian GRAMMY Award-nominated songwriter, guitarist and producer, now living in Nashville, TN. Aside from his own storied career as a roots, blues-rocker singer that includes being a member of Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, he's also an in-demand and prolific record producer (Bruce Cockburn, Tom Wilson, Colin James), and a sideman to the stars as guitarist for the likes of Bruce Cockburn, Emmylou Harris, and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Linden’s songs have been covered by The Band, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Keb’ Mo’, and Colin James, and his well-stocked trophy case includes seven Juno, and multiple Maple Blues Awards. His music figured prominently in the TV series Nashville and the Coen Brothers film Brother Where Art Thou.

Annika Chambers & Paul DesLauriers

Latana, Florida

When Quebec born guitarist DesLauriers met up with Texas born Chambers in the lobby of the Orpheum in Memphis during the 2018 IBC, an impression was made though it took a year before they were able to re-establish their relationship at the 2019 IBC. By August that year they were married and renowned Canadian Blues-Rocker and acclaimed American Soul-Blues singer have unified their artistic destiny, much to the joy of everyone who's had the pleasure of hearing and seeing them together! You can expect to hear many of the tracks from their recent collaboration Good Trouble, a soul, blues, gospel, and rock album of eleven fine tunes. The powerful voice of Chambers coupled with the fiery guitar of DesLauriers makes for a superb mixing of talents, styles, and sounds. We’re confident their high energy, explosive performance will be a highlight of your weekend!

Steve Marriner & Local Electric

Toronto, Ontario

One of Canada’s busiest artists, Steve Marriner has proven himself to be a versatile and highly skilled musician, songwriter and producer. In addition to winning nine Maple Blues Awards as a harmonica player and vocalist on his own, he has won another ten Maple Blues, two Canadian Indie Music, two JUNOs and one American Blues Music awards as one-third of swamp rockers MonkeyJunk. Steve has performed in studio and on stage with some of Canada’s top blues and rock artists such as Colin James, Sass Jordan and Matt Andersen… and 2018’s album with Harry Manx under the banner ‘Manx Marriner Mainline’ turned heads on both sides of the border.

Steve Strongman

Hamilton, Ontario

JUNO Award-winning Canadian bluesman Strongman is a versatile talent, and a restless one. By constantly pushing himself in new directions, he has kept himself vital. His talent is huge and impossible to miss, and it’s matched by his staggering musical ambition — as guitar-slinger, songwriter, or vocalist. Beyond Strongman’s talent as a songwriter, guitarist and front man is his ability to engage his audience and deliver an outstanding performance at every live show. With his inimitable guitar playing and soulful vocals, Strongman delivers incredible performances with power and passion. In a musical world of many pretenders, Steve Strongman is as real and authentic as it gets.

Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar

Toronto, Ontario

Martin is the lead singer, songwriter, and focal point of the group. A dynamic front woman, she possesses a stunning voice that can summon up tidal waves of spine-tingling emotion in one instance while delicately bringing out the nuances of a gut-wrenching lyric in the next. A torrid force of nature, night after night she takes audiences to emotional peaks while leaving them stunned with her sheer pin-you-against-the-wall power. And while Martin is a powerhouse unto herself, the vocal alchemy of Delta Sugar is not the work of a single talent. In combination with what she likes to term her “co-vocalists,” the vocal blend that Delta Sugar produces is pure, unadulterated gospel-tinged, neuron-tingling magic where the sum is even richer than the already soul-melting parts. Their most recent album, Run to Me, was Juno nominated, several Maple Blues Awards and Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar were also nominated as International Artist of The Year at the UK Blues Awards.

JP Soars’ Gypsy Blue Revue ft. Anne Harris

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

JP Soars is certainly not a typical blues musician or a typical musician by any right. He encompasses a multitude of influences. While Soars has been an avid student of the blues for many years in the late 90’s and early 2000’s he also immersed himself in the complex style of Django Reinhardt and Gypsy Jazz. Soars has been incorporating this style into his own shows for a long time and this certainly helps separate him from the rest of the pack. Accompanying Soars on this tour is Harris, a passionate, spell bounding violinist that toured in Otis Taylor’s band for ten years. They are musician’s musicians, each bringing a unique style and fresh translation of the great Southern soul, blues, and rock music that came before them. Together, their mutual chemistry, high energy and skill sets create a cohesive vision, with echoes of Muscle Shoals and Macon, that organically flows together into an entirely original and dynamic form of Americana, Southern soul roots music with a modern sensibility.

