• Dawn Tyler Watson
• Sean Pinchin
• Dan McKinnon
• Dr. John Chong of the Musician’s Clinics of Canada
• Sarah Hagerman of the UNISON Benevolent Fund

• Water Street Blues Band will be live streaming music and interviews with special guest Lynn Jackson tonight, Wednesday, October 14th at 9pm EST. Click here for more info.

• Actual Live Music: Celebrating the international release of their 50th anniversary live album, recorded at last year’s Toronto Jazz Fest, Downchild Blues Band will be playing Empire Theatre in Belleville this Friday, October 16th at 8pm. Limited tickets will be sold to the actual live show, but you can also buy tickets for the live-stream. More info here.

• Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival will be streaming online this year with some of the best performances from past years including Kenny Neal, Samantha Fish, James Cotton, and more. Stream will broadcast on WWOZ’s website, on the festival’s FB page, and on YouTube channel this Friday, October 16th and Saturday, October 17th. Click here for more info. 

• Actual Live Music: Part of the new Toronto Symphony Orchestra series, TSO at the Drive-In: First Ladies of Soul will take place this Saturday, October 17 at the Cityview Drive-In (20 Polson St., Toronto) for an hour long tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and more by sensational Canadian blues vocalist Shakura S’Aida. This event is now SOLD OUT. More info here.

• Actual Live Music: The Mighty Duck Blues Band (Dave Curry guitar/vocals, Canada Dave Torosian keyboards, Jim Casson drums, and Gary Kendall bass/vocals) is back with their Saturday afternoon music series at Jo Blo's Rock & Wok in St. Catherines (155 St. Paul Cresent). Dan McKinnon will be joining the band as the special guest this Saturday, October 17 at 2:30-6:30pm. Limited capacity. Call 289-990-1286 for reservations.

• Terra Lightfoot will be doing an online album release for "Consider the Speed" over Side Door this Saturday, October 17th at 7pm.

• Actual Live Music: Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar will be performing a live performance on Wednesday, October 21 from noon to 2pm. The concert will take place at Owen Sound Farmer's Market (88 8th St E., Owen Sound) as part of the Music at the Market series.

• Canada's Great Kitchen party is happening for Toronto on Thursday, October 22 at 7:30pm as an online show featuring some of Canada's most iconic musicians including Julian Taylor, Terra Lightfoot, Whitehorse and more.

• Actual Live Music: Samantha Martin Trio will be performing at The Cove Inn (Westport-ON) presented by Choose The Blues Productions and Blues on The Rideau, on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24 at 7-10pm (dinner & show). Tickets are $70+HST including meal, show, and door prizes. Proceeds go to the Ruby Gland Foundation. Advance RSVP required. Call the Cove at 613-273-3636. Click here for more info.

• Actual Live Music: Sean Pinchin will perform at Slabtown Breweries in Uxbridge between 5pm-7pm on Friday, October 23rd.

• Actual Live Music: The Mighty Duck Blues Band (Dave Curry guitar/vocals, Canada Dave Torosian keyboards, Jim Casson drums, and Gary Kendall bass/vocals) is back with their Saturday afternoon music series at Jo Blo's Rock & Wok in St. Catherines (155 St. Paul Cresent). Jake Chisholm will be joining the band as the special guest on Saturday, October 24 at 2:30-6:30pm. Limited capacity. Call 289-990-1286 for reservations.

• Actual Live Music: MonkeyJunk will be performing at Irene's Pub in Ottawa (885 Bank St) on Saturday, October 24th with two sets, one starting at 8pm, and the other at 10:15pm. Tickets are between $85-$169. Limited indoor socially distanced seating available by table.

• Actual Live Music: Sean Pinchin will perform at Lana's Lounge in Waterloo between 5pm-7pm on Saturday, October 24th.

• TD Toronto Jazz Festival Streaming Concert Series presents Sass Jordan as part of Casa Loma Sessions. The pre-recorded performance will go live on Tuesday, October 27th at noon on Toronto Star's website. Emily Burgess plays the opening set for the event. Repeat performances will be available at torontojazz.com.

• Actual Live Music: The Mighty Duck Blues Band (Dave Curry guitar/vocals, Canada Dave Torosian keyboards, Jim Casson drums, and Gary Kendall bass/vocals) is back with their Saturday afternoon music series at Jo Blo's Rock & Wok in St. Catherines (155 St. Paul Cresent). Carlos del Junco will be joining the band as the special guest on Saturday, October 31 at 2:30-6:30pm. Limited capacity. Call 289-990-1286 for reservations.

• Kensington Market Jazz Festival will take place virtually this year between November 7-8 and the lineup includes blues-friendly names along with local heavy-weights like Colleen Allen, Heather Luckhart, Jay Douglas, Shakura S'Aida, and Jackie Richardson. RSVP here.

