Band Members:  Julian Fauth (keyboards), Andrew Taylor (bass), Chris Chiarelli (drums).

After thrilling audiences in clubs as a sideman, in 2010, Toronto blues guitarist, songwriter and singer Chris Antonik stepped out on his own to deliver a self-titled debut album that took the Canadian and international blues communities by surprise. It was met with widespread critical acclaim and significant radio play, debuting at #4 on the Roots Music Report for Canadian roots music radio play, and at #35 for international blues radio play. It remained in the top 100 on these airplay charts for over a year.

The album garnered Antonik a nomination for “Best New Artist of the Year” at the 2011 Maple Blues Awards, which are Canada’s national awards for achievement and excellence in blues music. The album was also ranked in numerous “Best Blues Albums of 2010” lists from radio DJ’s and reviewers in Canada and the US.

The album was widely viewed as a soulful and diverse mixture of mature, intelligent song writing and blues guitar prowess.

Blues Matters Magazine UK stated: “The instrumental Dhyana is Bonomassaesque in terms of style and quality and in The King Of Infidelity it can boast one of the single track highlights of the listening year to date. Antonik needs to be watched – something may be starting here.” US-based Vintage Guitar Magazine exclaimed: “This debut demonstrates Antonik is one to watch in the blues. He writes well and plays wonderfully.”

In 2011 and 2012, Chris played major blues festivals across Canada, and performed live on New York City’s WFDU FM’s “Sounds of Blue” program.

Chris is currently working on his highly-anticipated follow-up album, which will feature two-time Grammy award-winning vocalist Mike Mattison (The Derek Trucks Band, Tedeschi-Trucks Band), and multiple blues award-winners Shakura S’Aida and Steve Marriner (Monkeyjunk), among others. The album will be released in April 2013.

• Named the “The Future of the Blues” in a 2010 year-end review by Canada’s Blues Underground Network website.
• Debut solo album Chris Antonik voted the 10th best Canadian blues album released in 2010 on the Annual Blind Lemon Top 20 Canadian Blues Chart (by CHMR Radio).
• Debut solo album named one of the best blues albums of 2010 by US music critic Graham Clarke, as well as by CKLR Radio in Quebec.
• In the 2010 International Songwriting Competition, Chris’ song “Roll with It” received an honourable mention in the blues category. The song was selected from a pool of over 15,000 entrants by a jury that included Jeff Beck, Jerry Lee Lewis, Peter Gabriel and more.