The Maple Blues Awards is Canada’s national blues awards program. Its goal is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize outstanding achievement in the field. Winners in all categories (excluding the instrumental categories*) are decided by blues fans across Canada. Voting occurs online each November. Toronto Blues Society’s annual national awards show Maple…

On November 10th thru 14th, I had the honor to have been included for the 4th year in a row, to review the fabulous Indie Week Canada. This year was the 1st virtual conference I attended during the global pandemic 2020. I was thrilled for the opportunities over the last…

I was thoroughly entertained right from the moment 2-year-old Maria and 9-year old Alec greeted us at the front door of the Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy’s Douro home on December 11th. As we proceeded inside, the home was lit with warm, friendly, and familiar Celtic sounds as we saw…

It is my distinct pleasure and my honor to send Canada’s Celtic gem, Natalie MacMaster, a few questions, and here is what she had to say. DEB: A consummate Celtic fiddler with an exuberant stage presence, Natalie MacMaster has been playing the music of her beloved homeland, Cape Breton Island, Nova…

The 63rd GRAMMY Awards are right around the corner, airing Sunday, Jan. 31, on CBS, but the nominations are here now! Find out who is nominated in each of the 83 categories in the full nominees list below. Use the links to jump to a desired field. GENERAL FIELD 1.…

Indie Week Canada is a breath of fresh air that empowers and encourages artists, industry, and venues to keep the faith as a new report suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has struck a devastating blow to Toronto’s already struggling live music sector. Along with the shut down of at least…

MusiCounts Unsilent Night was an online concert that featured the most impressive and mystique lineup of talent as it fell virtually for the first time upon the earth on December 10th, 2020 at 8 pm EST. The artists were real and raw showing their hearts upon their sleeves as they…

Deb: This year’s 18th Annual Indie Music Week Canada turned their 1st virtual attempt into an extremely successful 5 day online global conference. I had the pleasure to have spent a few moments asking questions in a breakout room with Brian Asselin during the Media Row sessions on November 12th,…

Welcome Keats Conlon, to my column Seeing Shows On The Road With Deb Draper, which is a direct extension of The Wire MEGAzine as it’s Blogcast. I am a proud volunteer and photojournalist, now Music Editor, for 7 years for owner Michael Bell and his awesome Wire Megazine. It is…