GUIDANCE
How it all works:
The nomination panel are asked to make their their three nominations in each category in order of preference. The first choice will then get three points, the second will get two points and the third choice will get one point. The five acts accumulating the most points for each of the categories will be selected as category finalists and will be entered into a poll for the public voting process that will, ultimately, determine the winners of the Awards.
Once the five Finalists in each category are announced the UK public are invited to vote for who they think should take home the Award. In inviting them there is a stipulation that they can only vote once and must vote in at least five categories. The valid votes made over the two week voting period are then totted up and the Award Winners are decided.
The Awards will be presented at an exclusive ceremony to be held on 25th April at The Stables in Milton Keynes.
The Awards year – the qualifying period – runs from 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023.
Definition of Blues: Any attempt to define this genre will always be a matter of opinion, individual taste and something of an ever moving target so, if a band, artist, act, songwriter or album meets the nominator’s definition of ‘Blues’, then they are invited to nominate them.
Eligibility: All nominees must be UK nationals normally residing in the UK or non-UK nationals whose normal place of residence is in the UK. For the purposes of these Awards, anyone spending more than six months in the UK in the Awards year is deemed to be residing in the UK.
All members of the nomination panel are required to keep their involvement in the panel confidential. If the UK Blues Federation becomes aware of any member of the nominating panel ignoring this requirement, that person will be removed from the nomination panel and any nominations they may have made will be disallowed.
The Nomination Panel comprises all current members of UK Blues Federation, all UK based Active Members of the European Blues Union as at the commencement date of the nomination process and journalists, (both online and print media), broadcasters, promoters, publishers, musicians, festival and club organisers, academics, publicists, agents and label and distribution company personnel, fans and blues supporters and the like.
The nomination, voting and award process will be managed by the Board of the UK Blues Federation and overseen by external scrutineers.
Definitions of Award Categories:
Contemporary Blues Artist Of The Year
Recognising an individual artist who may be solo or may, on occasion, appear with a band. Those nominated in this category cannot be nominated under their name in the Band of The Year category. This year, to try to spread the love, we’ve split this category into Traditional and Contemporary.
Blues Vocalist of the Year
Exactly as described! The vocalist who, during 2023., has had the most significant impact through their performances and/or recordings.
Blues Instrumentalist of the Year
To recognise a keyboard player, a harp player, a guitarist, a drummer, a bassist, a sax player… the list goes on!
Blues Band of the Year
A UK blues band that, during the Awards year, has made the most significant impact through the quality of their performance and/or recordings.
Acoustic Blues Act of the Year
An acoustic act (solo, duo, trio, band etc.) that during 2023 made the most significant impact through the quality of his/her/their performance and/or recordings. Note that Dom Martin has won this Award three times and is therefore now in the UK Blues Hall Of Fame and ineligible for nomination for this Award
Jules Fothergill Young Blues Artist of the Year
To recognise a young artist who must have been 25 or under on 31st December 2023.
UK Blues ‘Unsung Hero’ Award
To be chosen by the Board of The UK Blues Federation. Recognising those who work tirelessly behind the scenes and out of the spotlight, promoting, encouraging, supporting, facilitating and nurturing the blues in the UK
Traditional Blues Artist Of The Year
Recognising an individual artist who may be solo or may, on occasion, appear with a band. Those nominated in this category cannot be nominated under their name in the Band of The Year category. This year, to try to spread the love, we’ve split this category into Traditional and Contemporary.
Emerging Act of the Year
An artist, duo or band– for whom this year has seen a significant raising of their profile, experience and presence on the UK blues scene. Those nominated in this category cannot be nominated in any other category. Those who have previously won this Award are deemed to have emerged and are therefore not eligible to be nominated.
Blues Club/Venue of the Year
Recognising a Club or Venue that through its running or programming has made the most impact during the year.
Blues Based Festival of the Year
A UK Festival which best catered for the attendees, was well organised and priced and offered the broadest choice of blues-based acts
Dave Raven Blues Based Broadcaster of the Year
A UK based person or persons who produce/present regular (at least once per calendar month) blues-based radio shows, podcasts and the like which emanate from the UK
International Blues Artist/Band of the Year
Finalists to be chosen by the Board of The UK Blues Federation and the category sponsor
Blues Album of the Year
Finalists to be chosen from the most played albums by the DJ’s of the IBBA during 2023 – An album that was first released after 1st January 2023