The good folks at the British Blues Awards held their third annual shindig last weekend, and they have posted a list of the 2012 winners on their website. Veteran British blues singer/guitarist Ian Siegal was the event's big winner, taking awards as both best "British Male Vocalist" and "British Acoustic Act" this year. Siegal has been spending some time in the states as of late, recording his upcoming album Candy Store Kid for Nugene Records. Credited to Ian Siegal & the Mississippi Mudbloods, his backing band includes such Southern blues luminaries as Luther and Cody Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars), Alvin Youngblood Hart, Gary Burnside, and Lightnin' Malcolm.
The lovely and talented Chantel McGregor won the "British Female Vocalist" award for 2012, while King King won both "British Blues Band" and "British Blues Album" for the band's Take My Hand disc. Guitarist Matt Schofield earned his third "British Blues Guitarist" award, which qualified him for entry into the British Blues Hall of Fame. Up-and-coming fretburner Oli Brown took the "British Young Artist" award while American Joe Bonamassa was honored with his third "Overseas Artist" award, further cementing his popularity in the U.K. and placing him alongside Schofield and beloved harp player and radio DJ Paul Jones in the HOF.
The British Blues Awards were launched in 2010 to recognize the contribution of British blues artists and musicians to the evolution and longevity of the blues. The annual awards are sponsored by the Nottingham Blues Society and voted on by blues fans across the U.K. through the organization's website. Check with the British Blues Awards website for more details on the awards and a full list of 2012 winners.
Logo photo courtesy British Blues Awards
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