Big Dave McLean Receives 2025 JUNO Award Nomination for This Old Life

Legendary Canadian bluesman Big Dave McLean has been honored with a 2025 JUNO Award nomination for Blues Album of the Year for his latest album, This Old Life released on Victoria-based indie label Cordova Bay Records. This marks McLean’s sixth JUNO nomination, further cementing his legacy as one of the most influential figures in Canadian blues.

McLean’s latest recognition adds to an already impressive history of JUNO nods, including a 2020 nomination for Pocket Full of Nothin’, a 2018 nomination for Better the Devil You Know, and a 2016 nod for Faded But Not Gone. His first nomination came in 2009, and he won a JUNO Award for Saturday Night Blues in 1992.
 
Over five decades, McLean has been a cornerstone of the Canadian blues scene, earning accolades that include a Western Canadian Music Award, a Prairie Music Award, a Great Canadian Blues Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Toronto Blues Society. In 2019, he was inducted into the Order of Canada, a rare honor for a blues musician, recognizing his contributions to the genre and his mentorship of younger artists such as Colin James, Shaun Verreault, and Luke Doucet.
 
On This Old Life, McLean delivers an unfiltered, deeply personal take on the blues, seamlessly blending classic blues covers from Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, and Little Walter with his own masterful originals.
 
The album’s lead track, "Well, I Done Got Over It", originally recorded by Guitar Slim in 1953, showcases McLean’s signature gravelly vocals and impeccable slide guitar work, setting the tone for a record steeped in authenticity.
 
Recorded in just four days at The Ganaraska Recording Company in Cobourg, Ontario, This Old Life was captured live off the floor with no overdubs or studio tricks—just raw, timeless blues. Co-produced by Steve Marriner and Jimmy Bowskill, both JUNO-winning musicians, the album embraces classic blues traditions while showcasing McLean’s unwavering musical integrity.
 
“He is as genuine a bluesman as it gets, and I’ve been dying to capture Dave and present him to the rest of the world in the way I’ve always heard him: raw and real,” says Marriner.
 
Born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, and based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, McLean’s career was shaped by a chance encounter with blues icon John Hammond, who gave him his first guitar lesson in 1969. This set McLean on a path that led him to friendships with legends like Muddy Waters, inspiring his debut album, Muddy Waters for President.
 
Despite his profound influence on Canadian blues, McLean has often remained a hidden gem, a reality he addresses in This Old Life, a record that may finally bring him the mainstream recognition he deserves.

“I would like to send out my deepest gratitude, respect, and admiration to all of the many people who have shared their incredible talents and have helped me present my interpretation of blues over the past fifty years or so,” McLean reflects.
 
With his sixth JUNO nomination, a career-defining album, and a tour lined up for 2025, Big Dave McLean is proving that the blues isn’t just music—it’s a way of life.
 
The JUNO Awards took place on March 30, 2025, in Vancouver, British Columbia, where music fans and industry members celebrated the best in Canadian music.

Sue Foley, The Fabulous Thunderbirds & Steve Strongman, Duke Robillard, Eric Bibb, and Kim Wilson Nominated for 2025 Blues Music Awards

Sue Foley, the acclaimed Ottawa-born blues guitarist and vocalist, has been nominated for Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year and Acoustic Blues Album of the Year for her stunning work One Guitar Woman. A deeply personal tribute to the female pioneers of guitar, the album showcases Foley’s mastery of acoustic blues and her dedication to honoring the legacy of trailblazing musicians who paved the way for generations to come.
 
The Fabulous Thunderbirds & Steve Strongman have earned a nomination for Blues Rock Album of the Year for Struck Down. Co-written and co-produced by Strongman alongside the Thunderbirds' frontman Kim Wilson, the album features Strongman’s signature guitar work, powerful songwriting. This latest release cements the band’s legacy while infusing a fresh and electrifying blues-rock sound.
 
Duke Robillard, the legendary guitarist and torchbearer of traditional blues, has been nominated for BB King Entertainer of the Year and Traditional Blues Album of the Year for his record Roll With Me. His ability to blend vintage blues influences with modern sensibilities has made him a standout figure in the blues world for decades.
 
