Best of the Beat 2010 Music Award Winners

Friday, January 28, OffBeat hosted the 2010 Best of the Beat Awards at Generations Hall for a night of music, food, and awards.

Musical performances included Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns; Washboard Rodeo; Creole String Beans; Davis Rogan; the Soundclash All-Stars with Lyrikill, Tony Skratchere, Sauve, J-Dubble, A. Levy, Quest and more; Chubby Carrier; Stooges Brass Band; Dumpstaphunk; and two sets of tributes—one to the late Alex Chilton that included Dave Pirner, Susan Cowsill, Theresa Andersson, Alex McMurray, Louis Michot, Davis Rogan, Rene Coman and Doug Garrison; and one to this year’s Best of the Beat Lifetime Achievement in Music Award winner Dave Bartholomew by Deacon John, including a guest appearance by Irma Thomas.

The voting for these awards was decided on purely by public vote, held online from the beginning of December through mid-January. This year showed the highest voter turnout yet, and some of the closest races as well. Two categories were decided by only one single vote, and many saw a separation of less than 100 votes between first and second place.

The big winner at the awards was Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, who took home five awards, including Artist and Album of the Year. Other multiple award winners included Dr. John, Anders Osborne, Kermit Ruffins, Big Freedia, John Boutte and Gal Holiday. Without further ado, here’s the full list of winners.

Best of the Beat Awards Hubigs Pies

 

Artist of the Year

Trombone Shorty

Album of the Year

Trombone Shorty – Backatown

Best Blues Artist

Dr. John

Best Blues Album

Dr. John – Tribal

Best R&B/Funk Artist

Trombone Shorty

Best R&B/Funk Album

Trombone Shorty – Backatown

Best Rock Artist

Happy Talk Band

Best Rock Album

Rotary Downs – Cracked Maps and Blue Reports

Best Roots Rock Artist

Honey Island Swamp Band

Best Roots Rock Album

Anders Osborne – American Patchwork

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist

Big Freedia

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album or Mixtape

Juvenile – Beast Mode

Best Traditional Jazz Artist

Kermit Ruffins

Best Traditional Jazz Album

Kermit Ruffins – Happy Talk

Best Contemporary Jazz Artist

Irvin Mayfield

Best Contemporary Jazz Album

Cindy Scott – Let the Devil Take Tomorrow

Best Brass Band

Rebirth Brass Band

Best Cajun Artist

BeauSoleil

Best Cajun Album

Pine Leaf Boys – Back Home

Best Zydeco Artist

Buckwheat Zydeco

Best Zydeco Album

Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band – Zydeco Junkie

Best Country/Folk Artist

Gal Holiday and her Honky Tonk Revue

Best Country/Folk Album

Gal Holiday and her Honky Tonk Revue – Set Two

Best Gospel Artist

McDonogh 35 High School Gospel Choir

Best Emerging Artist

Big Freedia

Best Cover Band

The Bucktown Allstars

Song of the Year

John Boutte – “Treme Song”

Songwriter of the Year

Dr. John

Best Female Vocalist

Irma Thomas

Best Male Vocalist

John Boutte

Best Bass Player

George Porter, Jr.

Best Guitarist

Anders Osborne

Best Drummer

Stanton Moore

Best Saxophonist

Donald Harrison, Jr.

Best Clarinetist

Tim Laughlin

Best Trumpeter

Kermit Ruffins

Best Trombonist

Trombone Shorty

Best Tuba/Sousaphonist

Matt Perrine

Best Piano/Keyboardist

John Gros

Best Accordionist

Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes

Best Violin/Fiddle Player

Amanda Shaw

Best DJ

DJ Soul Sister

Best Other Instrument

Washboard Chaz – washboard

See the Special Honorees and Business Award Winners