The UK Blues Federation awards nights took place on 16th April 2025 at The Stables Milton Keynes and was sponsored by Marshall Amplification. Support had also been given by Stephen Stanley at Solid Entertainments
The high number of nominees recommended by UK Blues Federation members were initially whittled down to a list of 20 nominees (in most categories from hundreds in some), before voting was open to both members and non-members from the thriving UK Blues scene to then publish a top five in most categories.
This was the 7th edition of the UK Blues Awards and we had the introduction from UK Blues Federation chair Richard Dunning before he introduced the compare for the night BBC Radio’s Paul Jones. The evening was split between category winners and live performances from some of the nominees.
The evening kicked off with the Jules Fothergill Young Blues Artist of the Year (sponsored by Terry & Lesley Marshall), with the nominees being: Jack-Austin Despy, Marcus Praestgaard-Stevens, Tom Davies, Tom Waters and Zac Schulze. The award was presented by Terry & Lesley Marshall to Zac Schulze. As Zac was away on tour we heard and brief video thanking the federation on the award.
The next award was the hotly contested Emerging Blues Artist of the Year (sponsored by the Crawdaddy Club), with the nominees being Blue Nation, The Swaps, Thomas Heppell, Tom Davies & the Bluebirds & True Strays. The award was presented by UK Blues Federation Board Member and UK Blues Hall of Fame artist Elles Bailey who after talking about her journey to become an emerging artist presented it to the popular winners Blue Nation (with many of their Blue Meanies fans in the audience). Neil Murdock spoke about his surprise but gratitude on winners this award after being nominees in past years, but not winning.
Paul Jones then presented the next award for Unsung Hero of the Year (sponsored by Old Bush Blues Festival) to a person or organisation that had done most to support the grassroots of the UK Blues scene, which he presented to the Founder & CEO of the Music Venue Trust Mark Davyd, who was almost in tears as he described the journey the Music Venue Trust is undertaking saving grassroots venues and supporting UK Blues artists on their tours, with Laurence Jones being the most recent to benefit from this help.
Then we had our first live music from the band The Swaps from Leamington Spa who were nominated in the Emerging Blues Artist category, and Beth Brooks (vocals), James Knight (guitar & vocals & Adam Phillips (guitar & backing vocals) entertained the crowds and gained some new fans!
Next up was the International Artist of the Year (sponsored by Blues Matters! Magazine) with the nominees being Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse, Beth Hart, Bywater Call, Eddie 9V & Walter Trout. The award was presented by Stephen Harrison to Beth Hart who thanks the audience via a video message on she is on tour in the USA.
Next up was Blues Based Festival of the year (sponsored by McGuckin Audio) with the nominees being Alfold Rock & Blues festival, Broadstairs Blues Bash. Carlisle Blues & Rock Festival, Old Bush Blues Festival and Great British Rhythm & blues Festival Colne. The award was presented by Upton Blues Festival Director of Music Stephen Steinhaus also knows as Stein. As Upton Blues Festival had won this award three times they are now in the UK Blues Hall of Fame.
Stein then presented the award to a very excited organisers of the Great British Rhythm & blues Festival Colne. Simon Shackleton (Festival Co-ordinator at Colne Blues Society) was very excited to win this award and thanked the help they receive from Colne Town Council.
This was followed by the Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year (sponsored by Goin’ Up the Country Blues Club) with the nominees being Mark Harrison, Martin Harley, Mississippi MacDonald, Thomas Heppell & Trevor Babajack Steger. The award was given by Goin’ Up the Country Blues Club and was presented to Mississippi MacDonald. Mac, who also won this category in 2024) gave the audience his thanks and how he had grown up in Bromley and his blues journey both in the UK and over in the USA.
Next was the turn of our host Paul Jones to present the Lifetime Achievement (sponsored by Blues in the South) and was presented to Dave Kelly, who regaled the audience with his musical journey.
Then we had our second live performance by the exciting talent Will Wilde, who was a nominee in the Blues Instrumentalist of the Year) with his band himself on vocals and harmonica, Greg Coulson (keys), Bobby Harrison (guitar), Russell Carr (bass) and Steve Rushton (drums). He gave a brilliant and exciting performance including songs ‘Wild Man’, ‘Stole My Love’, ‘Learn How to Love’ and the title track from his new album ‘The Blues are Still Alive’ with help from Walter Trout.
