The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America has announced the nominees for their 43rd annual Bluegrass Music Awards. The winners will be announced and trophies awarded during the Society’s National Convention which runs February 2-5, 2017 at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville.
And the 2017 nominees are…
Bluegrass Promoter of the Year
- Norman Adams
- Bertie Sullivan
- Ryan Frankhouser
- DA Callaway
- Mathan Holt
- Dwight Dillman
Bluegrass Radio Station of the Year
- WBRF-FM Galax, VA
- WFPK-FM Louisville, KY
- WXHB-FM Richton, MS
- Sirius XM 061-Bluegrass Junction
- WMMT-FM Whitesburg, KY
- WSM-AM, Nashville, TN
Bluegrass DJ of the Year
- Judith Burnette WBRF Galax, VA
- Bob Mitchell WFPK Louisville, KY
- David McPhail WXHB Richton, MS
- Kyle Cantrell Sirius XM 061
- Chris Jones Sirius XM 061
- Freddy Smith WDVX Knoxville, TN
Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year
- Larry Norfleet
- Junior Sisk
- Milan Miller
- Ron Spears
- Daryl Mosley
- Becky Buller
Bluegrass Album of the Year
- Most Welcome by Branded Bluegrass produced by Clay Hess on Hayes Studio and Productions
- David Parmley & Cardinal Tradtion by David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition produced by David Parmley and Dale Perry at Lakeside Recording Studios
- Dig in the Dirt by The Farm Hands on Pinecastle Records
- Playing Hard To Forget by Claybank on Rural Rhythm Records
- Bridging the Tradition by Lonesome River Band on Mountain Home Music
- Drifter by Volume Five on Mountain Fever Records
Bluegrass Bass Fiddle Performer of the Year
- Mike Martin
- Ron Spears
- Gary Trivette
- Mickey Harris
- Mike Bubb
- Kyle Perkins
Bluegrass Dobro Performer of the Year
- Phil Leadbetter
- Tim Graves
- Rob Ickes
- Jerry Douglas
- Brent Burke
- Josh Swift
Bluegrass Guitar Performer of the Year
- Clay Hess
- David Parmley
- Keith Tew
- Josh Williams
- Bryan Sutton
- Kenny Smith
Bluegrass Mandolin Performer of the Year
- Tristin Norfleet
- Zack Arnold
- Sam Bush
- Larry Stephenson
- Wayne Benson
- Danny Roberts
Bluerass Banjo Performer of the Year
- Don Hill
- Jesse Norfleet
- Kenny Ingram
- Aaron McDaris
- Charlie Cushman
- Sammy Shelor
Bluegrass Fiddle Performer of the Year
- Gil Benson
- Steve Day
- Ron Stewart
- Michael Cleveland
- Hunter Berry
- Jason Carter
Female Vocalist of the Year (Overall)
- Charli Robertson
- Amanda Smith
- Dale Ann Bradley
- Rhonda Vincent
- Jeanette Williams
- Summer McMahan
Male Vocalist of the Year (Overall)
- Larry Norfleet
- David Parmley
- Junior Sisk
- Larry Stephenson
- Danny Paisley
- Daryl Mosley
Bluegrass Gospel Group of the Year
- Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
- The Farm Hands
- Volume Five
- Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
- Paul Williams & The Victory Trio
- Branded Bluegrass
Bluegrass Vocal Group of the Year
- Flatt Lonesome
- David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition
- The Farm Hands
- ClayBank
- Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
- Balsam Range
Bluegrass Instrumental Group of the Year
- David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition
- The Farm Hands
- Bluegrass Brothers
- Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
- Ronnie Reno and The Reno Tradition
- Lonesome River Band
Bluegrass Band of the Year (Overall)
- Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
- Flatt Lonesome
- The Farm Hands
- Balsam Range
- David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition
- ClayBank
Bluegrass Entertainer(s) of the Year
- Volume Five
- The Farm Hands
- Flatt Lonesome
- Remington Ryde
- Ronnie Reno
- Balsam Range
Bluegrass Song of the Year
- I Am A Drifter by Volume 5 on Mountain Fever Records
- Dig in the Dirt by The Farm Hands on Pinecastle Records
- Up on ClayBank by ClayBank on Rural Rhythm Records
- Thunder & Lightening by Lonesome River Band on Mountain Home Music
- The Hills of Home by David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition on Lakeside Recording Studios
- Mountain Song by Branded Bluegrass on Hayes Studio and Productions
Winners will be selected by balloting that takes place during the convention in February
The Society has also announced the nominees for their 43rd annual Mid-West Bluegrass Music Awards. These winners will be announced during the Society’s Mid-West Convention which runs January 13-17, 2017 in Jefferson City, MO.
And the 2017 Mid-West nominees are…
Bluegrass Promoter of the Year
- DA Callaway
- Joe & Lori King
- Don & Bobbie Day
- Darrell & Ashley Turnbull
Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year
- Chuck Lahr
- Joe King
- Kelli Kingrey
- David Bullock
Bluegrass Album of the Year
*to be announced**
Bass Fiddle Performer of the Year
- Wyatt Harman
- Lori King
- Anne Martin
- Beth Anderson
Dobro Performer of the Year
- Brooke Punches
- Jimmy Campbell
- Larita Martin
- Jacob Metz
Guitar Performer of the Year
- Joe King
- Dale Martin
- Bull Harman
- David Bullock
Mandolin Performer of the Year
- Kevin Amburgey
- Hal Cottrell
- Lee Martin
- Bruce King
Banjo Performer of the Year
- Alex Riffle
- Mark Hargrove
- Janice Martin
- Scott Amos
Fiddle Performer of the Year
- Trustin Baker
- Chuck Millar
- Jeana Martin Faris
- Collins Adkins
Female Vocalist of the Year (Overall)
- Lori King
- Tammy Harman
- Jeana Martin-Faris
- Carina Baker
Male Vocalist of the Year (Overall)
- Chuck Lahr
- Joe King
- Wyatt Harman
- Dale Martin
Bluegrass Gospel Group of the Year
- The Harper Family Band
- The Bluegrass Blondies
- The Punches
- The Wildwood Boys
Bluegrass Vocal Band of the Year
- The Martins
- The Wildwood Boys
- Lori King & Junction 63
- Bull Harman & Bull’s Eye
Bluegrass Instrumental Group of the Year
- Lori King & Junction 63
- Bull Harman & Bull’s Eye
- The Martins
- Art Stevenson & High Water
Bluegrass Band of the Year (Overall)
- Lori King & Junction 63
- Chuck Lahr & The Purdy River Band
- The Martins
- Bull Harman & Bull’s Eye
Bluegrass Entertainer(s) of the Year
- Bull Harman
- Chuck Lahr
- Bruce Punches
- The Martins
Congratulations and best of luck to all the nominees!
