Harry Manx won the SOCAN-sponsored songwriter of the year honours at the 2008 edition of the Maple Blues Awards, presented Jan. 21, 2008, at the Mod Club in Toronto.

Accepting the award for Manx was his agent Darcy Gregoire, who said, “Harry is resting in Salt Spring Island for some much-needed relaxation, but he did make a short list of people to thank: [musical partner] Kevin Breit, [Stony Plain Records head] Holger Petersen, [booking agent] Live Tour Artists and [booking agent] The Agency Group.”

Manx and Breit also won the award for acoustic act of the year. Toronto’s Downchild Blues Band was the night’s big winner, earning awards in five individual categories: Chuck Jackson received the male vocal award, Gary Kendall won for bass player, Pat Carey for horn player, Michael Fonfara for piano/keyboard, and Mike Fitzpatrick for drummer of the year. Colin James – along with his Little Big Band – earned a triple win for entertainer, electric act and best recording of the year (for Colin James Little Big Band 3).

James and his co-producer Colin Linden played a rousing few encores to end the night, while host and female vocalist of the year Dawn Tyler Watson had started the proceedings on an equally upbeat note with her own “One Day at a Time.” In between, there were standout performances from Saskatchewan-based newcomer Little Miss Higgins and Maritime bluesman Garret Mason, and a moving tribute, both live and on video, to late pianists Rod Phillips, Richard Bell, Doug “Dr. Music” Riley and Oscar Peterson, all of whom passed away in 2007.

The Maple Blues Awards are funded in part by the SOCAN Foundation. For a complete list of this year’s winners, visit the Maple Blues Awards website.