2023 Independent Blues Awards Winners Announced!!

September 26, 2023

Making a Scene Presents The 2023 Independent Blues Awards Winners!

This is the 8th year we have produced and honored independent blues artists with the Independent Blues Awards. The voting this year has broken all records and was the largest voting participation since we began.

As always we believe that not only are the winners worthy of acknowledgment we also believe all the nominees have earned their place as well. This is why under each of the winners banner all the nominees for that category is listed with links where you can listen to their releases and body of works on Spotify as well as access their websites and Amazon Links. We strongly suggest you listen to not only check out the winning artists but also all the nominated artists. Support them by adding your favorite songs to your playlists.

No other award gives you the opportunity to listen and explore all the artists both during and after the voting for the awards. We firmly believe it is important to support indie blues artists!

These artists are back on the road and touring again! When you see any of these artists in your area, you can make it a point to head to a show!

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL INDIE BLUES ARTISTS!

Best Independent Male Blues Artist

Mike Zito Listen

Sugary Rayford Listen	Tommy Castro Listen
Kirk Fletcher Listen	Albert Castiglia Listen
Kenny Neal Listen	Derrick Procell Listen
Eddie 9v Listen

Best Independent Female Blues Artist

Kat Riggins Listen

Samantha Fish Listen	Angel Forrest Listen
Eliza Neals Listen	Ally Venable Listen
EG Kight Listen	Gina Sicilia Listen
Serabee Listen	Lauren Anderson Listen
Skylar Rogers Listen	Meg Williams Listen
Laura Tate Listen	Skylar Rogers Listen

Best Traditional Blues Band

The Nighthawks Listen

Kenny Blues Boss Wayne Listen	Rev Shawn Amos Listen
Dave Keyes Listen	Yates McKendree Listen
Matt Woods Band Listen	Mick Kolassa Listen
South Island Rhythm Kings Listen	Grant Dermody Listen

Best Contemporary Blues Band

Dave Thomas Listen

The Lucky Losers Listen	Laura Tate Listen
Patty Tuite Listen	Derrick Procell Listen
Breezy Rodio Listen	Jeff Dale & The South Woodlawners Listen
Michele D’Amour and the Love Dealers Listen

Independent Blues-Soul Artist

John Nemeth Listen

Sugaray Rayford Listen	Kat Riggins Listen
The Mighty Soul Drivers Listen	Vaneese Thomas Listen
Annika Chambers and Paul Delaruiers Listen	Dylan Triplett Listen
Markey Blue and Ric Latina Listen	The McNaMarr Project Listen

Best Blues Rock Band

Ally Venable Listen

Too Slim and the Taildraggers Listen	GA-20 Listen
Lauren Anderson Listen	The Rusty Wright Band Listen
Lew Jetton Listen	Rick Berthod Listen
Yulian Taylor Listen	Chris Antonik Listen
Alex Lopez Listen

Best Modern Roots Band

Larkin Poe Listen

Emmanuel Casablanca Listen	Angel Forrest Listen
Taylor Scott Listen	Serabee Listen
Jackie Venson Listen	Angela Easterling Listen
Southbound Snake Charmers Listen

Best New Artist

Serabee Listen

Dylan Triplett Listen	Emmanuel Casablanca Listen
Ben Levin Listen	Taylor Scott Listen
Matt Lomeo Listen	Southbound Snake Charmers Listen
Yulian Taylor Listen

Independent Blues Artist Gateway Award

Larkin Poe Listen

Samantha Fish Listen	Serabee Listen
Dana Fuchs Listen	Mike Zito Listen
Jackie Venson Listen	Albert Castiglia Listen
Ally Venable Listen	Jonathon Long Listen

Road Warrior Award

Tinsley Ellis Listen

Samantha Fish Listen	Mike Zito Listen
Jackie Venson Listen	Larkin Poe Listen
Ally Venable Listen	Albert Castiglia Listen

Best Music Engineer/Producer

Mike Zito

Kenny Neal	Tom Hambridge
Selwyn Birchwood	Jim Gaines
Tony Braunagel	Eric Corne

Best Content Creator

Jackie Venson Listen

Albert Castiglia Listen	Joe Bonamassa Listen
Mike Zito Listen	Larkin Poe Listen
Samantha Fish Listen	Ally Venable Listen

