Tickets are on sale now for the January 25 event. Early-bird ticket prices end this Friday, December 15.
Yesterday (December 12), OffBeat.com announced the headlining tribute at our Best of the Beat Awards 2017 and the performance lineup. Big Chief Monk Boudreaux will be the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in Music, with an all-star tribute planned featuring Johnny Sansone, Anders Osborne and others. Taking place January 25 at Generations Hall, the Best of the Beat Awards 2017 will celebrate the year’s best musicians, albums, music videos, songs and more. But before we can bestow the honors, we need your votes!
To cast your ballot, click here. Voting ends on Friday, January 12, 2018.
And the nominees are:
Artist of the Year
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
Lost Bayou Ramblers
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Stanton Moore
Tank and the Bangas
Album of the Year
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah: The Centennial Trilogy (Ropeadope)
Naughty Professor: Identity (Independent)
PJ Morton: Gumbo (Morton Records)
Preservation Hall Jazz Band: So it Is (Legacy Recordings)
Stanton Moore: With You In Mind: The Songs of Allen Toussaint (Mascot Records)
Trombone Shorty: Parking Lot Symphony (Blue Note)
Best Emerging Artist
Alfred Banks
Mykia Jovan
Pell
Quiana Lynell
Trumpet Mafia
Song of the Year
“Allen Toussaint” by Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfield & Cyril Neville
“First Began” by PJ Morton
“Leave It All Behind” by Greg Schatz
“Mon Esprit” by Sweet Crude
“Song to the River” by Margie Perez
“Waiting to Dance with a Partner” by Paul Sanchez
Best Blues Performer
Little Freddie King
Marc Stone
Samantha Fish
Sonny Landreth
Walter “Wolfman” Washington
Best Blues Album
Chris Thomas King: Hotel Voodoo (21st Century Blues)
Henry Gray and the Creole Cats: 92 (Independent)
Marc Stone Band: Live in Europe (Independent)
Samantha Fish: Belle of the West (Ruf Records)
Sonny Landreth: Recorded Live in Lafayette (Provogue)
Best R&B/Funk Artist
Bonerama
Erica Falls
Jon Cleary
Naughty Professor
Tank and the Bangas
Water Seed
Best R&B/Funk Album
Bonerama: Hot Like Fire (Basin Street Records)
Erica Falls: HomeGrown (Vintage Soul)
PJ Morton: Gumbo (Morton Records)
Naughty Professor: Identity (Independent)
Trombone Shorty: Parking Lot Symphony (Blue Note)
Water Seed: We Are Stars (Independent)
Best Rock Artist
Darcy Malone & the Tangle
Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes
Sweet Crude
The Revivalists
Vox and the Hound
Best Rock Album
Bantam Foxes: Pinball (Independent)
Darcy Malone & the Tangle: Make Me Over (Independent)
Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes: sketch (Full Frontal Records)
Sweet Crude: Creatures (Rhymes & Reason)
Vox and the Hound: Aloha Shores (Independent)
Best Rap / Hip-Hop Artist / Bounce Artist
3D Na’Tee
Alfred Banks
Dee-1
Don Flamingo
Pell
Best Rap / Hip-Hop Album/Mixtape
3D Na’Tee: Songs That Didn’t Make the Tape, Vol. 1 (CD Baby)
Alfred Banks: The Beautiful (Underdogcentral Media)
Dee-1: Slingshot David (Essential Sound)
Don Flamingo: Race to Power (EP) (Apple Music)
Pell: Girasoul (EP) (Payday Records)
Best Traditional Jazz Artist
New Orleans Jazz Vipers
New Orleans Swamp Donkeys
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Seva Venet
Tuba Skinny
Best Traditional Jazz Album
