Matt Andersen's nickname for himself is "Stubby Fingers," all the better to handle the many awards coming his way.
The dynamic New Brunswick bluesman hauled in three trophies at the national Maple Blues Awards gala in Toronto on Monday, reaping accolades as the year's top acoustic act, male vocalist and entertainer, all on the strength of extensive touring and his latest album, Coal Mining Blues.
Other multiple winners at the Koerner Hall ceremony were Ottawa's Monkey Junk (electric act, top drummer and recording of the year for To Behold) and the soulful Saskatoon native Suzie Vinnick (songwriter and female vocalist).
Full list of winners from the 15th annual Maple Blues Awards:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Matt Andersen
ELECTRIC ACT OF THE YEAR
Monkey Junk
ACOUSTIC ACT OF THE YEAR
Matt Andersen
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Matt Andersen
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Suzie Vinnick
NEW ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Sabrina Weeks & Swing Cat Bounce
RECORDING OF THE YEAR
To Behold, by Monkey Junk
Blues With A Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement)
Paul James
BB KING INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Gregg Allman
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Steve Strongman
HARMONICA PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Carlos del Junco
PIANO/KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kenny (Blues Boss) Wayne
HORN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Chris Whiteley
DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
Matt Sobb (of Monkey Junk)
BASSIST OF THE YEAR
Alec Fraser
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Suzie Vinnick
BLUES BOOSTER OF THE YEAR
Liz Sykes (President of the Ottawa Blues Society)