Eric Bibb, the globally celebrated blues troubadour, has secured a nomination for Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year. Known for his soulful storytelling and folk-blues fusion, Bibb continues to be a voice of wisdom and authenticity in the genre.
 
Kim Wilson, the iconic harmonica player and frontman of The Fabulous Thunderbirds, has once again been nominated for Instrumentalist – Harmonica, a testament to his incredible skill and impact on blues music.
 
These nominations highlight the continued excellence and innovation within the blues genre, celebrating artists who remain dedicated to keeping the blues tradition alive while pushing it forward.

Blue Moon Marquee Nominated for 2025 JUNO Award for New Orleans Sessions

 

Following a groundbreaking year, Blue Moon Marquee is once again in the spotlight with a 2025 JUNO Award nomination for their latest album, New Orleans Sessions.
 
This marks a continued streak of critical acclaim for the Coast Salish Territory, British Columbia-based indie blues band featuring core founding members and songwriters A.W. Cardinal and Jasmine Colette a.k.a. Badlands Jass Their raw, high-energy blend of blues, jazz, and swing has captivated audiences across North America and Europe, and New Orleans Sessions is yet another testament to their signature sound.
 
Blue Moon Marquee has cemented their place as one of Canada’s premier blues acts with multiple JUNO nominations and a historic win:
 

• 2025 Nominee – New Orleans Sessions (Blues Album of the Year)

• 2024 WINNER – Scream, Holler & Howl (Blues Album of the Year)

• 2024 Nominee – Scream, Holler & Howl (Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year)

 
With New Orleans Sessions, Blue Moon Marquee transports listeners straight to the heart of New Orleans’ rich blues and jazz traditions. The album, recorded live over two afternoons at Bigtone Studios, strips music back to its rawest, most organic form—no overdubs, no studio tricks, just pure, unfiltered soul.
 
“The musicians we had the good fortune to play with have style for miles and know how to have a good time all the while,” says Blue Moon Marquee. “Jon Atkinson is a true-blue lover and aficionado of this music, and it shows in everything he does, whether his hands are on an instrument or behind the mixing board. We all sat in one room together and played the music in its truest form.”
 
From the infectious groove of "Black Rat Swing" to the call-and-response energy of "Ain’t Goin’ Down", the album exudes the warmth and spontaneity of a late-night jam session in a smoky New Orleans club. Original tracks like "Trickster Coyote" and the soul-stirring "What I Wouldn’t Do" showcase the band’s dynamic songwriting alongside classic blues reimaginings.
 
Hailing from Rocky Mountain House and the Badlands of Alberta, Blue Moon Marquee has spent over a decade touring relentlessly across North America and Europe, performing everywhere from jazz clubs and festival stages to hospitals and even prisons.
 
Their previous album, Scream, Holler & Howl, saw them sweep the 2023 Maple Blues Awards, taking home Album of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Acoustic Act of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year. They also earned three Western Canadian Music Awards and two Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards.
 
Blue Moon Marquee will be on the road throughout 2025, bringing their electrifying performances to audiences across British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, with a major stop at Toronto’s TD Music Hall on November 7, 2025.
 
With their latest JUNO nomination, an acclaimed new album, and a touring schedule packed with shows, Blue Moon Marquee’s momentum is unstoppable.

David Gogo Earns 2025 JUNO Award Nomination for YEAH! in Blues Album of the Year Category

Celebrated blues-rock guitarist David Gogo has once again been recognized by the JUNO Awards, receiving a 2025 nomination for Blues Album of the Year for his electrifying new release, YEAH!, released on Victoria-based indie label Cordova Bay Records. This marks Gogo’s seventh JUNO nomination, further cementing his status as one of Canada’s most enduring and acclaimed blues artists.
 
