The Juno Award for "Blues Album of the Year" has been awarded since 1994, as recognition each year for the best blues album in Canada. The award used to be a combined blues and gospel award category.
Winners
Best Blues/Gospel Album (1994–1997)
Year Winner Album Nominees Ref.1994Colin LindenSouth at Eight/North at NineYou Can't Have Everything – Dutch Mason Bluesology – The Whiteley Brothers Terra Firma Boogie – Triple Threat1995Montreal Jubilation Gospel ChoirJoy to the World Jubilation VGood Times Guaranteed – Downchild Blues Band Home Is Where the Harp Is - Live – Harpdog Brown and the Bloodhounds Welcome Back – John Ellison Just Gettin' Started – Rita Chiarelli1996Jim ByrnesThat RiverRites of Passage – Georgette Fry Urban Blues Re:Newell – King Biscuit Boy Big City Blues – Sue Foley When the Sun Goes Down – The Sidemen1997Long John BaldryRight to Sing the BluesIf My Daddy Could See Me Now – Johnny V Alive & Loose – Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne Sixteen Shades of Ble – The Whiteley Brothers Fire – Tongues of Fire
Best Blues Album (1998–2002)
Year Winner Album Nominees Ref.1998Colin JamesNational SteelNo Special Rider – Bill Bourne / Andreas Schuld / Hans Stamer A Big Love – Lester Quitzau What Were You Thinking? – The Rockin' Highliners In the Evening – Vann "Piano Man" Walls1999FatheadBlues WeatherBig Boy (Some Recycled Blues and Other Somewhat Related Stuff) – Carlos del Junco Colin James and The Little Big Band II – Colin James Blues Boss Boogie – Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne Blues Money – Michael Pickett2000Ray BonnevilleGust of WindBlues Party – Chris Whiteley Michael Jerome Browne – Michael Jerome Browne Call It What You Want – Steve Hill2001Sue FoleyLove Comin' DownTopless – Big Daddy G Neck Bones & Cavier – Mel Brown Conversation With The Blues – Michael Pickett Rough Luck – Ray Bonneville2002Colin LindenBig MouthDouble Shot! – Mel Brown & Snooky Pryor Drive On – Michael Jerome Browne Rattlebag – Paul Reddick & The Sidemen Breakfast At Midnight – Rita Chiarelli
Blues Album of the Year (2003–present)
Year Winner Album Nominees Ref.2003Jack de Keyzer6 String LoverlFirst Class Riff-Raff – Fathead Wise and Otherwise – Harry Manx 88th & Jump Street – Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne Long Hard Road – The Twisters2004Morgan DavisPainkillerSweet Taste – Harrison Kennedy Jubilee – Harry Manx & Kevin Breit Roll It Down – Ray Bonneville Too Much Fun – The Rockit 88 Band2005Garrett MasonI'm Just A ManCome On In – Downchild Fresh Horses – Jim Byrnes Soap Bars & Dog Ears – Jimmy Bowskill No One To Blame – Rita Chiarelli2006Kenny "Blues Boss" WayneLet It LooseVoice + Story – Harrison Kennedy Songs Of Vice And Sorrow – Julian Fauth Villanelle – Paul Reddick The Gas And The Clutch – The Perpetrators2007Jim ByrnesHouse of Refuge Colin James & The Little Big Band 3 – Colin James Easin' Back To Tennessee – Colin Linden Acoustic – David Gogo The Way It Feels – Roxanne Potvin2008 FatheadBuilding Full of BluesHigh Country Blues – Harrison Kennedy Blues Thing – Jack de Keyzer Junction City – Little Miss Higgins A Lesson I've Learned – The Johnny Max Band2009 Julian FauthRamblin’ SonGet Way Back- A Tribute To Percy Mayfield – Amos Garrett Acoustic Blues- Got 'Em From The Bottom – Big Dave McLean Love & Sound - Garrett Mason Mess of Blues - Jeff Healey2010Jack de KeyzerThe Corktown SessionsSteady Movin – Carlos del Junco From The Water – Colin Linden I Need A Hat – Downchild Low Fidelity – Treasa Levasseur2011Jim ByrnesEverywhere WestWhere's The Blues Taking Me – Fathead Bread and Buddha – Harry Manx It's A Long Road – The Johnny Max Band The Sojourners – The Sojourners2012MonkeyJunkTo BeholdStill Blue – Bill Johnson Soul Bender – David Gogo Shame The Devil – Harrison Kennedy Me ‘n’ Mabel – Suzie Vinnick2013Steve StrongmanA Natural FactFIFTEEN – Colin James Electric Love – Jack de Keyzer Time – Shakura S'Aida Solo Recordings Volume One – Steve Hill2014Downchild Blues BandCan You Hear the MusicCome on Down – David Gogo Soulscape – Harrison Kennedy My Guitar's My Only Friend – James 'Buddy' Rogers All Frequencies – MonkeyJunk2015Steve HillSolo Recordings, Vol. 2Belmont Boulevard – JW-Jones Let Me Prove It To You – Steve Strongman Wicked – The 24th Street Wailers A Real Fine Mess – Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer2016Harrison KennedyThis Is From HereFaded But Not Gone – Big Dave McLean Brothers in This World – Blackburn Brothers Vicksburg Call – David Gogo Sliding Delta – Michael Jerome Browne2017Paul ReddickRide the OneBlue Highways – Colin James Rich in Love – Colin Linden Monkey Brain – Sean Pinchin The Northern South Vol. 1 – Whitehorse2018MonkeyJunkTime to RollBetter the Devil You Know – Big Dave McLean Something I’ve Done – Downchild No Time Like Now – Steve Strongman Big City, Back Country Blues – Williams, Wayne and Isaak2019 Colin James Miles to GoCheckmate – Jack de Keyzer The Ice Queen – Sue Foley Myles Goodwyn and Friends of the Blues – Myles Goodwyn Run to Me – Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar2020Dawn Tyler Watson Mad LoveThat's Where It's At – Michael Jerome Browne Hand Me Down Blues – Durham County Poets Pocket Full of Nothin' – Big Dave McLean The Northern South, Vol. 2 – Whitehorse Melody Lau, "Alessia Cara and Tory Lanez lead the 2020 Juno nominations". CBC Music, January 28, 2020.2021 Crystal Shawanda Church House BluesHell Bent With Grace — Angel Forrest Solar Powered Too — Rick Fines The Reckless One — Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar Spirits in the Water — Dione TaylorHolly Gordon and Andrea Warner, "Here are the 2021 Juno Award winners". CBC Music, June 4, 2021.2022 Colin James Open RoadbLOW — Colin Linden Hope Dies Last — Steve Marriner Live at the Isabel — Miss Emily Pinky's Blues — Sue FoleyJackson Weaver, "Charlotte Cardin, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber lead 2022 Juno Award nominees". CBC News, March 1, 2022.2023 Angelique Francis Long RiverLive at the King Eddy — Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer Midnight Blues — Crystal Shawanda Preach to My Soul — Spencer Mackenzie Thanks for Tomorrow — Harrison Kennedy Jenna Benchetrit and Arti Patel, "The Weeknd picks up 4 wins on Junos 2023 opening night". CBC News, March 11, 2023.2024 Blue Moon Marquee Scream, Holler & HowlMatt Andersen, The Big Bottle of Joy Blackburn Brothers, Soulfunkn'blues Michael Jerome Browne, Gettin' Together Brandon Isaak, One Step Closer "Junos 2024: full list of winners". CBC Music, March 23, 2024.2025 Big Dave McLean This Old LifeBlue Moon Marquee, New Orleans Sessions Sue Foley, One Guitar Woman David Gogo, Yeah! Samantha King and the Midnight Outfit, Samantha King and the Midnight Outfit "Junos 2025: full list of winners". CBC Music, March 30, 2025.2026 Steven Marriner Hear My Heart Miss Emily, The Medicine Secondhand Dreamcar, Answer the Call Crystal Shawanda, Sing Pretty Blues Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, Oooh Yeah! Natalie Harmsen, Melody Lau, Holly Gordon and Kelsey Adams, "Here are all the 2026 Juno nominees". CBC Music, March 28, 2026.
References