2025 Blues Blast Music Award Nominees Announced

In June of 2025, a group of music critics, journalists, festival promoters, music venue managers, musicians and other Blues music industry professionals nominated the best in Blues music in twenty three categories.

Voting Starts Monday July 14th, 2025

Fan voting begins July 14, 2025 and ends at midnight on August 31, 2025 on their website at http://www.BluesBlastMagazine.com. Voting is free and open to anyone.  You may only vote one time.  If you are not currently a subscriber you are automatically signed up as a subscriber to our free magazine as part of the voting process. Blues Blast Magazine subscriptions are always FREE and you may unsubscribe at any time at the bottom of each issue!

The Blues Blast Music Awards are presented by Blues Blast Magazine, the largest FREE weekly E-magazine with over 44,000 Blues fan subscribers located in all 50 states and in more than 90 countries.

Blues Blast Music Awards ceremonies

The Blues Blast Music Awards ceremonies are not being held this year.

2025 Blues Blast Music Award Nominees

Contemporary Blues Album

Andrew Duncanson – California Trap (feat. Michael Peloquin)

Chris Cain – Good Intentions Gone Bad

Ronnie Baker Brooks – Blues In My DNA

Kid Ramos feat. Brian Templeton and Johnny Ramos – Strange Things Happening

Tony Holiday – Keep Your Head Up

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers – Closer To The Bone

Traditional Blues Album

John Primer – Grown in Mississippi

Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd – Young Fashioned Ways

Bob Corritore & Friends – Doin’ The Shout

Eden Brent – Getaway Blues

Frank Catalano and Lurrie Bell – Set Me Free

Bob Stroger & The Headcutters – Bob Is Back

Soul Blues Album

Curtis Salgado – Fine By Me

Billy Price – Person Of Interest

Tad Robinson – Soul In Blue

Sugaray Rayford – Human Decency

The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra – What Are You Waiting For?

Johnny Rawls – Make Them Dance

Rock Blues Album

Albert Castiglia – Righteous Souls

Tab Benoit – I Hear Thunder

Mike Farris – The Sound of Muscle Shoals

Brody Buster – Redemption

Matt “The Rattlesnake” Lesch – Blues Cut Like Glass

Ian Siegal Meets Johnny Mastro – Easy Tiger

Acoustic Blues Album

Giles Robson & John Primer – Ten Chicago Blues Classics

Johnny Iguana – At Delmark

Eva Rose & David Pippin – Black Water Blues

Catfish Keith – Shake Me Up

Guy Davis – The Legend of Sugarbelly

Lee Kanehira – The Chicago Blues Piano Trio!!

Prakash Slim – 8000 Miles To The Crossroads

Live Blues Album

Bruce Katz Band – Back In Boston Live

The Blues Giants – Live at Groove Now

Eric Johanson – Live In Mississippi

Tas Cru – Tas Cru Band LIVE

Sean Chambers – Live Featuring The Savoy Brown Rhythm Section

Willie Buck – Live at Buddy Guy’s Legends

Historical Or Vintage Recording

Frank Bey – Peace

Jim Brewer and Dan Smith – Take It Easy Greasy

Terry Blade – Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues

Bernard Allison – Chills & Thrills

Duke Robillard – Roll With Me

New Artist Debut Album

Jad Tariq – Jad Tariq Sings

Jovin Webb – Drifter

Jubu Smith – JUBU

Fran Drew and the Lucky Strikes – Trial by Fire

Jantso Jokelin – Spark of Luck

Christopher Wyze & the Tellers – Stuck in the Mud

Blues Band Of The Year

The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers

Southern Avenue

The Blood Brothers

Tab Benoit Band

Male Blues Artist

John Primer

Chris Cain

D.K. Harrell

Curtis Salgado

Tab Benoit

Andrew Duncanson

Female Blues Artist

Carolyn Wonderland

Eden Brent

Ruthie Foster

Shemekia Copeland

Sue Foley

Tierinii Jackson

Sean Costello Rising Star Award

Jad Tariq

Jovin Webb

Stephen Hull

Matt “The Rattlesnake” Lesch

Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport

Tony Holiday

Producer Of The Year

Kid Andersen

Tony Braunagel

Tom Hambridge

Mike Zito

Bob Corritore

Jim Gaines

Electric Guitarist Of The Year

Chris Cain

Kid Andersen

Tab Benoit

Laura Chavez

Duke Robillard

Kid Ramos

Acoustic Guitarist Of The Year

Catfish Keith

Guy Davis

Doug MacLeod

Keb’ Mo’

Kevin Burt

Slide Guitarist Of The Year

Sean Chambers

Derek Trucks

John Primer

Joanna Connor

Robert Randolph

Sonny Landreth

Bass Guitarist Of The Year

Bob Stroger

Rodrigo Mantovani

Benny Turner

Jerry Jemmott

Scot Sutherland

Danielle Nicole

Keyboard Player Of The Year

Bruce Katz

Ben Levin

Eden Brent

Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne

Johnny Iguana

Jim Pugh

Percussionist Of The Year

Derrick D’mar Martin

Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith

Tony Braunagel

June Core

Terrence Higgins

Tom Hambridge

Harmonica Player Of The Year

Jason Ricci

Bob Corritore

Dennis Gruenling

Kim Wilson

Rick Estrin

Charlie Musselwhite

Horn Player Of The Year

Jimmy Carpenter

Vanessa Collier

Terry Hanck

Sax Gordon Beadle

Deanna Bogart

Doug Woolverton

Vocalist Of The Year

Curtis Salgado

Oscar Wilson

Andrew Duncanson

Tad Robinson

Billy Price

Bobby Rush

Blues Video Of The Year

Tomislav Goluban with Crooked Eye Tommy – There Is A Train
https://youtu.be/7OTlGlkL30c?si=Av2xU9_RcM4oE0jD

Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd – Uncle Esau
https://youtu.be/MeM1to8FsW4?si=4IUPQTqsKffXkj2j

Peacock & the Surfarians – Dead Mans Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdXTVOnVGN4

Kid Ramos – Strange Things Happening
https://youtu.be/6pvr7FaIeU8?si=bZVFI0N8Gy9_AHFZ

Billy Price – Inside That Box
https://youtu.be/oAU_C6xIGk8?si=UZBxRyWQFhvhIjLR