It’s time for another blues music poll!
This time, Blues Blast Magazine is asking for your votes in its annual fan voting poll for its 2025 Blues Blast Music Awards. The magazine asks a group of music critics, journalists, festival promoters, music venue managers, musicians and other blues music industry professionals to nominate the best in blues over 23 categories. Then readers get to vote.
Blues Blast is a free online magazine, founded in 2007 and headquartered in the U.S. with 45,000 subscribers worldwide. Voting is open to anyone, and if you’re not a Blues Blast subscriber you are automatically signed up for a free subscription as part of the voting process. You may unsubscribe at any time. Voting ends on Aug. 31.
Follow this link to cast your vote.
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
Blues Roadhouse 