Organised by the UK Blues Federation, the annual UK Blues awards is a key event in the UK Blues Community calendar. Indeed, I got there early, and there was a special buzz in The Stables foyer as artists, promoters, club owners, festival organisers, photographers, journalists and most crucially, the committed audience who together support Blues music in all its genres, all arrived, creating sparks of excitement and anticipation in the atmosphere.

Credit and thanks for tonight must go to Richard Dunning, Paul Long and the Board of the UK Blues Federation for organising this evening, showcasing the diversity and vibrancy of the current UK Blues scene at its very best. Thanks also to Stephen Stanley at Solid Entertainments for promoting and organising ticketing, The Stables restaurant, bar and technical staff, as well as this evening's valued sponsors, who give of their time nationally to promote music and the Blues. And for those who were unfortunately unable to make the journey, the event was also live streamed.

Hosted by the mellifluous, legendary Blues artist and broadcaster, Paul Jones, the audience loved this ageless, enduringly cool, walking/talking Blues encyclopaedia's, magisterial command of this evening's proceedings, by the UK’s King of the Blues MC! Indeed, each of tonight's presenters, who were privileged to present the awards, did so with love and respect to the artists and their colleagues.

As well as winning Contemporary Blues Artist Of The Year, 'Queen' Alice Armstrong also received the Blues Vocalist Of The Year award in the commanding presence of Steven Steinhaus, the music director of award sponsors Upton Blues Festival, who very poignantly quoted Barbra Streisand’s "People need people" lyric, reinforcing the point that live artists need live punters and vice versa, as without them there would be no live music.

Sponsors Of The Emerging Act Of The Year, won by The Whisky Flowers, tonight also saw the legendary Crawdaddy Club core crew in attendance, resplendent in their t-shirts, as were those from Coulsdon's The Tuesday Night Music Club, who were all touched to see both Richard and Ros Dunning accept their award for UK Blues Club/Venue Of The Year.

Very understandably, all recipients tonight were genuinely moved by their awards, whether in person or on screen. Indeed, sponsor of International Artist of the Year, Blues Matters editor Stephen Harrison was in fine form presenting the award to Joanne Shaw Taylor, albeit JST accepting it with a pre-recorded video of thanks, as was the case with the Dave Raven Blues Based Broadcaster of the Year award, with Elles Bailey taking a well earned break after touring in Spain! To complete this Blues triumvirate, Marco and Alessandro Cinelli's father Mimmo, also accepted the Blues Band Of The Year award on behalf of his sons from Blues in Britain magazine editor Nicholas John, as very aptly The Cinelli Brothers were on the road gigging in Chester! This was a particularly touching moment for me as his acceptance speech not only demonstrated his sons love for the UK, but also Mimmo and his wife Sylvia’s pride as parents for their achievements.

Talking of which, it was also wonderful to witness the love and devotion to each other of the magnificent Paul and Fiona Long, with Paul not only stepping up to the podium to introduce the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was accepted on behalf of Eric Clapton by Paul Jones, but they also sponsored and presented Will Wilde with Instrumentalist Of The Year. However, their evening was very fittingly complete. when they accepted Catfish's 'Time to Fly' Album of the Year award, in memory of their late son and guitarist Matt, who so tragically passed away from cancer in 2024..

The first award of the evening was for the Jules Fothergill Young Artist of the Year, sponsored by Terry and Leslie Marshall, and similarly it was also touching to see the legendary Terry Marshall’s wonderful wife Leslie presenting the award to Zac Schulze in Terry’s stead, given Terry was unfortunately unwell. Terry you were so missed and the UK Blues community loves you, so get well soon!

Indeed, to complement the award of all fifteen categories, there were also live performances on the night, kicking off with Sean Taylor, whose acoustic set was both melodic and meaningful. And before winning her two awards, Alice Armstrong also thrilled the audience with her band, including Greg Coulson, giving them a delicious preview of her searing new single 'Blood in The Water', as well as her own homage to BB King's 'The Letter B Song'. Currently on an extended honeymoon, the moving live performance of newly married Caitlin Krisko and Aaron Austin, saw an uber powerful acoustic set from this USA based couple that was simply awesome. Finally, The Zac Schulze Gang performed an electrifying set, with Zac, his brother Ben on drums and bassist Ant Greenwell, as well as Nigel Feist on harmonica, who were powerful, arresting to watch and sounded so darn good to hear live.

Tonight, the punters who came from all over the UK to this super special event, felt able to mix and mingle with the artists. Indeed, it was great to see all my friends including Brave Rival and The Milk Men in the foyer and to chat, as you have given me so many hours of great live music performances and fabulous photos! After all, the Blues is for all, including those with a hidden disability like myself, as well as those with an obvious one, such as the Welsh lady with impaired hearing present his evening, whose face wonderfully lit up during The Zac Schulze Gang's set, which gave her devoted mother so much pleasure.

To all of the worthy category nominated artists tonight, I salute and applaud you. We all do in the UK Blues scene, not forgetting of course the lifeblood of the clubs and festivals, who's only desire is to platform the artists, ensure that they can perform, be paid and carry on spreading the Blues word, song and soul. And for those who did not take away an award tonight, you should congratulate yourselves on being so talented, because we gig goers love you all!

Whilst you may sing and play the Blues in all of its forms, you deliver far more than the Blues to our souls. Rather colourful and meaningful joy! Just know that this Blues gigging gal, as well as all of your gig and social media followers, here and beyond the UK, think that you are all winners in your own individual and collective way! To all of you, I wish a wonderful gig and music filled year ahead!

Congratulations to the full list of winners below :

Traditional Blues Artist Of The Year: Connor Selby
Contemporary Blues Artist Of The Year: Alice Armstrong
Blues Vocalist Of The Year: Alice Armstrong
Blues Instrumentalist Of The Year: Will Wilde
Blues Band Of The Year: The Cinelli Brothers
Acoustic Blues Act Of The Year: Mississippi MacDonald
Jules Fothergill Young Blues Artist of the Year: Zac Schulze
Emerging Act Of The Year: Whisky Flowers
UK Blues Club/Venue Of The Year: The Tuesday Night Music Club - Coulsdon
Blues Based Festival Of The Year: Colne Great British Rhythm & Blues
Dave Raven Blues Based Broadcaster of the Year: Elles Bailey
Blues Album Of The Year: Catfish - Time To Fly
International Artist Of The Year: Joanne Shaw Taylor
Unsung Hero Of The Year: Jim Simpson
Lifetime Achievement: Eric Clapton

Review and photos: Denise Lester