Best Independent Blues Acoustic CD

Rory Block – Ain’t Nobody Worried – SPOTIFY – Buy

Paul Oscher – Rough Stuff – SPOTIFY – Buy	Ben Levin – Take Your Time – SPOTIFY – Buy
Doug Macleod – A Soul to Claim – SPOTIFY – Buy	Lee Oskar – Never Forget – SPOTIFY – Buy

Best Independent Blues Contemporary CD

Tommy Castro – A bluesman comes to Town – SPOTIFY – Buy

The Lucky Losers – Standin Pat – SPOTIFY – Buy	Kenny Neal – Straight from the Heart – SPOTIFY – Buy
Kirt Fletcher – Heartache by the Pound – SPOTIFY – Buy	Patty Tuite – Hard Case of the Blues – SPOTIFY – Buy
Dave Thomas – Road to the Blues – SPOTIFY – Buy	Michele D’Amour and the Love Dealers – Hot Mess – SPOTIFY – Buy
Jose Ramirez – Major League BLues – SPOTIFY – Buy	Derrick Procell – Hello Mojo – SPOTIFY – Buy
Breezy Rodio – Underground Blues – SPOTIFY – Buy

Best Independent Blues Traditional CD

Buddy Guy – The Blues Don’t Lie – SPOTIFY – Buy

Delbert McClinton – Outdated Emotion – SPOTIFY – Buy	Trudy Lynn – Golden Girl – SPOTIFY – Buy
Kenny Blues Boss Wayne – Blues from Chicago to Paris – SPOTIFY – Buy	Dave Keyes – Rhythm Blues and Boogie – SPOTIFY – Buy
The Nighthawks – Est 1972 – SPOTIFY – Buy	Yates Mckendree – Buchanan Lane – SPOTIFY – Buy
Rev Shawn Amos – Hollywood Blues – SPOTIFY – Buy	Matt Woods Band – Almost Made it – SPOTIFY – Buy
Mick Kolassa – I’m Just Getting Started – SPOTIFY – Buy	South Island Rhythm Kings – Still That way today – SPOTIFY – Buy
Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames – Nightwalk – SPOTIFY – Buy	Grant Dermody – Behind the Sun – SPOTIFY – Buy

Best Independent Blues R&B/Soul CD

John Nemeth – May be the Last time – SPOTIFY – Buy

Laura Tate – Smokey Tango – SPOTIFY – Buy	The Mighty Soul Drivers – I’ll carry you Home – SPOTIFY – Buy
Annika Chambers and Paul DeLauries – Good Trouble – SPOTIFY – Buy	Sugaray Rayford – In too deep – SPOTIFY – Buy
Mississippi Heat – Madeleine – SPOTIFY – Buy	Kat Riggins – Progeny – SPOTIFY – Buy
Dylan Triplett – Who is He – SPOTIFY – Buy	Lady A – Satisfyin – SPOTIFY – Buy
Vaneese Thomas – Fight the Good Fight – SPOTIFY – Buy	Markey Blue and Ric Latina – Mississippi Soul – SPOTIFY – Buy
GeminiiDragon – Fighting fire with Fire – SPOTIFY – Buy	The McNaMarr Project – Run with me – SPOTIFY – Buy

Best Independent Blues Rock CD

Tinsley Ellis – The Devil May Care – SPOTIFY – Buy

Albert Castiglia – I Got Love – SPOTIFY – Buy	Bernard Allison – Highs and Lows – SPOTIFY – Buy
Dana Fuchs – Borrowed Time – SPOTIFY – Buy	The Rusty Wright Band – Hanging out at the Deville Lounge – SPOTIFY – Buy
Eliza Neals – Badder to the Bone Lounge – SPOTIFY – Buy	Layla Zoe – The World could change – SPOTIFY – Buy
GA-20 – Crackdown – SPOTIFY – Buy	Alex Lopez – Nasty Crime – SPOTIFY – Buy
Lew Jetton – Deja Hoodoo – SPOTIFY – Buy	Lauren Anderson – Burn it all Down – SPOTIFY – Buy
Chris Antonik – Morningstar – SPOTIFY – Buy

