(Manchester, England UK) – Now celebrating their 37th year, the European Blues Awards themselves are now the biggest and longest running independent genre accolade outside the USA. The awards remain by charter totally independent and free from sponsorship. This year the award winners will be announced at the Manchester Blues Festival UK on Sunday 26th November. There are 8 categories: Best Guitarist, Best Band, Best Vocalist (male), Best Vocalist (Female), Best Musician (performance), Best Solo/Acoustic, Best Publication and Best Event/Festival. Artists nominated have played live in Europe since November 16, 2016. Winners are decided by public vote. Voting closes Sunday, November 12. The vote is open to all and you do not have to vote in all.

Best album/recorded session category of the European Blues Awards is entirely by public choice. A Lifetime Contribution Award is being decided from nominations sent in by followers of #BluesHour (Twitter) forum and will be announced along with the other results.

The 2017 Nominees…

Best Band:

Thorbjørn Risager & the Black Tornado (Den)

Catfish (UK)

Kaz Hawkins Band (UK)

Band of Friends (EU)

Best Guitarist:

Dudley Taft (USA)

Erja Lyytinen (Fin)

Innes Sibun (UK)

Laurence Jones (UK)

Best Vocalist (Male):

Marcus Malone (USA)

Ian Siegal (UK)

Paul Jones (UK)

Best Vocalist (Female):

Sari Schorr (USA)

Beth Hart (USA)

Elles Bailey (UK)

Best Solo/Acoustic:

Dan Owen (UK)

Bex Marshall (UK)

Gwyn Ashton (UK)

Ryan McGarvey (USA)

Matt Andersen (Can)

Best Magazine/Publication:

Blues News (NO)

Blues Matters (UK)

Blues Magazine (NL)

Best Album/Recorded Session:

Blues Overdrive – Overdrive Live (Den)

Marcus Malone – A Better Man (USA)

Walter Trout – We’re All in This Together (USA)

Selwyn Birchwood – Pick Your Poison (USA)

Starlite Campbell Band – Blueberry Pie (UK)

Best Radio Show:

Charlie Hussey – Blues Train (IRE)

Paul Jones – Blues Show BBC Radio 2 (UK)

Rob van Elst – Blues Moose Radio (NL)

Gary Grainger – Blues Show Bishop FM (UK)

Best Festival/Event:

Linton Blues Festival (UK)

Great British R&B Festival (UK)

Ribs en Blues Festival (NL)

Relache Festival (FR)

Upton Blues Festival (UK)

Best Musician (Performance):

Anthony Gomes (Can)

Paul Lanb (UK)

Katie Bradley (UK)

For more info check here or the on Twitter at #BluesHour