The voting in our eleven categories in our 2017 WRC Awards continues here as we focus today on our Best Unplugged category. In April we had the privilege of seeing Erja Lyytinen perform an 'unplugged' set at Soho's Ain't Nothing But Blues venue (pictured) in advance of her gig at London's 100 Club the following night. Meanwhile a month later, the WRC caught 'Honest Man' Matt Andersen at London's Borderline before our final nominee - Dan Reed - performed at St. Pancras Old Church, a beautifully restored parish church half way between Camden High Street and St. Pancras station. Simply vote for one of these three outstanding nominees here plus you can also check our Extreme/Dan Reed Network photo gallery here from Wednesday night's Brixton Academy gig.

Yes its true. Just like Wizzard, our mates at Shooter are no more but their Christmas song (Video Of The Day) lives on and it is globally re-released today from all cool digital stores. You can order 'Christmas Times A Time To Rock' now on iTunes and for just 59p. What a pressie! Why not help them get it to No. 1!!! Remember a pirate is for life not just Xmas!

2017 WRC Award Best Radio Show nominees The Blues Club Podcast return with today's Track Of The Day and another two hours of non-stop Best in Blues with More Music and Less Chat, featuring New Releases, Classic Tracks, UK Independent Blues Broadcasters Association Presenters' Picks and much more. Music this week Includes tracks from Lucy Zirins, Tommy Castro, Corey Dennison Band, Downchild, Heather Newman Band, Brenda Boykin, Sweet Pea Atkinson, Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo', Chris Daniels and the Kings, The McKee Brothers, Kings & Associates, Josh Hyde, Little G Weevil, London Blusion, Jack J Hutchinson, Dave Ferra, Niall Kelly, Lara and the Bluz Dawgz, Erin Harpe and the Delta Swingers, Catfish, Doghouse Sam & His Magnatones, Samantha Fish, Dan Burnett, Richard Townend & The Mighty Bosscats (pictured), Dago Red, Bobby Kyle, B. B. & The Blues Shacks and more.

The Kris Barras Band have recently joined the Provogue label. The Devonshire born Blues-Rock guitar-slinger has built a fearsome live reputation across Europe through solid touring and the release of 2016's stellar full length debut ‘Lucky 13’ which has seen him battle his way to the front of the British Blues-Rock pack. 2017 saw him step up and step out to play in front of huge crowds at RAWA Blues Festival (Poland) and an incredible performance at Ramblin’ Man Fair, but these crowds hold no fear for the former Mixed Martial Artist who has fought across the world including in Thailand, Las Vegas and in Singapore, where he fought in front of 8000 people, winning 14 out of 17 professional fights!

Last night at London’s O2 Academy Brixton, 2017 WRC Award nominees Dan Reed Network were special guests on Extreme’s December 2017 UK tour. As expected, all cylinders were furiously firing and all guns were blazing following DRN's last critically acclaimed album 'Fight Another Day'. And if that wasn't enough for the Academy faithful, headliners Extreme, who we unfortunately missed at Ramblin' Man earlier this year, rounded off a brilliant night with an amazing set. Anyone would think it was Christmas! Anyway, with more photos to come plus a review - check out today's Video Of The Day.

Following the announcement of our 2017 WRC Award nominees yesterday - today we turn our attention to Best Support. First up is Canadian one-man Blues Rock power trio Steve Hill who we saw supporting Wishbone Ash at Islington's O2 Academy in October. Next it's another Hill - Glaswegians Mason Hill (pictured - think Alter Bridge meets UFO. And then has a love child with Black Stone Cherry) who we saw support Inglorious at London's Islington Assembly Hall in May. And finally American Blues Rock guitarist Gary Hoey (Track Of The Day) who supported Eric Gales at Nells Jazz & Blues in London at the beginning of May. So there you have it - if you want to cast your vote for one of these awesome support bands then simply go here - and as an incentive from Gary Hoey you can download some of his Christmas songs here!