David Gogo

Nanaimo, British Columbia

Gogo has performed on stage with the likes of BB King, Johnny Winter, Albert Collins, Bo Diddley, and Otis Rush. He has been chosen to open shows for ZZ Top, George Thorogood, The Tragically Hip, Little Feat, Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Cray, Robin Trower, and Wishbone Ash. His songs are featured in films and television and have been covered by a variety of artists, most notably Buddy Guy. Gogo has six JUNO Award nominations, has been named Guitarist Of The Year three times at the Maple Blues Awards, was named Musician Of The Year at the West Coast Music Awards, won Blues Recording Of The Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards, and received the Great Canadian Blues Award for his lifetime contribution to the blues in Canada as voted by the listeners of CBC's Saturday Night Blues.

Blue Moon Marquee

Salish Sea, British Columbia

Originally from Alberta but now living on an island in Salish Sea, British Columbia, Blue Moon Marquee are fronted by husband and wife, A.W. Cardinal, and Jasmine Colette. Together they write and perform original compositions influenced by anything that swings, jumps or grooves. The result is an infectious mix of early blues, jazz, country, and popular songs with a contemporary and relevant feel, which is highly listenable and great for dancing. Blue Moon Marquee’s passionate performances and smouldering onstage chemistry is their trademark, and the way Colette’s tones lift A.W.’s mystique is something that enthralls audiences from back-room bars to festival stages to the velvet seated theaters.

The Shewolves of London

London, Ontario

SheWolves of London is a dynamic group of talented women presenting original songs and select covers that incorporate their passion, humor, and conviction. With five accomplished songwriters, and four strong vocalists, SheWolves of London focuses on rich harmonies in support of the lead. Featuring Cheryl Lescom on vocals and percussion, Sarah Smith on guitar and vocals, Chuckee Zehr on keys and vocals, accompanied by Alison Dale on bass, saxophone and vocals, and Dale Anne Brendon on drums, the ladies draw the audience into their world with each song. Each member of SheWolves of London has a well-established and long musical history, with multiple CD’s having been released over the years by the individuals. Bringing these five strong women together has created a powerful fusion of story and song, all presented in a unique musical experience.

Granetta Cromwell & Dagroovmasters

Hamilton, Ontario

Garnetta Cromwell and Dagroovmasters is a classic soulful blues band that delivers a high-energy show. They reflect Canada's multicultural society. Their upbeat music brings pure joy to all listeners. Within their first year together, GARNETTA CROMWELL & DaGROOVMASTERS won the Toronto Blues Society's Talent Search (July 2022), which earned them a spot to compete at the finals in the International Blues Challenge, held in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, January 2023. Cromwell’s style of upbeat music brings pure joy to all listeners, and she continues to spread her soulful blues sound throughout her performances. Cromwell’s first full album, Time To Shine, was released on September 8, 2023, produced by Ken Whiteley.

FOG Blues & Brass Band

Kitchener, Ontario

Recording artists FOG Blues & Brass Band from Kitchener Ontario, Canada, have seen success with their debut CD Into the Fog! (2019). In January 2023 the boys released a single Why Get Up. The latest CD Twelve Bar Prescription was released May 2023. FOG were semi-finalists at the International Blues Challenge 2020 held in Memphis TN. Comprised of well- seasoned musicians, FOG is a powerhouse live! Hitting the stage as a 7-piece band, they always thrill their audience with an energetic live performance! FOG’s classic Blues consists of an R&B / rockin’ sound with a twist of infused purposeful horn lines and harmonies. Fronted by a commanding lead vocalist supported by strong soloists, FOG’s live show is not to be missed!

Rosie’s Smokehouse Deluxe

Wasaga Beach, Ontario

A hard driving Blues Rock band based out of Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada consisting of four veterans of the Canadian music scene. David G. Rose, (aka: Rosie) on Lead Vocals and Bass Guitar has joined forces with Tony Moretta on Guitar and Backing Vocals, Gabor Szepesi on Keyboards and Terry Martell on Drums and Percussion to bring "Rosie's Smokehouse Deluxe" to life. Their debut album, Welcome To The Smokehouse is a high energy blend of R&B infused Blues Rock that is garnering rave reviews, both at home and internationally. Their incredibly intense live show see's the bass man himself stepping into the spotlight, delivering his gritty, raw, soulful vocals backed by a band that's truly on fire from the drop of the beat.