Then we had a short break were some of the first half winners were photographed in front of the UK Blues Federation banner with names of the sponsors.
Paul Long of the UK Blues Federation board encouraged the audience to take their seats before compare Paul Jones the next category Blues vocalist of the Year. The nominees were Alice Armstrong (who has just won with her band the European Blues Challenge in Split, Croatia), Chloe Josephine, Dom Martin, Elles Bailey & Kyla Brox. The award was presented by BBC Radio presenter ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris to Elles Bailey (who also won this category in 2024) who thanked all who have helped her on her journey.
The next award was for Blues/Club Venue of the Year (sponsored by Lancashire Blues Archive) with nominees being Blues at Barleyland, St. Harmonica’s Blues Club, Temperance, The Bourne Music Club and Tuesday Night Blues Club. The award was presented by Music Venue trust’s Founder & CEO Mark Davyd to The Tuesday Night Music Club and Richard Dunning & his wife Ros gleefully accepted the award.
Paul Jones then introduced the next award for Traditional blues Artist of the Year (sponsored by Ain’t Nothin’ But…) which was presented by Paul Jones to Connor Selby. Connor was grateful for the recognition from the UK Blues Scene.
Then we had our third live performance from Mississippi MacDonald (the winner of the Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year) who was joined by Paul Jones on harmonica on the first song and then entertained the audience with songs including ‘Pipe Place Blues’ and ‘My Bad Attitude’.
Following this was the Dave Raven UK Blues Based Broadcaster of the Year (sponsored by Alford Festival) with the nominees being Elles Bailey, Gary Grainger, Paul Long, Paul Winn, Ben Darwin & Angie Howe and Richard Dunning. The award was presented by BBC Radio 2 Producer Mark Hagen and was given to Elles Bailey. She thanked Planet Rock for trusting her to hosting her weekly 1-hour show.
The next award was for Blues Album of the Year (sponsored by the IBBA) with the nominees being Big Wolf Band – Rebel’s Journey, Connolly Hayes – Remember Me, Elles Bailey – Beneath the Neon Glow, Neil Sadler – Past to Present and The Cinelli Brothers – Almost Exactly … The ward was then presented by the head of the IBBA board Paul Long, who explained the nominees were the top 5 albums from the annual play results from the wide number of blues shows in the UK. He then presented the award (for the third time this evening) to Elles Bailey. Elles was very grateful for the support for this album and the high sales we made it to number 12 on the national album chart.
Alice Armstrong this presented the award for Blues Instrumentalist of the Year (sponsored by Fiona & Paul Long) with the nominees being Dom Martin, Kev Hickman, the late Matt Long, Stevie Watts and Will Wilde. After opening the golden envelope Alice announced the winner as Dom Martin. With Dom away in Germany on tour he thanked the blues community (wearing a Blue Nation t-shirt).
This was followed by the award for Contemporary Blues Artist of the Year (sponsored by Rhythm Room Music School) with the nominees being Alice Armstrong, Dom Martin, Thomas Heppell, Troy Redfern and Will Wilde. The award was presented by Rhythm Room Music School’s Kev Hickman to Alice Armstrong (who also won this award in 2024). With Alice losing her voice she very quietly thanked the blues community and her family.
The final award of the evening was for Blues Band of the Year (sponsored by Valentine Music Promotions) and the nominees were Brave Rival, Connolly Hayes, The Cinelli Brothers, The Milk Men and The Zac Schulze Gang. The Award was presented by Del Bromham to a very excited and almost speechless Brave Rival. As lead singer Lindsey said she had not prepared anything but was very grateful for the award, and she was joined on stage by Donna Peters and Billy Dedman along with former member Chloe Josephine (who left at the end of 2024).
To finish off the evening we had a jam from an ensemble including Alice Armstrong’s band (though minus Alice due to her loss of voice) of Kev Hickman (drums) Olly Knight-Smith (guitar) & Joss Rigal along with Greg Coulson (keyboards) and singers Kyla Brox, Chloe Josephine & Elles Bailey and Will Wilde on harmonica and vocals. The songs included one written by the late Catfish lead singer/guitarist Matt Long with ‘Better Days’ with the final song being ‘Soul Shine’.
Then host Paul Jones thanked everyone for attending and then everyone went out to the entrance/bar area and the winners had their photo taken against the UK Blues Federation & sponsors background.