Best Modern Roots CD

Larkin Poe – Blood Harmony – SPOTIFY – Buy

Jeremiah Johnson – Hi Fi Drive By – SPOTIFY – Buy	Emanuel casablanca – Blood on my Hands – SPOTIFY – Buy
Angel Forrest – Angels 11 – SPOTIFY – Buy	Crystal Shawanda – Midnight Blues – SPOTIFY – Buy
Meg Williams – Back to the Blues – SPOTIFY – Buy	Serabee – Hummingbird Tea – SPOTIFY – Buy
Angela Easley – Rise – SPOTIFY – Buy	Gina Sicilia – Unchanged – SPOTIFY – Buy
Durham Country Poets – Out of the Woods – SPOTIFY – Buy	Southbound Snake Charmers – The Snake – SPOTIFY – Buy
Bywater Call – Remain – SPOTIFY – Buy	Taylor Scott Band – The Hang – SPOTIFY – Buy

Best Independent Blues LIVE CD

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR – BLUES FROM THE HEART – SPOTIFY – Buy

Alastair Greene – Alive In the New World – SPOTIFY – Buy	Vanessa Collier – LIVE at the Power Station – SPOTIFY – Buy
Damon Fowler and Friends – LIVE at the Paladium – SPOTIFY – Buy	Hurricane Ruth – LIVE at 3rd and Lindsley – SPOTIFY – Buy
Jackie Venson – Love Transends LIVE in Austin – SPOTIFY – Buy	Diane BLue – LIVE at the Fallout Shelter – SPOTIFY – Buy
Matty T Wall – LIVE Down Underground – SPOTIFY – Buy	Ben Reel – Locked in and LIVE – SPOTIFY – Buy
Starlite Campbell Band – LIVE – SPOTIFY – Buy

Best Independent Blues New Artists CD

Dylan Triplett – Who is He – SPOTIFY – Buy

Emanuel casablanca – Blood on my Hands – SPOTIFY – Buy	Malaya Blue – Blue Credentials – SPOTIFY – Buy
Serabee – Hummingbird Tea – SPOTIFY – Buy	Spencer MacKenzie – Preach to my Soul – SPOTIFY – Buy
Ben Levin – Take Your Time – SPOTIFY – Buy	Yates Mckendree – Buchanan Lane – SPOTIFY – Buy
Yulian Taylor – Blues Friends – SPOTIFY – Buy	Matt Lomeo – When You Call – SPOTIFY – Buy

Best Traditional Blues Song

Follow the Money – Tom Hambridge/Gary Nicholson – Buddy Guy/James Taylor

Connecticut Blues – Delbert McClinton/Kevin Mckendree/Yates Mckendree
Golden Girl – Trudy Lynn
Money Talks – Doug MacLeod
Voodoo – Yates Mckendree
I’ll Come Running Back to you – William S Cook (The Nighthawks)
Took My Bar and Left me – Matt Lomeo/T Wilson
Don’t Tell Mama – Dave Weld/Monica Myhre
7 O’clock Somewhere – Dave Keyes
I’m Just Getting Started – Mick Kolassa
Honest I Do – Grant Dermody
Moved – Christopher Roberts/Shawn Amos

Best R&B/Soul Song

My Kinda Girl – Bernard Allison

Who is He and What is he to you – Dylan Triplett
Dressed to Kill – Robert Orsi – The Mighty Soul Drivers
Heavy Load – Annika Chambers/Paul Delauriers/jp Soars/Chris Peet
Rain Down on Me – Lauren Anderson
Rumpshaker – crystal Shawanda/Dwayne Strobel
My City – Kat Riggins
Gonna Life You Up – Eric Corne (Sugaray Rayford)
Mississippi Soul – Eri Latina/Jeannette Markey (markey blue)
Shine a Light on Love – Richard Cousins (Kirk Fletcher)
Smokey Tango – Mel Harker (Laura Tate)
Bad Man – Vanesse Thomas/Al Orlo
Save it Till I See You – Andrea Marr/John McNamara/Dave Reynolds