"The band dynamic is another jewel in the DRN crown. Reed's powerful voice, energy and charisma was complemented by four outstanding musicians who just ooze their love of live music. The ever-smiling dreadlocked lead guitarist Brion James, with a new album out, belying his 61 years, not only with stand-out guitar solo's on the amazing 'Stronger Than Steel', 'Rainbow Child' and 'FAD's awesome 'Champion', but also seamlessly took lead vocals on the funky reggae of 'Save The World' also from 'FAD' and not forgetting the brief 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number' - part of that Trump gag." That was part of our take on 2017 WRC Best International Award nominees Dan Reed Network at the iconic 100 Club in March this year (pictured) and tonight Dan returns to London to support Extreme (Video Of The Day) at the Brixton Academy.

Another 2017 WRC Award nominee is Rock On The Ridge and on today's "Christmas but not as you know it" Track Of The Day they dish up Status Quo, The Kinks, Blue Oyster Cult, Greg Lake, Rob Halford, Queen, The Who, Free, Iron Maiden, Shooter, Micki Free, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Ally Dickaty, The Darkness, Billy F Gibbons & Lemmy Kilmister, Trucker Diablo, Lynyrd Skynyrd (pictured), Goo Goo Dolls, Bruce Springsteen, Mountain, Joe Bonamassa and The Mentulls.

With all the great music we have witnessed during 2017 - it wasn't easy - but yes we have finally come up with our nominees here in this year's WRC Awards. Simply choose your favourite from each of the eleven categories provided here and hit the vote button. You have until midnight 31st December to make your choice and only one vote per category per e-mail address is allowed - so there. So what are you waiting for? Spread the good news and make sure your favourite band gets the votes it deserves! In the meantime, today's Track Of The Day is last Saturday's Rock On The Ridge - one of the nominees in our our Best Radio Show category that also includes Blues On The Radio, Blues On The Marsh and Black On Blues!

Very much part of the London Rhythm and Blues scene in the 1960's, The Downliners started out in Twickenham on Eel Pie Island and subsequently took over The Rolling Stones' residency at Ken Colyers Club in London's West End. Tonight, The Downliners Sect (Video Of The Day) return to The Eel Pie Club, The Patch, 67 London Road, Twickenham TW1 3SZ, a band that still attracts crowds of thousands in Japan, Spain and Sweden where their song, 'Little Egypt', reached Number One in the Hit Parade. Today, The Downliners Sect are original members, Don Craine (vocals/guitar) and Keith Grant (vocals/bass) plus Del Dwyer (vocals/guitar), John O'Leary (vocals/harmonica) and Mark Freeman (drums). Doors open at 8.30pm with music from 9-11pm. WRC members are reminded that they can use their cards to get discounted admission.

The Mascot Label Group recently signed Dutch Psychedelic Blues trio DeWolff, a band formed in the Netherlands’ Deep South of Geleen as teenagers in 2007 by singer/guitarist Pablo van de Poel, brother/drummer Luka van de Poel and Hammond organist Robin Piso. They’re an old soul in a young body, transporting the listener back into the swirling psychedelia drenched Blues of the mid-60's. The trio combine an eccentric mixture of inexhaustible energy, great musicianship, contagious enthusiasm and a play-like-it’s-your-last-show-mentality that have seen them light a trail across Europe selling out headline shows, playing festivals such as Pinkpop, Lowlands, Reeperbahn, Rockpalast, Sziget and pick up prestigious support slots with Deep Purple and The Black Keys.

Blues On The Radio host Richard Dunning casts his eyes (and ears) back over a fabulous year of music on today's Track Of The Day to fill an hour with some of his favourites from 2017. What you'll get is an hour of just some of BOTR's musical highlights from Katie Bradley & Chris Corcoran, Troy Redfern, Half Deaf Clatch, Kris Barras, Marcus Malone, Mississippi MacDonald & Steve Bailey, Elles Bailey, Dave Ferra, Rebecca Downes, Ash Wilson (pictured), Catfish, Tom Walker Trio, Katie Bradley & Matt Long and Broken Levee. An hour of pure auditory pleasure and all you need do is click play and turn it up!