Originally Published: 2010-02-07

Suzie Vinnick

Suzie Vinnick may soon need to invest in a new trophy case. The latest of many awards this highly respected Toronto-based singer/songwriter has won came last month, when she took home the Female Artist of the Year trophy at the Maple Blues Awards. She’s no stranger to acceptance speeches at this show, having won in a number of other categories in previous years.
She wasn’t victorious at the 2009 Canadian Folk Awards, but her two nominations (for the Contemporary Singer and Solo Artist of the Year categories) were significant in showing her growing popularity within that genre. Vinnick is certainly one of the most versatile artists in Canadian roots music. She can move between the blues and folk music camps with graceful ease, she is part of popular duos and groups as well as a solo act, and is in demand as both a backing vocalist and a skilled bass player.
Increased recognition as a solo performer has come Vinnick’s way since the 2008 release of her third solo record, Happy Here. After scoring positive reviews, it gained a 2009 JUNO Award nomination for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Solo.
“It has been a pretty amazing past two years,” she says. “I’m doing a lot more solo shows, and I really enjoy that. It is so feasible. You pick up the guitar and you’re there. I’m still working with [bluesman] Rick Fines and [female folk group] The Marigolds, and all my projects are fun to work in.” Other recording and performing outlets for Vinnick have included the female trio VSH (Vinnick Sheppard and Harte) and roots music collective Betty And The Bobs.
Vinnick explains, “What I’m trying to sort out now is where to go directionally. There have been the nominations and awards for blues, so I feel pulled in that direction, but Happy Here is more a singer/songwriter album. I love so many different styles that it is hard for me to settle in one place. I think if I was sticking to just one style of music I’d get a little bored. Each different project helps inspire all the other aspects of what I do as a performer. I joke that my CD collection goes from Bach to ZZ Top.”

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