All submissions must include lyric sheet and audio file in .mp3 format. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

 ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS UNTIL MAY 1, 2012

www.musicbythebayfestival.com

Stay Tuned for the Music By The Bay Live 3rd Season Wrap Up Concert Announcement.

Joining Layla on stage will be Gary Kendall on bass, Pat Rush on guitar,  Shakey Dagenais on keys and Drew Austin on drums.

“Layla is possessed with one of those fantastic Maggie Bell, Janis Joplin or Kitto voices that reach down into your soul and is able to rip your heart out.”  BLUES MATTERS magazine, England- Graeme Scott (Dec/07)

Layla has worked to release an album every year, and has five independent releases to date: You Will, Shades of Blue, Hoochie Coochie Woman, Live at Errington Hall and The Firegirl.  Layla released her 6th album in the fall of 2011 since signing to Cable Car Records.  Sleep Little Girl was produced by Henrik Freischlader and recorded by Martin Meinschäfer in Germany.

Her albums can be heard on radio all over the world and showcase many of Layla’s original songs as well as classic cover tunes.  Her albums, as well as her ability to stun crowds with her power and talent, has been critically acclaimed by the media and reviewed and showcased in publications such as: Canadian Musician Magazine, the Globe and Mail (Toronto), Toronto Blues Society monthly edition, DOWNBEAT magazine (Illinois, USA), Blues Matters (UK), Crossroads (France) and many more.

 Layla Zoe took home the “Female Vocalist of the Year” award at the Vancouver Island Music Awards in 2006 and won the Compo 10 International blues songwriting competition in Jaarvenpaa, Finland in 2006. She was the only woman and the only Canadian to make it to the finals of the Compo 10 contest in Finland and she humbly took home the prize.

Layla Zoe has performed with the late great Jeff Healey, Downchild Blues Band, Danny Marks, Henrik Freischlader and countless others, who have sung high praises of Layla’s ability to channel her strong emotions into her performances.  She has also been recognized for her songwriting and professionalism and has co-written with artists such as Vince R.Ditrich (Spirit of the West) and Kofi Burbridge (Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Band)

Layla Zoe on YouTube

 Paul James is one of the most exciting and energetic Toronto-based Canadian musicians … past, present and future.   He is a Canadian cultural icon and veteran entertainer.  His talents as a guitarist, vocalist, band leader, stage acrobatic, and songwriter have allowed him to produce the music he loves for over three decades.

Paul James is a real musician’s, musician. He is constantly surrounded by the worlds stage with big time players such as Mink De Ville, Bo Diddley, Bob Dylan, John Hammond, Spencer Davis, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Jack Scott and Sunnyland Slim, to mention a few.

He is the recipient of two Toronto Music awards for Best Club Band and Best Blues Artist and in 1992 won the Juno Award for Best Roots and Traditional Music.  Paul James has multiple Maple Blues Award nominations and in January 2012 was presented the lifetime achievement – Blues With A Feeling Award.

Ticket holders will receive full reimbursement and will be placed on our VIP list should we proceed with this project in the future.

Gogo has garnered three Juno Nominations, the Saturday Night Blues’ Great Canadian Blues Award for a lifetime contribution to the blues in Canada, WCMA Musician of the Year, and has twice been named Maple Blues Guitarist of the Year.  Over the years, he has performed with blues and rock legends B.B. King, Bo Diddley, George Thorogood, ZZ Top, and numerous others – most recently touring with Johnny Winter on Canada’s west coast.

His eleventh release, Soul Bender, is adding even more acclaim to an already impressive list, earning him a nomination for Blues Album of the Year at the 2012 Juno Awards.

Soul Bender features outstanding new tracks; some Gogo originals and a few covers that run the gamut of sources and styles (Procol Harum, Elmore James, The Doors, Michael Jackson) but infused with a Gogo twist. The album was recorded by Rick Salt at Lois Lane Studios, where five of Gogo’s previous albums have been recorded.  Every effort was made to capture the feel of Gogo’s incredible live shows, and the result showcases Gogo’s best guitar and vocal performances ever! Soul Bender is a sizzling, hard-rocking blues album that is filled with heavy grooves, grit and emotion.

“David’s guitar playing sings and stings with every bit as much emotional authority as Jimi, Stevie and early Eric. I love it!”   Bill Henderson (Chilliwack)

 David Gogo on YouTube

 Garrett Mason is a true bluesman at heart. He was raised in Truro, Nova Scotia by his mother Pam, and father, veteran Canadian Bluesman Dutch Mason. His quest to become a blues musician started at a very early age; being surrounded by blues music. 

Garrett’s debut CD spotlights his talent for strong original songs, a voice that is reminiscent of a veteran performer and his extraordinary aptitude for playing electric guitar.  Garrett’s original talent was awarded in 2005 when he received a Juno for Best Blues Album.  Garrett’s band released their sophomore album Love and Sound in July 2008 which was nominated for a Juno Award.  The album won Blues Artist/Group Recording of the Year at the 2009 Music Nova Scotia and Industry Awards.  He has also been nominated for Maple Blues Awards every year since 2004, most recently winning Guitar Player of the Year this year.

Keith’s natural prowess in the genre shines through with his howlin’, growlin’ and soulful vocals, and the impressive guitar licks and slides that have made him a household name in the East Coast blues community.

Keith Hallett won the 2007 Harvest CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award, and was nominated for Maple Blues Award for new artist of the year at only 17 years old.  His 2008 debut album Bear With Me was heralded as “head and shoulders above at least half the blues discs that have come out this year by older veterans,” and he has begun work on his sophomore album, produced by and featuring Mason.

Joining Garrett & Keith will be Ray J. Junior on bass and Chuck Bucket on drums.

Mason & Hallett on YouTube

MonkeyJunk – To Behold

Congratulations to the nominees:

David Gogo - Soul Blender

Suzie Vinnick - Me ‘n Mabel