Without question 2017 has been one of the most exhilarating years as it relates to the release of new blues music in recent memory. As always, we have enjoyed great albums from all over the world and a quick glance at the BLUES JUNCTION PRODUCTIONS Awards reveals that we have winners from two hemispheres, three continents and six countries. We have both veteran and brand-new blues artists represented this year as well.

I have never enjoyed or even taken very seriously awards where individual instrumentalists are pitted against one another ie. “Best Guitarist” “Best Harmonica Player” or my favorite, “Best Instrumentalist – Other” and so on. However, I thought it would be appropriate to recognize the most important instrument of them all, the human voice. So, with that in mind, we introduce our newest category “The Etta James and Lynwood Slim Awards honoring the best female and male vocalists respectively in the blues field.

Congratulations to the recipients of our annual BLUES JUNCTION Productions Awards.

- David Mac

Album of the Year:

Rick Estrin and the Nightcats – Groovin’ in Greaseland

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Best Acoustic Blues Album of the Year:

Big Creek Slim -

Good Mill Blues, Greasy Chicken Sessions Volumes 1

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Best Soul-Blues Album of the Year:

Wee Willie Walker and the Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra -

After A While

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Best Jazz-Blues Album of the Year:

Konstantin Kolesnechenko - Minor Differences

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Best Instrumental Album:

Chris Corcoran - Blues Guitar Grooves

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Best Roots / Americana Album of the Year:

Nathan James - What I Believe

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Best Solo or Duo Album of the Year:

Marco Pandolfi and Greg Izor - Homemade Wine

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Best New Artist Debut:

The Dylan Bishop Band - The Exciting Sounds of…

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Best Veteran Artist Debut:

Patrick Recob Perpetual Luau

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The Etta James Award for Best Female Vocalist:

Bia Marchese

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The Lynwood Slim Award for Best Male Vocalist:

Oscar Wilson