• Actual Live Music: The Mighty Duck Blues Band (Dave Curry guitar/vocals, Canada Dave Torosian keyboards, Jim Casson drums, and Gary Kendall bass/vocals) is back with their Saturday afternoon music series at Jo Blo's Rock & Wok in St. Catherines (155 St. Paul Cresent). John Dickie will be joining the band as the special guest on Saturday, November 7 at 2:30-6:30pm. Limited capacity. Call 289-990-1286 for reservations.

• Actual Live Music: Lance Anderson will bring his critically acclaimed performance of "The Last Waltz - A Musical Celebration of The BAND Live" show to Peter’s Players in Gravenhurst-ON to celebrate the 44th Anniversary of the historic concert and film in 2020 on November 13 & 14 at 8pm. This is a 28 seat, socially distanced concert with one set only (no intermission).

• Actual Live Music: Horojo Trio featuring Jamie Holmes (drums), Jeff Rogers (keyboards & vocals), and JW-Jones (guitar & vocals) will be performing at The Cove Inn (Westport-ON) presented by Choose The Blues Productions and Blues on The Rideau, on Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14 at 7-10pm (dinner & show). Tickets are $70+HST including meal, show, and door prizes. Proceeds go to the Westport Food Bank. Advance RSVP required. Call the Cove at 613-273-3636. The show will also be broadcasted on the BOTR Youtube channel. Click here for more info.

• Actual Live Music: The Mighty Duck Blues Band (Dave Curry guitar/vocals, Canada Dave Torosian keyboards, Jim Casson drums, and Gary Kendall bass/vocals) is back with their Saturday afternoon music series at Jo Blo's Rock & Wok in St. Catherines (155 St. Paul Cresent). Michael Schatte will be joining the band as the special guest on Saturday, November 14 at 2:30-6:30pm. Limited capacity. Call 289-990-1286 for reservations.

• Actual Live Music: The Mighty Duck Blues Band (Dave Curry guitar/vocals, Canada Dave Torosian keyboards, Jim Casson drums, and Gary Kendall bass/vocals) is back with their Saturday afternoon music series at Jo Blo's Rock & Wok in St. Catherines (155 St. Paul Cresent). Dwayne Laforme will be joining the band as the special guest on Saturday, November 21 at 2:30-6:30pm. Limited capacity. Call 289-990-1286 for reservations.

• Donovan Locke will be performing as part of the Markham Jazz Fest's live Facebook series on Sunday, November 29 at 2pm.

• Glenn Marais live streams every night at 8pm on his Facebook page.

• Suzie Vinnick live streams on StreetJelly every Wednesday at 7pm.

• Steve Hill live streams frequently on Facebook.

• Heather Luckhart and Attila Fias perform live every Saturday at 7pm.

• Jenie Thai live streams on her Patreon page regularly.

• Bad Luck Woman aka Raha Javanfar & Fraser Melvin live stream from their living room regularly and videos can be found on their Facebook and Instagram accounts.

• US based Can't Stop the Blues Facebook group is featuring 1-2 blues shows each night, 9pm-11pm eastern, with fresh pre-recorded content direct from the artists’ homes.

• Adam Ndaro Solomon is doing a live stream blending blues and world music from his apartment nearly every day. Check out his Facebook account to catch one of the videos and keep in touch.

• Wavelength Music Series will present a free online panel discussion on "How to release an album during a pandemic" on Wednesday, October 14 at 6pm EDT with Harrison Bennett (DeadBeats Records), DijahSB (independent artist), Dina Young (Royal Mountain Records), with moderator Jesse Ohtake (Manifesto, The Academy Presents). Clcik here to RSVP.

• Folk Music Ontario presents "Live Events & The New Normal: Adapting to a Physically Distant Dancefloor" on Thursday, October 29 at 2pm EST via Zoom. Moderator is Heather Gibson (Executive Producer, National Arts Centre), and the panelists are Erin Benjamin (President & CEO, Canadian Live Music Association), Tracy Jenkins (Executive and Co-Artistic Director, Lula Music and Arts Centre), and Max Merrifield (Artistic Director, Northern Lights Festival Boréal). The panel is free but RSVP is required. Please send a note to [email protected]!

• Carlos del Junco continues to offer lessons on his educational website.

• Interested in learning slide guitar? Bottleneck or Lap Style? Open Tunings? Finger picking? Sean Pinchin is now booking online lessons on his website.

• Dubbed as Blues prodigy from Niagara, Spencer MacKenzie is offering lessons on his website with his band mates Miles Evans-Branagh, and Matt Burns. Click here to get started with your customized learning experience.

• Take a virtual Muddy Waters tour at the Delta Blues Museum. You can also participate on an interactive journey about John Lee Hooker, Charlie Musselwhite or more on the website.

