On Thursday, January 25, 2024, the Blues Foundation announced the nominees for the 45th Annual Blues Music Awards. Alligator Records artists received an astounding 27 nominations.
Leading all artists with seven nominations is Chicago’s Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling. Nominations include the coveted awards for Band Of The Year, Album Of The Year (for Get Your Back Into It!) and Song Of The Year (for The Bait In The Snare). Harmonica player Dennis Gruenling and band bassist Rodrigo Mantovani each received an individual nomination as well.
GRAMMY Award-winning artist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram followed with five nominations, including Album Of The Year, Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year (for the GRAMMY-nominated Live In London) and Song Of The Year (for Midnight Heat). Additionally, he’s up for Contemporary Blues Male Artist Of The Year and Best Instrumentalist — Guitar.
Visionary bluesman Selwyn Birchwood received four nominations, including Band Of The Year, Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year (for Exorcist), Contemporary Blues Male Artist Of The Year and Song Of The Year (for Horns Below Her Halo).
Blues legend Billy Branch received nominations for Traditional Blues Male Artist Of The Year and Best Instrumentalist — Harmonica. The Cash Box Kings received one for Album Of The Year (for Oscar’s Motel) and one for Best Instrumentalist – Drums for Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith.
Chicago blues icon Lil’ Ed Williams (of Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials) received a nomination for the B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year Award.
Internationally beloved guitar master Chris Cain, blues rocker and vocalist Coco Montoya and Texas guitarist Carolyn Wonderland received one nomination each. Guitarist Kid Andersen and drummer Derrick “D’Mar” Martin (both of Rick Estrin & The Nightcats) also received one nomination each.
The 45th Annual Blues Music Awards will be held in Memphis, Tennessee on Thursday, May 9 at The Renasant Convention Center.
Alligator artists and their nominations follow:
Band Of The Year
Album Of The Year (Get Your Back Into It!)
Traditional Blues Album Of The Year (Get Your Back Into It!)
Song Of The Year (The Bait In The Snare)
Traditional Blues Male Artist Of The Year (Nick Moss)
Best Instrumentalist -- Harmonica (Dennis Gruenling)
Best Instrumentalist -- Bass (Rodrigo Mantovani)
Album Of The Year (Live In London)
Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year (Live In London)
Song Of The Year (Midnight Heat)
Contemporary Blues Male Artist Of The Year
Best Instrumentalist -- Guitar
Band Of The Year
Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year (Exorcist)
Song Of The Year (Horns Beneath Her Halo)
Contemporary Blues Male Artist Of The Year
Traditional Blues Male Artist Of The Year
Best Instrumentalist -- Harmonica
Traditional Blues Album Of The Year (Oscar's Motel)
Best Instrumentalist -- Drums (Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith)
Best Instrumentalist -- Guitar (Christoffer "Kid" Andersen)
Best Instrumentalist -- Drums (Derrick "D'Mar" Martin)
Best Instrumentalist -- Vocals
B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year -- (Lil Ed Williams)
Blues Rock Album Of The Year (Writing On The Wall)
Contemporary Blues Male Artist Of The Year
Contemporary Blues Female Artist Of The Year
