When Rivers Meet the trophies collided as Grace & Aaron Bond the dynamic duo – collected four awards – they stole the show tonight
Ashwyn Smyth opened the event in a sunny garden with a backdrop of songbird. The second year of virtual awards. Welcomed and thanked the MC and the board of UKBlues Federation for their continuing hard work. Ashwyn invited everyone to pop over after the event to the newly re-vamped website – check it out, Join the Federation and sign up to the newsletter
Lorna Fothergill presented the Jules Fothergill Young Artist of The Year Award – Sponsored by Terry & Lesley Marshall
The Winner – Conor Selby
Congratulations to the finalists –
Joe Anderton
Toby Lee
Marcus Prendegast Stevens
Ashley Sherlock
Erja Lyytinnen presented Emmerging Blues Artist of the Year – sponsored by Digital Blues
The Winner – When Rivers Meet
Congratulations to the finalists –
Alice Armstrong
Dom Martin
Connor Selby
Emma Wilson
Unsung Hero Awards Presented by Kaz Hawkins to Mark Horsley – Scarborough Top Secret Blues Festival
Acoustic Act of the Year – Presented by Bob Harris Sponsored by Goin’ Up The Country Blues Club, Worthenbury
The Winner – Dom Martin
Congratulations to the finalists –
Half Deaf Clatch
Martin Harley
Mark Harrison
Trevor ‘Babajack’ Steger
New Award – Most Innovative Use of Virtual Media of the Year – Hohner distributed by Sutherland Trading for the UK & Ireland
The Winner – Tuesday Night Music Club – Zoom Gigs
Congratulations to the finalists –
Tommy Allen Live In The Chair
Rufus Fry Harmonica Fitness Programme Series
James Oliver Twang Tuesdays
White Noise Studio on Line Gigs
Blues Festival or Event Live or Virtual – Sponsored By Darlington Rhythm & Blues Club
The Winner – Great British Rock & Blues Festival – Skegness
Congratulations to the finalists –
Broadstairs Blues Bash
Isolation Festival – Nick Garner
Lockdown Music Festival – Jason Elliott & Paddy Maguire
Swanage Blues Festival
Blues Instrumentalist of the Year; Presented by Joe Bonamassa – Sponsored by Sarah’s Sussex Blues
The Winner – Matt Long
Congratulations to the finalists –
Chris Corcoran
Dom Martin
Giles Robinson
Stevie Watts
After an instrumental from Matt Long –
A Tribute to Chris Barber: Paul Jones talked with Andy Fairweather Low sharing many special memories.
Most Insprirational Online Performance – Hohner distributed by Sutherland Trading for the UK & Ireland
The Winner – When Rivers Meet – Rock The Lockdown – Live Streams
Congratulations to the finalists –
Soul Shine Jam Band – 2020 UKBlues Awards
Exile – Live In Lockdown – Catfish
Ain’t Nothin’ But – The Livestream Series – Elles Bailey
Kyla Brox – Live At The Royal Exchange Theatre
Suellen Raven presented the Dave Raven UK Blues Based Broadcaster of the Year – In partnership with Access the Arts
The Winner – Paul Long
Congratulations to the finalists –
Ashwyn Smyth
Gary Grainger
Pete Feenstra
Richard Dunning
Blues Album of the Year presented by Mike Vernon – Sponsored By The Colourblind Blues Show
The Winner – We Fly Free – When Rivers Meet
Congratulations to the finalists –
Ain’t Nothin’ But – Elles Bailey
Sand & Stone – Chris Bevington Organisation
No Entry – Errol Linton
Exile – Live In Lockdown – Catfish
Blues Artist of The Year presented by Cerys Matthews – Sponsored by Blues in the South
The Winner – Elles Bailey
Congratulations to the finalists –
Errol Linton
Kyla Brox
Matt Long
Connor Selby
Unsung Hero Award – UK Blues Federation Award presented by Ashwyn Smyth – Nick Westgarth (Carlisle Blues Rock Festival)
International Blues Artist/Band – Blues Matters!
The Winner – Shemekia Copeland
Congratulations to the finalists –
Larkin Poe
Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar
Savoy Brown
Southern Avenue
The Blues Band Year presented by Jon Cleary – White Noise Studios
The Winner – When Rivers Meet
Congratulations to the finalists –
Catfish
Chris Bevington Organisation
The Cinelli Brothers
Stevie Watts Organ Trio Feat. Alice Armstrong
A virtual jam closed out the virtual showcase and celebration of the blues across the UK.
Let The Good Times Roll
Vocals: Grace Bond Aaron Bond, Matt Long. Paul Long, Elles Bailey, Alice Armstrong. Emma Wilson. Kyla Brox, Dom Martin
Harmonica: Rufus Fry & Giles Robson
Guitar: Matt Long, Marco Cinnelli, Aaron Bond, Conor Selby, Toby Lee, Marcus Prendegast- Stevens, Dom Martin, Ashley Sherlock
Bass: Adam Pike
Piano: Paul Long
Organ: Stevie Watts
Drums: Allesadro Cinnelli, Kev Hickman
The video of the joyous outpouring of blues love and comradeship was surberbly edited by Kev Hickman after the artists recorded themselves at home. A vision of Blues 2021 style until we are back at a venue with the power and energy pf live music.