• Rebecca Hennessy is currently taking new online students for all levels of trumpet, music theory and songwriting. Courses available over FaceTime, Facebook messenger video or Zoom. Email to: [email protected]

• Mark Stafford is offering online harmonica lessons through Wilson Music Services.

• Music lessons over Skype or Facetime are offered by both JW-Jones and Steve Marriner. Manitoba Hal's ukulele lessons and workshops are also available online.

• Jesse Whiteley is currently offering video lessons from home via Skype/FaceTime/Zoom and you can reach him on his Lessons page.

• Canadian Music Incubator is offering online mentorship sessions available to purchase at $150+HST for a bundle of three 60-minute meetings.

• Ontario Live is a new portal by Destination Ontario, a virtual marketplace that brings Ontario together to help support local artists, operators, attractions and businesses throughout the province. Coming soon, you’ll be able to buy, donate to, or experience the best Ontario has to offer all in one place.

• "Virtual Private Concert" is virtual version of a house concert, but private for your next friend Zoom gathering. You can hire some blues-friendly musicians from Toronto as well which includes Bad Luck Woman & Fraser Melvin, or Jesse Whiteley. 

• “An Air B&B for shows”, Vancouver-based Side Door is now featuring ticketed shows on Zoom during the pandemic. Click here for the upcoming shows and more info.

• "Almost Live" live blues music series by Canal Bank Shuffle is on Youtube and donations to the music series are accepted through here.

• Raoul Bhaneja does Raoul's Blues "Isolation Edition" on jazzcast.ca every Wednesday at 11am with special guests.

• MusicTogether upcoming live stream schedule is here. Thanks to music funders including Arts & Crafts, Slaight Music, and the Ministry of Heritage.

• Meridian Hall is offering daily "Living Rooms" video series from artists' homes.

• You can stream select past performances including the latest Maple Blues Awards on Koerner Hall's online archive.

• Montreux Jazz Festival released over 50 full sets for free including Johnny Cash, Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, and more.

• CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit) - extended for an additional four weeks to a maximum of 28 weeks. The Government will be transitioning to a simplified Employment Insurance (EI) program, effective September 27 to provide income support to those who remain unable to work and are eligible.

• SOCAN's new program Encore! is paying musicians for live online concerts on Facebook and Instagram.

• MusicTogether is open to Ontario musicians only. Apply here for a paid performance opportunity.

• FACTOR updates can be read here.

• TOArtist Covid-19 Response Fund by The Toronto Arts Foundation and Toronto Arts Council.

• NABS financial assistance for media, marketing, and communications pros

• The AFC - Emergency financial aid for entertainment pros

• Emergency Survival Fund for LGBTQ2S artists, performers, tip-based workers

• CANADIAN Low-Income Artist/Musician Relief Fund

• Akin Rent Relief Fund: accepting applications from current Akin artists and creatives

• Unison Fund Music Industry Relief Program

• Bandcamp Fridays will continue happening on the first Friday of every month until the end of the year. Click here for a more detailed calendar.

• Artists can submit their upcoming gigs to Ontario Live, a new portal by Destination Ontario.

• The City of Toronto's ShopHERE helps Toronto businesses and artists build and promote their own Shopify online stores.

• Spotify launched a feature that will enable artists to fundraise directly.

• TuneCore is offering all of their subscribers a 50% discount that you can use for your next single or album release. A one-time discount offer available at checkout.

• Free conference service by Ontario Presents - contact [email protected]

• ACTRA has extended the date for paying dues.

• City of Toronto's Music Office's thorough document to help musicians and venues/organizations survive.

• Pandemic Resource Guide by FYI Music.

• Canada Council for the Arts: Information about CCA's cancellation policy can be found here.

• The Unison Benevolent Fund has also a list of resources available to musicians.

• Toronto Musicians Association's resources for financial assistance and bill payment relief here.

• Music Managers Forum Canada's constantly updated resource page is here.

• Nightly 60-second clip of tips by music publicist Eric Alper during pandemic will be available here.

• A guide on live streaming, The complete guide to selling your music online, and How musicians can ask fans for support during the coronavirus pandemic by Bandzoogle.

• 1st Class home delivery of our monthly Maple Blues Newsletter
• 25% discount on  Maple Blues Awards tickets & exclusive early bird ticket access
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• Savings on Advance Tickets to shows at Music by the Bay Live (Ajax and Whitby venues)
• 10% off every purchase from the Dead Dog Records, Toronto (1209 Bloor St. West &  1696 Queen St. West)
• 10% off every purchase from the Kops Records, Toronto (229 Queen St. West)
• TBS voting rights
• Discount tickets to all TBS events (including TBS Workshops)
• Discounts on TBS merchandise purchases at TBS events
• Exclusive access to industry discounts, ticket giveaways, and more!