The Accolades are an emerging jazz, rock, fusion band from Toronto, ON. They are known for their energetic live performances, complex rhythms and odd time signatures, in combination with their groovy, danceable beats, with elements of funk, reggae, and hip-hop.

The band was founded by guitarist Michael Shanahan, and drummer Mark Athanasiadis in September 2013. They started jamming together as “Shanahan and the Shananagans”. A year later they were joined by bassist Sandy Murphy and developed into a blues rock trio. When vocalist Thomas Thurley joined the band in September 2015, the band took on its new name and evolved into a four-piece jazz, rock, fusion band. The band decided to expand their jazz, rock, fusion sound, by adding a horn section in January 2017.

Their band name “The Accolades” came from the name of the music building at York

University, called “The Accolade East”.