Independent Blues Awards 2020
Making a Scene Presents the 2020 Independent Blues Awards!
You the readers, have presented us with a very impressive list of artists that represent the diversity of music that that always has and still is being created from the roots of the blues.
We would like to Congratulate All of these artists, both the winning artists and those who have been nominated. Each of these artists, in their own right, have earned their position in their nominated category. We at Making A Scene are excited because this year we had a fantastic diverse selection of nominees.
Now, of course we have to do things a little different than any of the other “Awards” out there.
As you check out the list of winners, you will also have the opportunity to explore and discover the artists that stood with them in each category. As you go through the list we use a simple link format, The link attached to the artist’s name will take you to their website, The Link attached to the CD Title will take you to a Spotify playlist for that CD and the Buy Link will take you to Amazon.com so you can purchase the physical CD or mp3 downloads. This is more important than ever! Please support all the artists, both those who won and those who were nominated!
As you go through this article you will be able to explore the music and work of the artists who YOU voted for, as well as all the work of the nominees as well. Use the links to explore artists you are not familiar with and reacquaint yourself with those you may know. We feel it is important that we embrace the full diversity of music in this genre and support the touring artists who are creating the future of the the Blues!
Add them to your playlists, buy their music and This is more important than ever as EVERY musician is suffering during the complete shutdown of LIVE music Venues!
The Purpose of the Independent Blues Awards to honor the touring artists who are out there creating new original music rooted in the blues.
The indie artists are those artists who believe Creativity and Innovation are the true tradition of the blues!
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2020
This is where we honor those artists who have represented the spirit of indie blues with their full body of work over the year
Best Independent Male Blues Artist Nominees
Joe Bonamassa Listen
Eric Gales Listen Benny Turner Listen
Best Independent Female Blues Artist Nominees
Samantha Fish Listen
Best Traditional Blues Band Nominees
Altered Five Blues Band Listen
Rick Estrin and the Nightcats Listen
Lucky Peterson Listen
Best Contemporary Blues Band Nominees
Andrew Jr. Boy Jones- Kerrie Lepai Jones Listen
Christone Kingfish Ingram Listen
Independent Blues-Soul Artist Nominees
Samantha Fish Listen
Best Blues Rock Band Nominees
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Listen
Best Modern Roots Band Nominees
Larkin Poe Listen
Best New Artist Nominees
Ally Venable Listen
The Independent Blues Awards CD Awards honors those releases that have exhibited a high standard of writing, performance and recording quality.
Best Independent Blues Acoustic CD Nominees
Watermelon Slim – Church of The Blues – SPOTIFY – Buy
Broady Buster – Damn! I Spilled the Blues – SPOTIFY – Buy
Tony and Joe – Tin Can Tunes – SPOTIFY – Buy
Reverend Freakchild – Road Dog Dharma – SPOTIFY – Buy
Hudspeth & Taylor – Folie A Deux – SPOTIFY – Buy
Jontavious Willis – SPECTACULAR CLASS – SPOTIFY – Buy
Bruce Katz – Solo Ride – SPOTIFY – Buy
Terry Rob – Confessin’ My Dues – SPOTIFY – Buy
CY Ayon – What They Say – SPOTIFY
Best Independent Blues Contemporary CD Nominees
Tomás Doncker – Moaning at Midnight – Buy
Vince Agwada – Light of Day – Buy
Brandon Santini – The Longshot – Buy
Guitar Shorty – Tryin to Find my Way Back – Buy
Ray Fuller and the Blues Rockers – Pay the Price – Buy
Albert Castiglia – Masterpiece – Buy
Tomislav Goluban – Chicago Rambler – Buy
J.P. Soars – Let Go Of The Reins – Buy
Shaun Murphy – Reason To Try – Buy
Toronzo Cannon and The Chicago Way – The Preacher, The Politician or The Pimp – Buy
Delbert McClinton – Tall, Dark, & Handsome – Buy
Best Independent Blues Traditional CD Nominees
Billy Price – Dog Eat Dog – Buy
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats – Contemporary – Buy
Benny Turner & Cash McCall – Going Back Home – Buy
Altered Five Blues Band – Ten Thousand Watts – Buy
Bob Corritore – Do The Hip-Shake Baby! – Buy
Lucky Peterson – 50 – Just Warming Up! – Buy
Biscuit Miller & The Mix – Chicken Grease – Buy
The Nick Moss Band – Lucky Guy! – Buy
John Primer – The Soul of A Blues Man – Buy
Murali Coryell – Made In Texas – Buy
Best Independent Blues R&B/Soul CD Nominees
Tullie Brae – Revelation – Buy
Sugar Ray Rayford – Somebody Save Me – Buy