Best Contemporary Blues Song

Somewhere – Tommy Castro/Tom Hambridge

I can Let Go – Angela Easley
Heartache by the Pound – Kirk Fletcher/Richard Cousins
Standin Pat – Phil Berkowitz/Danny Caron (lucky Losers)
Hot Mess – Michele D’Amour
Mount Up on the Wings of the King – Jerry Beach (Kenny Neal)
Back at the Groove Shack – David Grant Whyte (Durham Country Poets)
When I Close My Eyes – Eri Latina/Jeannette Markey
Here in the Delta – Jose Ramirez/Shelly Bonet
Bayou Baby – Sera Buras/Jason McConnell
Underground Blues – Breezy Rodio
Hello Mojo – Derrick Procell/Terry Abrahamson

Best Blues Rock Song

Beat the Devil – Tinsley Ellis

I Got Love – Albert Castiglia/Ephraim Lowell/Justine Tompkins
So Excited – Bernard Allison
Zombie Blues – Lauren Anderson
Barnyard Blues – johnny lee schell/larry Fulcher/Mike finnigann/paul lawrence dunbar/ – Dylan Triplett (A1)
Queen of the Nile – Eliza Neals/Hureta Neals
Dark Heart – Layla Zoe/henrik freischlader*
Star – Dana Fuchs/Jon Diamond
Devil Man Blues – Russell Wright (Rusty Wright)
Just Wait – Alex Lopez
Two Lane Road – Robert Lewis Jetton (Lew Jetton)
Back to the Good – Chris Antonik/Derek Downham/Henry Lees

Best Modern Roots Song

Joanne Shaw Taylor – Reckless Heart

Sweet Misery – Jeremiah Johnson/Paul Niehaus IV/Tom Maloney
Blood Harmony – kevin John McGowan/Rebecca Lovell/Tyler Brant (larkin Poe)
Truth Be Told – Cam Cole
Whiskey and Wonder – Angel Forrest/Denis Coulombe
Healing Time – Colin James/Colin Linden/Jim Weider (Gina Scilia)
Preach to My Soul – Spencer MacKenzie/Richard Mackenzie
Whiskey n Mojo – Brooke Maloney/Chris Denman/Gary Ritchie/Nat Sutphin (Southbound Snake Charmers)
One More Last Time – Angela Easley
How Bad Do you Want it – Crystal Shawanda/Dwayne Strobel/Darin James
Loves to Love a Woman – Sera Buras/Jason McConnell Stebly (Serabee)
Let me Be Wrong – bywater Call/Dave Barnes/Meghan Parnell
Done Getting Over You – Meg Williams/F Scott Barrier
What we Got Going On – Kevin Harvey (Durham Country Poets)
Never Aim to Please – Tommy Stinson (Taylor Scott Band)

Best Song for the Common Good

The World Needs Love – Buddy Guy

Stand Up – Annika Chambers/Paul Delauriers/JP Soars/Chris Peet
United we Stand – Eric Corne/Sugaray Rayford
We’re All The Same – Layla Zoe/Henrik Freischlader
Fall of the USA – Jackie Venson
World On Fire – Alex Lopez
Fight the Good Fight – Vanesse Thomas
South Gotta Change – Adia Victoria
Tears All over the World – Eri Latina/Jeannette Markey (markey Blue)
South Gotta Change – Adia Victoria
Cross The Line – Kat Riggins

Best Music Video

Larkin Poe – Southern Comfort

Samantha Fish – Faster

Kenny Neal – New Orleans

Angel Forrest with Crystal Shawanda – Hope

Jeremiah Johnson Band – Hot Diggity Dog

Laura Tate – Smokey Tango

Kirt Fletcher – Afraid to Die too Scared to Live

Alley Venable – Hateful Blues

Adia Victoria – Magnolia Blues

Serabee – New Orleans

Cam Cole – Truth Be Told

Bywater Call – Remain

The Best Independent Blues Record Label

Alligator Records

Records
Whiskey Bayou Records
Gulf Coast Records
Blue Heart Records
Nola Blue
Delmark Records
Vizztone Lable Group
Wild Heart Records
Endless Blues Records
Forty Below Records
Qualified Records

The Best Independent Blues Public Relations/Radio Promotion

Blind Raccoon

Night Train PR
Bratgirl Media
Sarah French Publicity
Frank Roszak Promotion
MAC Radio Promotion
Eric Alper
Todd Glazer Radio Promotion
Devious Planet
Mark Pucci Media

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