(Wales, UK) – The results of the winners of the European Blues Awards were announced on Saturday 12th of November 2016 at the Tenby Blues Festival, Wales UK. Following last year’s European Blues Awards reveal at the O2 Arena London, this year it was the first time Wales hosted the results and Saturday at Tenby Blues Festival proved the perfect location. The awards, now in their 36th year are purely the choice of a colossal week long public vote that makes the genre accolade the biggest outside the USA. It was Bluesman Mike Francis, himself a former nominated finalist recently taken on to represent and promote the message within the UK, who read out the winners before festival headliner and twice award nominee Paul Lamb and band took the stage at the De Valence Theatre.

There are 10 categories in the process; nine of which are under public vote along with an annual Lifetime Contribution recognition that is made by the European Blues Awards team. Overall it was a very successful year for North America as United States and Canadian acts took the honours in 5 of the 9 votes. Award rules mean that anyone performing live in Europe during qualifying period is eligible. The Netherlands ran a close second with wins for Best Musician, Festival and Publication.

Here is the full list of Winners in the European Blues Awards 2016

Best Album – Fire on the Floor – Beth Hart (USA)

Best Festival – Ribs en Blues (NL)

Best Vocalist – Layla Zoe (Canada)

Best Guitarist – Ryan McGarvey (USA)

Best Radio Show – Paul Jones Radio 2 Blues Show (GB)

Best Publication – Blues Magazine (NL)

Best Solo/Acoustic – Matt Andersen (Canada)

Best Musician (Performance) – Julian Sas (NL)

Best Band – Tedeschi Trucks Band (USA)

Lifetime Contribution Award – Pete Feenstra (GB)

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