As each new year gets underway, bluegrass folks start thinking about the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America, and their twin conventions in Jefferson City, MO and Nashville, TN.
The Midwest Bluegrass Music Awards were announced on January 13 in Missouri, and the big Nashville convention starts on January 31, culminating in the announcement of the 39th Annual SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards on February 3.
The nominees for the Nashville awards were announced today, but before we get to that, let’s congratulate the winners of the Midwest awards:
- Bluegrass Promoter of the Year – Ron & Darrell Turnbull
- Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year – Mike Collins
- Bluegrass Album of the Year – World Of Our Own by Bluegrass Martins / Martin Studio
- Bass Fiddle Performer of the Year – Lindsay Reith
- Dobro Performer of the Year – Larita Martin
- Guitar Performer of the Year – Dale Martin
- Mandolin Performer of the Year – Hal Cottrell
- Banjo Performer of the Year – Janice Martin
- Fiddle Performer of the Year – Jeana Martin Faris
- Female Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary) – Tammy Harman
- Female Vocalist of the Year (Traditional) – Jeana Martin Faris
- Male Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary) – Jim McGreevy
- Male Vocalist of the Year (Traditional) – Mike Collins
- Bluegrass Gospel Group of the Year – Bob Hammons & Wildwood
- Bluegrass Band of the Year (Contemporary) – Bull Harman & Bull’s Eye
- Bluegrass Band of the Year (Traditional) – Bluegrass Brigade
- Vocal Group of the Year – Bluegrass Martins
- Instrumental Group of the Year – Bluegrass Martins
- Entertaining Group of the Year – The Punches Family
- Entertainer of the Year – Bruce Punches
And now for the nominees for the Nashville awards next month:
Bluegrass Promoter of the Year
- D.A. Callaway
- Don & Bobbie Day
- Homer Boyd
- Adams & Anderson LLC
- John Hutchinson
- Milton Harkey
Bluegrass Radio Station of the Year
- WAMU – Washington, D.C.
- WBBC – Blackstone, VA
- WPAQ – Mount Airy, NC
- WDVX – Maryville/Knoxville, TN
- Sirius XM 061 – Nashville, TN
- WMKY – Morehead, KY
Bluegrass DJ of the Year
- Brenda Lawson (WBBC-FM)
- Joe Mullins (WBZI-AM)
- Michelle Wallace (WMKY)
- Kyle Cantrell (Sirius XM 061)
- Tim Frye (WPAQ)
- Katy Daley (WMAU-FM)
Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year
- Leigh & Eric Gibson
- Daryl Mosley
- Louisa Branscomb
- Tom T. Hall & Dixie Hall
- Michelle & Nick Nixon
- Kevin Richardson
Bluegrass Album of the Year
- Calling Me Back Home – Lou Reid & Carolina for KMA Records
- The Heart Of A Song – Jr. Sisk & Ramblers Choice for Rebel Records
- What Really Matters – Larry Stephenson Band for Compass Records
- Sunday Mornin’ Singin’ – Rhonda Vincent & The Rage for Upper Management Music
- Prime Tyme – by Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out for Rural Rhythm Records
- A Place I Belong – by Michelle Nixon & Drive for Mountain Fever Records
Bass Fiddle Performer of the Year
- Victor Dowdy
- Marshall Wilborn
- Danny Stewart
- Tracy Buchanan
- Mickey Harris
- Darrin Vincent
Dobro Performer of the Year
- Tim Graves
- Rob Ickes
- Chris Hart
- Mike Aldridge
- Brent Burke
- Mike Sharp
Guitar Performer of the Year
- Steve Dowdy
- Tony Rice
- Bryan Sutton
- Patrick Robertson
- Josh Williams
- Tim Stafford
Mandolin Performer of the Year
- Larry Stephenson
- Cason Ogden
- Jason Tomlin
- Doyle Lawson
- Alan Bibey
- Johnathan Dillon
Banjo Performer of the Year
- Aaron McDaris
- Lynwood Lunsford
- J.D. Crowe
- Kenny Ingram
- Tim Newcome
- Kevin Prater
Fiddle Performer of the Year
- Hunter Berry
- Ron Stewart
- Justin Haynes
- Michael Cleveland
- Billy Hawks
- Jason Carter
Female Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary)
- Rhonda Vincent
- Sonya Isaacs
- Christy Reid
- Michelle Nixon
- Alecia Nugent
- Brooke Aldridge
Female Vocalist of the Year (Traditional)
- Jeanette Williams
- Lorraine Jordan
- Claire Lynch
- Lizzy Long
- Dale Ann Bradley
- Valerie Smith