Zac Harmon – Mississippi BarBQ – Buy
Vaneese Thomas – Down Yonder – Buy
Annika Chambers – Kiss My Sass – Buy
Tiffany Pollack & Eric Johanson – Blues In My Blood – Buy
Terry Hanck – I Still Get Excited – Buy
Jimmy Carpenter – Soul Doctor – Buy
Samantha Fish – Kill or be Kind – Buy
Elles Bailey – Road I Call Home – Buy
Best Independent Blues Rock CD Nominees
Matty T Wall – Transpacific Blues, Vol#1 – Buy
Ally Venable – Texas Honey – Buy
Mindi Abair – No Good Deed – Buy
Joanna Conner – Rise – Buy
Eliza Neals – Sweet or Mean – Buy
Seth Walker – Are You Open? – Buy
Angel Forrest – Hell Bent with Grace – Buy
Heavey Drunk – Holywater – Buy
Joanne Shaw Taylor – Reckless Heart – Buy
Eric Gales – The Bookends – Buy
Best Modern Roots CD Nominees
Katarina Pejak – Roads That Cross – Buy
Ina Forsman – Been Meaning To Tell You – Buy
Seth James – The Good Life – Buy
Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers – No Good Deed – Buy
Eric Johanson – Blues In My Blood – Buy
Heather Newman – Rise From The Flames – Buy
Ghost Town Blues Band – Shine – Buy
Kern Pratt – Greenville Ms What About you – Buy
Tennessee Redemption – Tennessee Redemption – Buy
Jeremiah Johnson – Heavens to Betsy – Buy
Best Independent Blues LIVE CD Nominees
Dave Keller – Live at the Killer Guitar Thriller – Buy
Jack Mack and the Heart Attack – Live From Centennial Park, Atlanta 1996 – Buy
Chris Bad News Barnes – Live – Buy
Ben Racine Band – Live A Montreal – Buy
The Kentucky Headhunters – Live at the Ramblin’ Man Fair – Buy
Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps – Live! – Buy
Mike Zito – LIVE from the Top – Buy
Nancy Wright – Alive & Blue – Buy
Packrat’s Smokehouse – Men of the Swamp LIVE
Tommy Castro – Killin it Live – Buy
Best Independent Blues New Artists CD Nominees
Eric Johanson – Blues In My Blood – Buy
Ina Forsman – Been Meaning To Tell You – Buy
Katarina Pejak – Roads That Cross – Buy
Nick Schnebelen – Crazy All By Myself – Buy
Heather Newman – Rise From The Flames – Buy
Sister Lucille – Alive – Buy
Kern Pratt – Greenville Ms What About you – Buy
Tom Euler – Blues Got My Back – Buy
Nicholas David – Yesterday’s Gone – Buy
Rebekah Meldrum – Rebekah Meldrum – Buy
Best Traditional Blues Song Nominees
Lucky Peterson – 50 Years
Shawn Murphy – Reason to Try
The Jimmys – Words and Actions
Best R&B/Soul Song Nominees
Delbert McClinton – Any other way
Best Contemporary Blues Song Nominees
Eliza Neals – Black Crow Moan
Marcus King – Welcome Round here
Best Blues Rock Song Nominees
Vince Agwada – Blues 99
Best Modern Roots Song Nominees
Nicolas David – Peel Back the Leaves
Ina Forsman – Why you gotta be that way
Katrina Pejak – Sex Kills
Rebekah Meldrum – Ain’t thinking about you
Seth James – Good Life
Joanne Shaw Taylor – Reckless Heart
Southern Ave – The Tea I sip
Samantha Fish – Kill or Be Kind
Jeremiah Johnson – Leo Stone
Heavydrunk – Walking to the Mission in the Rain
Best Song for the Common Good Nominees
Gary Clark jr. – This Land
Eric Gales – Reaching for a change
Best Music Video Nominees
Samantha Fish – Kill or Be Kind
Angel Forrest – The Blame Game
Ghalia – Meet you Down the Road
Mike Zito and Walter Trout – Johnny B Good
Nicholas David – Hole in the Bottom
Katarina Pejak – Roads that Cross
Zac Harmon – Mississippi Bar B Q
The Artists Honors are a special Category that acknowledges an artist and their dedication to their craft and their desire to move the bar for themselves and others. These honors represent the kind of talent and dedication that are held in high regard by all touring artists.
Best Music Engineer/Producer Nominees
This award recognizes the unique talent of mastering the art of working in a studio environment to create a musical vision. They understand arrangement, song construction, sonic balance and by using technical applications they create an emotional journey.
Samantha Fish Listen All Music Credits
Bob Corritore Listen All Music Credits
Independent Blues Artist Gateway Award Nominees
Through their innovative and creative interpretation of the Blues, these artists Introduce new Fans to Blues rooted music. Choose which artists you believe had the biggest influence in bringing new awarness and fans to the genre.
Samantha Fish Listen
Best Independent Blues Stage Performance Nominees
As a performer, the stage show is sometimes as important as the music. Creating a great LIVE music experience is an important aspect of an artist image.
Eric Gales Listen
Road Warrior Award Nominees
It is not easy being on the road as a musician. This award recognizes the sacrifices that these artists make by spending endless hours traveling from town to town to bring us their music, This is time away from their friends and family. A Road Warrior is dedicated to their craft and art!