Kermit Ruffins and Irvin Mayfield: A Beautiful Word (Basin Street)
Preservation Hall Jazz Band: So it Is (Legacy Recordings)
Seva Venet: New Orleans Banjo Vol 1: “Musieu Bainjo” (Independent)
Shake ’Em Up Jazz Band: Le Donne Mangiano Zucchero (Independent)
The New Orleans Jazz Vipers: Live & Viperizin’ (Independent)
Best Contemporary Jazz Artist
Billie Davies
Charlie Halloran
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
James Singleton
Nicholas Payton
Stanton Moore
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah: The Centennial Trilogy (Ropeadope)
David L. Harris: Blues I Felt (Independent)
John Michael Bradford: Something Old, Something New (AFO)
Nicholas Payton: Afro-Caribbean Mixtape (Ropeadope)
Stanton Moore: With You In Mind: The Songs of Allen Toussaint (Mascot Records)
Best Brass Band
Brass-A-Holics
Hot 8 Brass Band
New Breed Brass Band
The Original Pinettes Brass Band
The Soul Rebels
Best Cajun Artist
Bonsoir, Catin
Feufollet
High Performance
Lost Bayou Ramblers
Roddie Romero & the Hub City All Stars
Best Cajun Album
Bonsoir, Catin: L’Aurore (Valcour Records)
Feufollet: Baby’s on Fire (Valcour Records)
High Performance: Cajun Cool (Swallow Records)
Kyle Huval and the Dixie Club Ramblers: Straight Allons (Valcour Records)
Lost Bayou Ramblers: Kalenda (Rice Pump)
Best Zydeco Artist
Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band
Corey Ledet & His Zydeco Band
Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers
Leroy Thomas & the Zydeco Roadrunners
Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas
Best Zydeco Album
Corey Ledet & His Zydeco Band: Standing on Faith (CPL Records)
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers: Top of the Mountain (Crew Records)
J.J. Caillier & the Zydeco Knockouts: Bad As I Wanna Be (Caillier Records)
Keith Frank: One Night At Cowboy’s (Soulwood Records)
Terry and the Zydeco Bad Boys: Allons Zydeco (Lockdowne Records)
Best Roots Rock Artist
Honey Island Swamp Band
King James & the Special Men
Margie Perez
Sam Price & the True Believers
The Deslondes
Best Roots Rock Album
Chris Belleau: Swamp Fever (Proud Dog)
King James & the Special Men: Act Like You Know (Independent)
Margie Perez: Love is All (Threadhead Records)
Sam Price & the True Believers: Sam Price and the True Believers (Independent)
Best Country/Folk/Singer-Songwriter Artist
Greg Schatz
Hurray for the Riff Raff
Lynn Drury
Paul Sanchez and the Rolling Road Show
Sweet Cecilia
Best Country/Folk/Singer-Songwriter Album
Greg Schatz: Small Piece of Mind (Independent)
Hurray for the Riff Raff: The Navigator (ATO)
Lynn Drury: Rise of the Fall (Independent)
Paul Sanchez and the Rolling Road Show: Life is a Ride (Independent)
Sweet Cecilia: Sing Me a Story (Independent)
Best Gospel Artist
Franklin Avenue Church Choir
Greater St. Stephens Baptist Church
Leo Jackson & the Melody Clouds
McDonough 35 High School Gospel Choir
Rocks of Harmony
The Electrifying Crownseekers
Best Cover Band
Bag Of Donuts
Bucktown All-Stars
Jamaican Me Breakfast Club
Top Cats
Where Y’acht
Songwriter of the Year
Dayna Kurtz
Greg Schatz
Kelcy Mae
Mia Borders
Paul Sanchez
Best Female Vocalist
Cole Williams
Erica Falls
Quiana Lynell
Robin Barnes
Tarriona “Tank” Ball
Best Male Vocalist
Cyril Neville
Gregg Martinez
Jamison Ross
John Boutte
PJ Morton
Best Bass Player
Charlie Wooton
George Porter, Jr.
