The Toronto Blues Society announced
yesterday the nominees for the 12th annual Maple Blues Awards. Among the nominees is
nineteen year-old Keith Hallett of Fredericton, nominated in the Best New Artist
category.

"I'm really thrilled about this nomination," said Hallett upon hearing the news. "To see
my name up there nominated beside so many amazing Canadian blues artists is really
humbling. I'm very thankful, and really excited!"

Hallett is nominated for Best New Artist alongside MonkeyJunk, an Ottawa-based R&B
band featuring friend and fellow 2008 Harvest performer Steve Marriner; Kitchener's Daddy Long Legs; Edmonton's Marshall Lawrence; and Vancouver's The Sojourners.

Hallett's Maple Blues nomination comes a month after the release of his debut album,
Bear With Me. The album, produced by Hallett and Ethan Young-Lai, features five originals and five covers, all with a very 'off-the-floor' sound.