The Best of the Beat Awards, honoring Louisiana musicians, were held on January 21 at Generations Hall. Nominees in over 50 categories attended, not only hoping to be recognized for their work in 2015, but to join in the celebration. As our readers may know, the Best of the Beat Awards started as a private party for the Louisiana music community. Although we now sell tickets to the general public, the party is for Louisiana musicians.
The big winner of the evening was Jon Cleary, who captured four awards: Artist of the Year; Songwriter of the Year (named now for the late, great Allen Toussaint); Song of the Year, for “Boneyard”; and Best Piano/Keyboardist. Hopefully this will signal Recording Academy members to give a nod to Jon Cleary’s album GoGo Juice, which is nominated for a Grammy award.
The evening included performances by Walter “Wolfman” Washington & the Roadmasters (who took home two awards, Best Blues Artist and Best Guitarist); the Young Fellaz Brass Band; ROAR!; Roddie Romero and the Hub City Allstars; A Tribute to Allen Toussaint featuring Tony Hall, Cyril Neville, Davell Crawford and David Torkanowsky; and Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes paying homage to the Radiators; plus an after-party featuring Quickie Mart, Klutch and C-LaB.
Many of the city’s finest restaurants, including Barcadia, Bratz Y’all, Bittersweet Confections, Gumbo Shop, Custom Catering, Dat Dog, Fulton Alley, Creole Cuisine Concepts, Restaurant Rebirth, Praline Connection, Nola Foods & Whoodoo BBQ, The Norwegian Seaman’s Church, Whole Foods, Purloo, Milkfish, Belize, Susan Spicer’s Mondo and Tee-Eva’s served up a grand smorgasbord of Louisiana favorites.
Once again, this year’s award trophies were designed by Louisiana glass artist Ginger Kelly. Ginger is a glass-blower and giftware designer.
The Best of the Beat Awards are presented by the OffBeat Music and Cultural Arts Foundation. The Foundation was developed to create opportunities that support Louisiana artists in leading sustainable creative lives. The OffBeat Music and Cultural Arts Foundation merges education, advocacy, community engagement and creative collaboration to foster and uplift Louisiana music, arts and culture.
And without further ado…
Artist of the Year
Jon Cleary
Album of the Year
Galactic: Into the Deep (Provogue)
Best Emerging Artist
New Breed Brass Band
Song of the Year
“Boneyard” by Jon Cleary
Best Blues Performer
Walter “Wolfman” Washington
Best Blues Album
Sonny Landreth: Bound by the Blues (Provogue)
Best R&B/Funk Artist
George Porter Jr.
Best R&B/Funk Album
George Porter Jr.: It’s Time to Funk (Independent)
Best Rock Artist
The Revivalists
Best Rock Album
The Revivalists: Men Amongst Mountains (Wind-up)
Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist
Dee-1
Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album/Mixtape
Lil Wayne: Sorry 4 The Wait 2 (Be Music)
Best Bounce Artist
Big Freedia
Best Traditional Jazz Artist
Kermit Ruffins
Best Traditional Jazz Album
Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers: #imsoneworleans (Basin Street Records)
Best Contemporary Jazz Artist
Terence Blanchard
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
Terence Blanchard: Breathless (Blue Note)
Best Brass Band
Rebirth Brass Band
Best Cajun Artist
Steve Riley
Best Cajun Album
Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: Voyageurs (Independent)
Best Zydeco Artist
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers
Best Zydeco Album
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers: Calling Your Name (Sound of New Orleans)
Best Roots Rock Artist
Papa Mali
Best Roots Rock Album
Papa Mali: Music Is Love (429 Records)
Best Country/Folk/Singer-Songwriter Artist
Kristin Diable
Best Country/Folk/Singer-Songwriter Album
Kristin Diable: Create Your Own Mythology (Speakeasy Records / Thirty Tigers)
Best Gospel
McDonogh #35 High School Gospel Choir
Best Cover Band
Bucktown All-Stars
Allen Toussaint Songwriter of the Year
Jon Cleary
Best Female Vocalist
Susan Cowsill
Best Male Vocalist
John Boutté
Best Bass Player
George Porter Jr.
Best Guitarist
Walter “Wolfman” Washington
Best Drummer
Stanton Moore
Best Saxophonist
Donald Harrison
Best Clarinetist
Dr. Michael White
Best Trumpeter
Kermit Ruffins
Best Trombonist
Troy Andrews
Best Tuba/Sousaphonist
Matt Perrine
Best Piano/Keyboardist
Jon Cleary
Best Accordionist
Steve Riley
Best Violin/Fiddle Player
Amanda Shaw
Best DJ
DJ Soul Sister
Best Other Instrument
Johnny Sansone (Harmonica)
Best Music Video
Jermaine Quiz, Director, for “That’s It!” Lyrics Born featuring the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Best Club
Chickie Wah Wah
Best Radio Station
WWNO
Best Large Festival
French Quarter Festival
Best Festival Outside New Orleans
Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival
Best Neighborhood Festival
Bayou Boogaloo
Best Recording Studio
The Parlor Recording Studio
Record Label of the Year
Louisiana Red Hot Records
Producer of the Year
Eric Heigle
Best Record Store
Louisiana Music Factory
Best Instrument Store
C & M Music Centers
Best Studio Sound Engineer
Chris Finney
Best Booking Agency
White Oak
Best Manager
Adam Shipley (Hep Cat Entertainment)
Best Music Attorney
Ashlye M. Keaton
Best Club Owner or Manager
Dale Triguero, Chickie Wah Wah
Best Concert Promoter
Scott Aiges, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation
Bourbon Street Award
Earl Bernhardt and Pam Fortner (Tropical Isle)
Musician Resource Award
Tipitina’s Music Office Co-Op
Best Use of Music or Musician in Local Advertising
City Park and Peter A. Mayer Advertising for “#iheartcitypark”
Music Business of the Year
Center Staging
Community Music Award
Trombone Shorty Foundation