James Singleton
Peter Harris
Sam Price
Best Guitarist
Alex McMurray
Anders Osborne
Jonathon “Boogie” Long
Sonny Landreth
Steve Masakowski
Best Drummer
Herlin Riley
Joe Lastie, Jr.
Johnny Vidacovich
Shannon Powell
Stanton Moore
Best Saxophonist
Donald Harrison, Jr.
Rex Gregory
Roderick Paulin
Roger Lewis
Tony Dagradi
Best Clarinetist
Doreen Ketchens
Dr. Michael White
Evan Christopher
Gregory Agid
Tim Laughlin
Best Trumpeter
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
Eric Benny Bloom
Leon “Kid Chocolate” Brown
Leroy Jones
Nicholas Payton
Best Trombonist
Carly Meyers
Craig Klein
Delfeayo Marsalis
Mark Mullins
Troy Andrews
Best Tuba/Sousaphonist
Benny Pete
Jon Gross
Kirk Joseph
Matt Perrine
Phil Frazier
Best Piano / Keyboardist
David Torkanowsky
Jason A. Butler
Jon Cleary
Larry Sieberth
Tom McDermott
Best Accordionist
Andre Michot
Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes
Bruce Daigrepont
Dwayne Dopsie
Roddie Romero
Best Violin/Fiddle Player
Amanda Shaw
David Greely
Joel Savoy
Louis Michot
Matt Rhody
Best DJ
DJ Soul Sister
EF Cuttin
Mannie Fresh
Pretty Lights
Quickie Mart
Best Other Instrument
Alexey Marti (percussion)
Don Vappie (banjo)
Jason Marsalis (vibes)
Johnny Sansone (harmonica)
Mike Dillon (vibes)
Washboard Chaz (washboard)
Best Music Video
“Fly” by ROAR!, directed by ROAR! and Rob Davis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMd6NRUURE4
“Mirrors” by Naughty Professor featuring Cole DeGenova, mixed by Qmillion, filmed & edited by ABIS Productions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QP-c2n8cyc
“Mon Esprit” by Sweet Crude, directed by Zac Manuel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeZF88iEhlA
“Open Sesame” by Water Seed, MobileRecordingLa.com, edited by Mike Holderbeast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKb3kg4oq7M
“Quick” by Tank and the Bangas, Directed by FosterBear Films
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ySjHNZfacc
“The Devil That You Know” by Greg Schatz, cinematographer Greg Tilton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYA4PhBy-ho
“We Believe” by Sam Price and the True Believers, directed and edited by Sam Radutzky Cinematography
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRQ3XF9sjzQ
Our process: We solicited nominations from musicians and others in the music community, for excellence in recordings and performances during 2016. We then gave the results to our writers and editors and with input from both, determined the nominations in each category, keeping in mind that these nominations only recognize work done in 2016.
This year we have instituted a “three-year” nomination policy. If you’ve won a Best of the Beat Award three years in a row in a specific category, you cannot be nominated the fourth year. This year we combined Rap and Hip-Hop with Bounce—that eliminated Big Freedia, who has won the Bounce category four years in a row. We hope that this new policy will recognize other hard-working musicians and give them the opportunity to win a Best of the Beat Award.
The public begins voting on the resulting ballot on December 13. Voting ends on January 12, so make sure to get to it before time runs out.
Sponsored by OffBeat Media, Positive Vibrations Foundation, Generations Hall, The Orpheum Theater, WWNO, WYES, The New Orleans Advocate, WHIV-FM 102.3.
The Best of the Beat Awards are presented by The OffBeat Music and Cultural Arts Foundation. The OMCAF was developed to create opportunities that support Louisiana artists in leading sustainable creative lives. The OMCAF merges education, advocacy, community engagement and creative collaboration to foster and uplift Louisiana music, arts and culture.
Inspired by the work of OffBeat Magazine, which has a robust history contributing to the promotion, visibility and legitimacy of Louisiana’s music and cultural scene, the OMCAF are committed advocates for the preservation of Louisiana culture.
