British Blues Awards winners announced

The winners of the 2021 UKBlues Awards were announced at a ceremony on Sunday 9th May: an event that, though virtual in form, proved as prestigious, star-studded and rich in talent as ever. The awarding body, the UKBlues Federation, streamed the event via their Facebook page and YouTube channel. Despite the event being held virtually, the awards were announced live.

The evening was compèred by blues legend and broadcaster Paul Jones. Paul also presented the International Artist Award and also presented a special feature in remembrance of the late Chris Barber, in which Paul reminisced with Andy Fairweather Low about the remarkable and seminal man whom many credit with introducing the blues to the UK.

The evening culminated with a showstopping jam version of a song that seems well-suited to the moment — ‘Let The Good Times Roll’ — featuring many of the winners and finalists from the 2021 UKBlues Awards.

The award categories were presented by star presenters, as follows, and the winners are:

Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year, presented by Bob Harris: Dom Martin

UK Blues Artist of the Year, presented by Cerys Matthews: Elles Bailey

Blues Band of the Year, presented by Jon Cleary: When Rivers Meet

Blues Instrumentalist of the Year, presented by Joe Bonnamassa: Matt Long

Jules Fothergill Young Blues Artist of the Year, presented by Lorna Fothergill: Connor Selby

Emerging Blues Artist of the Year, presented by Erja Lyytinen: When Rivers Meet

International Blues Artist of the Year, presented by Paul Jones: Shemekia Copeland

Dave Raven UK Blues-based Broadcaster of the Year, presented by Suellen Raven: Paul Long

Blues Album of the Year, presented by Mike Vernon: When Rivers Meet,  We Fly Free

Blues-based Festival or Event of the Year:  Great British Rock & Blues Festival, Skegness

Most Innovative Use of Virtual Media of the Year: Tuesday Night Music Club

Most Inspirational Online Performance of the Year: When Rivers Meet, for Rock the Lockdown

Unsung Blues Hero 2021, presented by Kaz Hawkins: Mark Horsley

Unsung Blues Hero 2021, presented by Ashwyn Smyth: Nick Westgarth