Gogo’s 2025 nomination joins an impressive list of previous nods, reflecting a career spent pushing the boundaries of blues-rock:
 

• 2025 Nominee – YEAH! (Blues Album of the Year)

• 2016 Nominee – Vicksburg Call (Blues Album of the Year)

• 2014 Nominee – Come On Down (Blues Album of the Year)

• 2012 Nominee – Soul Bender (Blues Album of the Year)

• 2007 Nominee – Acoustic (Blues Album of the Year)

• 1995 Nominee – Best New Solo Artist

 
Beyond the JUNOs, Gogo is a three-time Maple Blues Award Guitarist of the Year winner, a West Coast Music Award Musician of the Year recipient and has taken home Blues Recording of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards. In 2021, he was honoured with the Great Canadian Blues Award, recognizing his lifetime contributions to the genre.
 
With YEAH!, Gogo leans into the raw power of blues-rock, delivering a high-octane, guitar-driven album filled with blistering solos, anthemic choruses, and no-holds-barred energy.
 
Opening track “Diamond In The Rough” sets the tone with a Bad Company-meets-T. Rex swagger, featuring Gogo’s signature grit:
 
She’s my sugar, she’s my spice
I still love her when she’s not playing nice
She’s my diamond in the rough
And I can’t get enough of that stuff…
 
"I wanted a solid rock and roll song to kick this album off, and I believe this one delivers," says Gogo. “I love the fantastic ‘70s rock bands like Bad Company and T-Rex, and we had a gas laying this track down!”
 
The album is packed with ten electrifying tracks, including “One More Day,” “Moose Hall Brawl,” and a dynamic cover of Shuggie Otis’ “Hurricane.” Recorded at The Ganaraska Recording Co. in Ontario, YEAH! was produced by fellow blues heavyweight Steve Marriner and features an all-star lineup, including Jimmy Bowskill and Gary Craig.
 
"I have recorded many albums, worked with many talented people, and had a lot of fun, but this album is my favorite to date," Gogo enthuses. "This group was a pleasure to create with—top-notch performers and super cool to hang with. The energy in the studio was incredible, and we kept things spontaneous with a lot of first and second takes to capture that live feel."
 
With over three decades in the industry, Gogo has built a reputation as a fiery performer and masterful guitarist. He has shared the stage with B.B. King, Johnny Winter, Albert Collins, Bo Diddley, and Otis Rush, and has opened for icons like ZZ Top, George Thorogood, The Tragically Hip, Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Cray, and Robin Trower.
 
Gogo’s music has been featured in films and TV shows, and his songs have been covered by legendary blues artists, including Buddy Guy.
 
With his latest JUNO nomination, an electrifying new album, and a tour packed with must-see performances, David Gogo proves once again why he’s a force to be reckoned with in the blues world.

Sue Foley Receives 2025 JUNO Award Nomination for Blues Album of the Year

Topping off an amazing year since the Stony Plain release of her ONE GUITAR WOMAN album, Sue Foley is honored with a JUNO Award nomination for Blues Album of the Year, her 6^th nomination with 1 win for 2001’s LOVE COMIN’ DOWN. In a year that has seen her fourth consecutive Blues Music Award for Female Blues Artist, three Blues Blast Music Awards and a GRAMMY Award nomination, this distinction is particularly meaningful for Sue, who enthuses: 

“I’m beyond thrilled that ONE GUITAR WOMAN has been honored with a Juno Award nomination for Blues Album of the Year. This project has been a true labor of love, and seeing it resonate with so many people since its release has been amazing.

 

After an unforgettable experience at the Grammys this year — a milestone in my career – I’m especially moved to receive this recognition in my home country of Canada. There’s something truly special about standing alongside my fellow Canadian artists and representing our incredible music scene on the world stage.”

 

ONE GUITAR WOMAN has been celebrated by ecstatic press, radio and fans alike, gracing magazine covers, topping radio charts, and selling out shows and tours across the US, Canada and beyond. In this moving solo acoustic tribute to the female pioneers of guitar (Elizabeth Cotten, Memphis Minnie, Maybelle Carter, Lydia Mendoza, Elvie Thomas and Geeshie Wiley, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Ida Presti, and Charo), Sue not only shows her total mastery of their styles and techniques, she seems to summon the spirits of her long gone teachers, letting them speak through her voice and guitar.

 

The 54th Annual JUNO Awards took place March 30, 2025 in Rogers Arena, Vancouver, Canada.