Washington Blues Society 2024 Best of the Blues Awards Winners
The Washington Blues Society’s presented the 34th annual Best of the Blues Awards on Sunday, April 21st honoring musicians, artists, events, and venues as voted on by blues society members in 30 award categories. The event was broadcast on YouTube and Facebook and in the tradition of past shows the awards ceremonies featured performances by select nominees and induction in to the Washington Blues Society Hall of Fame. Joel Astley led the pack by garnering five awards including ‘Washington Blues Recording,” for his album Seattle To Greaseland and Blues Performer of the year, Guitarist Eric Rice took home both of the highly coveted guitar awards, and the Joe Cook Band was awarded both “Best Blues Band,” the Little Bill the Blue Notes “traditional Blues Band,” awards. Veteran Seattle guitarist Scott E Lind received a standing ovation upon his induction into the Blues Society Hall of Fame, and the evening closed with him leading an All-Star jam.
Congratulations to all the winners.
| Mark DuFresne Male Vocalist | Best New Blues Act | ||
| Chris Eger | Blue Healers |
| Blues Female Vocalist | Blues Performer | ||
| Diane Forsyth | Joel Astley |
| Electric Blues Guitar | Blues Songwriter | ||
| Eric Rice | Joel Astley |
| Slide Blues Guitar | Washington Blues Recording | ||
| Eric Rice | Joel Astley – Seattle To Greaseland |
| Acoustic Blues Guitar | Best Blues Club | ||
| Rod Cook | Madsion Avenue Pub |
| Blues Bass | Best Blues Jam | ||
| Scotty Harris | Madsion Avenue Pub – Unbound Blues Jam |
| Paul Green Blues Harmonica | Blues Writer | ||
| Joel Astley | Polly O’Keary |
| Chris Leighton Blues Drummer | Best Blues Graphic | ||
| Don Montana | Joel Astley |
| Blues Piano/Keyboard | Best Blues Photographer | ||
| Jim Barnes | Gordy Mitchell | ||
| Blues Horn | Best Blues DJ | ||
| Mike Marinig | John Kessler |
| Blues Instrumentalist – Other | Keeping the Blues Alive | ||
| Leanne Trevalyan | Mark Hurwitz |
| Best Blues Band | Blues Hall of Fame | ||
| Joe Cook Blues Band | Scott E Lind |
| Best Little Bill & the Blue Notes | Lifetime Achievement Award | |
| Traditional Blues Act | Sean Denton | |
| Joe Cook Blues Band | ||
| Best Non Festival Event | ||
| Best Solo/Duo | WBS Blues Bash | |
| Blue Healers | ||
| Best Regional Blues Festival | ||
| Best Community Blues Festival | Sunbanks Blues Festival | |
| Snohomish Blues Invasion | ||
| Blue to the Bone | ||
| Susan “Duchess” Dodd | ||
| Carrie Parduhn | ||
| Marylou Fortier | ||
| Everett & Karen Lewis | ||
