Brandon Isaak walked away with three trophies at the first-ever Canadian Blues Music Awards ceremony on Sunday night, claiming Blues Song of the Year, Electric Blues Recording of the Year, and Blues Guitarist of the Year. The Victoria, B.C., guitarist dominated an evening that gave Canadian blues its most significant national platform in decades.
Isaak Leads a Night of Firsts
The inaugural CBMA gala took over the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto on March 30, replacing the former Maple Blues Awards with an entirely new program built from scratch. Isaak’s winning song and album, Walkin’ With the Blues, earned him the night’s biggest haul. Meanwhile, his guitar work stood out in a category stacked with serious Canadian talent.
However, Isaak wasn’t the only story. Sue Foley won Acoustic Blues Recording of the Year for One Guitar Woman, A Tribute to the Female Pioneers of Guitar — a project that spotlights the women who shaped blues history. Crystal Shawanda captured Female Blues Vocalist of the Year, adding to her growing list of accolades.
Furthermore, Steve Marriner — who won the Juno for Blues Album of the Year just 24 hours earlier — picked up additional CBMA hardware, capping a remarkable weekend. Additionally, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne earned recognition in the keyboards category.
Blue Moon Marquee and Tim Williams Honored
Blue Moon Marquee won the Fan Favourite Award for Blues Artist or Group of the Year, reflecting the Alberta duo’s loyal touring fanbase. Consequently, their recognition signals that the CBMAs aren’t just an industry insiders’ club — fan engagement carries real weight in the new awards structure.
The night’s most emotional moment came when Tim Williams received the Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously. Williams passed away last November after decades of moving between country, blues, and Hawaiian styles in Western Canada. He won Best Solo Act and Best Guitarist at the International Blues Challenge in 2014 and produced or performed on four Juno-nominated projects throughout his career.
Why the CBMAs Matter
Canada produces world-class blues musicians who deserve institutional recognition beyond a single Juno category. The CBMAs span 16 categories — from Electric and Acoustic Recording of the Year to individual instrument awards for guitar, keyboards, harmonica, horn, bass, and drums. That granularity matters. It means a blues harmonica player finally competes against other harmonica players, not against guitarists and full bands.
Additionally, the governing committee operates independently from the Toronto Blues Society, which presents the gala but holds no role in nominations or judging. That structural separation gives the awards credibility that the old Maple Blues model lacked.
Several CBMA winners and nominees would fit comfortably alongside the modern blues artists reshaping the genre globally. The difference now is that Canada has its own dedicated stage for recognizing them. Moreover, for a genre that thrives on live performance and grassroots support, the CBMAs represent a long-overdue infrastructure investment.
Danny Marks hosted the evening, which featured performances from Marriner, Shawanda, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Isaak, and Dana Wylie. The house band “Pass the Envelope,” led by musical director Manny DeGrandis, backed every set.
Full results are available at canadianbluesmusicawards.com.
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